Research Assistant job at Impala Healthtech Research

Background

Impala Healthtech Research Limited is expanding and evaluating DIGAMS, a digital health platform supporting safer clinical decisions, improved antimicrobial stewardship, and better operational visibility across health facilities.

As part of this phase, Impala will:

• Support a DIGAMS evaluation survey aligned with ethical and IRB standards.
• Support a research-intensive health sector market tour.

The Research Assistant (RA) will provide short-term, high-intensity research support, ensuring ethical rigor, data quality, and timely synthesis of findings to inform product and strategic decisions.

Overall Objective

To support the ethical design, execution, and synthesis of DIGAMS evaluation and market research activities, ensuring IRB-compliant processes, high-quality data, and actionable insights.

Scope of Work & Key Responsibilities

A. Research Design & Ethics Support (Month 1)

• Support refinement of the DIGAMS evaluation protocol and data collection tools.
• Prepare and organize IRB-aligned documentation, including:
  • Consent forms
  • Participant information sheets
  • Data protection and confidentiality procedures
• Support the review survey instruments for clarity, bias, and feasibility.
• Pilot test tools in 1–2 facilities and document lessons learned.
• Support development of fieldwork plans and enumerator guidance.

B. Field Data Collection & Market Research (Month 2)

• Support or lead data collection for:
  • DIGAMS evaluation survey
  • Key informant interviews during the health sector market tour
• Ensure:
  • Proper informed consent procedures
  • Adherence to approved protocols
  • Ethical handling of sensitive clinical, operational, and financial data
• Conduct daily data quality checks and flag inconsistencies early.
• Maintain accurate field notes and documentation.

C. Data Management, Analysis & Synthesis (Month 3)

• Clean and organize quantitative and qualitative datasets.
• Conduct basic descriptive analysis (e.g. trends, frequencies, cross-tabs).
• Support thematic analysis of qualitative data.
• Synthesize findings into clear, decision-oriented insights for:
  • Product design
  • Adoption strategy
  • Stewardship and decision-support positioning
• Prepare and hand over:
  • Clean datasets
  • Documentation and audit trails
  • Short evaluation and market insights briefs

Expected Deliverables

By the end of the 3-month period, the RA will deliver:

• IRB-ready research documentation pack(tools, consent forms, data governance notes)
• Finalized and piloted data collection instruments
• Complete, clean datasets (quantitative & qualitative)
• DIGAMS Evaluation Summary Brief (key findings, implications, limitations)
• Health Sector Market Insights Brief (sector needs, adoption barriers, opportunities)
• Ethics & data management handover folder (suitable for audit or follow-on research)

Required Qualifications & Experience

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or finalist in Public Health, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field
• Certificate in Clinical Research Ethics.
• Prior experience as a research assistant in health or social research
• Demonstrated familiarity with IRB or ethics-reviewed studies
• Experience collecting data in health facilities
• Strong understanding of informed consent and confidentiality

Technical Skills

• Survey administration (digital or paper)
• Qualitative interviewing
• Data cleaning and basic analysis (Excel, STATA, R, or similar)
• Strong documentation and reporting skills

Added Advantage

• Experience in digital health, AMR, health systems, or facility-level research
• Familiarity with Kobo, ODK, or Google Forms

Key Competencies

• High ethical and professional integrity
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently under time pressure
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Comfort engaging clinicians, pharmacists, and facility managers

Duration & Level of Effort

• Fixed-term contract: 3 months
• Expected level of effort: Moderate-High
• Field travel required (as per project needs)

Supervision & Performance Management

The RA will report directly to the Principal Investigator / Research Lead

Performance will be assessed based on:

• Timeliness of deliverables
• Data quality
• Adherence to ethical standards
• Clarity and usefulness of insights generated

Contract Modality

Short-term, deliverables-based consultancy.

Renewal or extension subject to funding availability and performance

Confidentiality & Data Protection

The RA will be required to:

• Sign a confidentiality and data protection agreement
• Adhere strictly to Impala Healthtech Research Limited’s data governance policies
• Return all data and materials at contract completion

• Support refinement of the DIGAMS evaluation protocol and data collection tools.
• Prepare and organize IRB-aligned documentation, including: Consent forms, Participant information sheets, Data protection and confidentiality procedures
• Support the review survey instruments for clarity, bias, and feasibility.
• Pilot test tools in 1–2 facilities and document lessons learned.
• Support development of fieldwork plans and enumerator guidance.
• Support or lead data collection for: DIGAMS evaluation survey, Key informant interviews during the health sector market tour
• Ensure: Proper informed consent procedures, Adherence to approved protocols, Ethical handling of sensitive clinical, operational, and financial data
• Conduct daily data quality checks and flag inconsistencies early.
• Maintain accurate field notes and documentation.
• Clