Research Manager (Adhoc) at Jhpiego – John Hopkins University

“What are we aiming at?”

That’s the question our first president, Daniel Coit Gilman, asked at his inauguration in 1876. What is this place all about, exactly? His answer:

“The encouragement of research . . . and the advancement of individual scholars, who by their excellence will advance the sciences they pursue, and the society where they dwell.”

Gilman believed that teaching and research go hand in hand-that success in one depends on success in the other-and that a modern university must do both well. He also believed that sharing our knowledge and discoveries would help make the world a better place.

After 140 years, we haven’t strayed from that vision. This is still a destination for excellent, ambitious scholars and a world leader in teaching and research. Distinguished professors mentor students in the arts and music, humanities, social and natural sciences, engineering, international studies, education, business, and the health professions. Those same faculty members, and their colleagues at the university’s Applied Physics Laboratory, have made us the nation’s leader in federal research and development funding every year since 1979.

That’s a fitting distinction for America’s first research university, a place that revolutionized higher education in America.Overview

The Research Managers will support design, coordination, and implementation of the midline learning assessment for Quality Improvement (QI) Project, which is being implemented across Jigawa, Gombe, and Ekiti States across of HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) and PHC services at multiple levels of the health system.
Three adhoc positions will be filled, with one Research Manager assigned to each of the three implementation states Jigawa, Gombe, and Ekiti. All three positions will support planning, data collection, analysis and reporting writing, supervised by Research and learning advisor for the project.

Responsibilities
Evaluation Design and Tools Revision:

Support the review and refinement of the existing QI evaluation framework, learning questions, and indicator matrix in line with the evaluation objectives and current NTBLCP priorities.
Assist the Jhpiego evaluation team in adapting and revising quantitative and qualitative data collection tools used at midline, including facility readiness checklists, provider knowledge assessments, clinical observation guides, client exit interviews, KII/FGD guides, and the QI Maturity Index.
Ensure revised tools align with the mixed-methods, repeated cross-sectional evaluation design and the four learning questions on facility readiness, provider performance, client experience, and QI institutionalization.
Support national and state-level stakeholder consultations for tool review and validation with NTBLCP, DPRS, State Ministries of Health, SPHCDAs, and other relevant stakeholders.
Assist with digitization of data collection tools on KoboCollect and participate in pre-testing and pilot exercises prior to field deployment

Training Facilitation and Data Quality Support:

Support facilitation of national-level review meetings and Facilitator Training sessions in collaboration with Jhpiego technical staff and government stakeholders.
Contribute to the development and refinement of training materials and facilitation guides for state-level Training of Trainers (ToTs).
Facilitate selected sessions during state-level ToTs and data collector trainings in Jigawa, Gombe, and Ekiti, covering evaluation protocols, research ethics, informed consent procedures, eligibility criteria, and KoboCollect use.
Support administration of pre- and post-tests, simulation exercises, and trainee assessments to identify qualified field personnel.
Promote adherence to standardized training approaches, data collection protocols, and ethical requirements across all implementation states.

Field Coordination and Evaluation Operations:

Support coordination of field implementation activities in the assigned state under the guidance of the Jhpiego evaluation team, including scheduling, logistics coordination, supervision support, and daily debrief sessions.
Work closely with Research Supervisors and data collection teams to ensure compliance with approved protocols, ethical standards, and data quality requirements.
Support engagement with state and LGA-level stakeholders, including the State Ministry of Health, SPHCDA, NTBLCP focal persons, DPRS representatives, and M&E units, to facilitate KIIs, FGDs, site visits, and validation activities.
Coordinate with Research Managers in other states and Jhpiego technical staff to support consistent implementation of the evaluation protocol across all study locations.
Identify and communicate implementation challenges, risks, and operational issues to the Team Lead and Jhpiego project team for timely resolution.

Mixed-Methods Data Analysis:

Conduct quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis for the assigned state under the guidance of the evaluation lead and contribute to the consolidated three-state analysis.
Support quantitative analysis using STATA, R, SPSS, or similar software, including computation of facility readiness scores, provider competency indices, and comparative analyses across facility types and locations.
Conduct thematic analysis of KII and FGD data using NVivo, ATLAS.ti, or equivalent software, applying agreed coding frameworks and analytical approaches.
Contribute to triangulation of quantitative and qualitative findings and support identification of emerging patterns, themes, and contextual factors.
Support descriptive analysis of routine DHIS2/HMIS data to assess trends in selected patient-level and service delivery indicators.
Maintain clear documentation of analytical methods, coding decisions, and data management processes.

Findings Synthesis and Interpretation:

Contribute to the synthesis and interpretation of findings for the assigned state across the four evaluation learning questions.
Collaborate with fellow Research Managers and the Jhpiego technical team to support cross-state analysis, interpretation, and identification of key lessons learned.
Prepare analytical summaries, briefing notes, and draft findings for review by the evaluation leadership team.
Participate in technical discussions to validate findings, strengthen interpretation, and refine evidence-based conclusions.
Support translation of field evidence and analytical findings into practical recommendations for NTBLCP, state health authorities, and project stakeholders.

Evaluation Reporting:

Contribute to drafting sections of the evaluation report in accordance with established quality standards and reporting requirements.
Prepare state-specific findings, results summaries, tables, figures, and supporting annexes for inclusion in the consolidated report.
Revise report sections and analytical outputs based on feedback from Jhpiego, technical reviewers, and stakeholder validation workshops.
Support development of executive summaries, presentations, and dissemination materials for stakeholder engagement and reporting purposes.

Collaboration and Technical Support:

Work under the supervision of the Jhpiego evaluation team and maintain close coordination with the Project Director, Program Specialist, Data Manager, and other Research Managers throughout the assignment.
Support data quality assurance processes, dataset documentation, and preparation of reproducible analytical outputs.
Participate in stakeholder validation meetings, technical review sessions, and dissemination workshops as required.
Provide technical and operational support to assigned evaluation activities and undertake other related tasks assigned by Jhpiego management to ensure successful delivery of the evaluation.

Required Qualifications
Education:

Master's Degree or higher in Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Systems, Social Sciences, Evaluation Science, or a closely related field.

Experience:

Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in research, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), or impact evaluation within health or development programmes.
Demonstrated experience designing and implementing mixed-methods and/or quasi-experimental evaluations, including tools revision, training, and mixed-methods analysis.
Strong experience working with large routine health datasets (DHIS2/HMIS) and programmatic data.
Experience coordinating multi-site or multi-state evaluations in Nigeria strongly preferred.
Familiarity with Quality Improvement (QI) methodologies (PDSA cycles, run charts, root-cause analysis) and with national programmes for TB, HIV, Malaria, and MNCH; direct experience with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) is an added advantage.
Experience with Global Fund or other donor-funded programmes and with national/sub-national health systems is strongly preferred.
Proven ability to deliver high-quality analytical outputs and reports under tight timelines.

Required Technical Skills & Software Proficiency
Quantitative Analysis & MEL Tools:

Statistical software: STATA (preferred), R, SPSS, or equivalent — hands-on analytical experience.
Advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, Power Query, complex formulas).
Dashboards and visualization: Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent (preferred).

Qualitative Analysis Tools:

NVivo, ATLAS.ti, or equivalent qualitative analysis software — hands-on experience with coding, thematic analysis, and triangulation.

Health Information Systems & Data Collection Platforms:

Interpretive and analytical experience with DHIS2 and routine health management information systems.
Digital data collection platforms: KoboCollect/KoboToolbox, ODK, or similar.

Documentation & Collaboration:

Microsoft Word (technical documentation, evaluation reports, and annexes).
Microsoft PowerPoint (analytical and validation presentations).
Collaboration platforms: Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Google Workspace.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies:

Strong grounding in mixed-methods evaluation methodology and statistical reasoning.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information into clear, defensible narratives.
High attention to data quality, documentation, and reproducibility.
Ability to explain complex quantitative and qualitative findings to non-technical audiences, including government stakeholders.
Strong facilitation and training skills for national and state-level audiences.
Strong organisational, coordination, and time-management skills.
Ability to work independently while coordinating closely with technical leadership and government partners.
Excellent time management and ability to deliver under pressure.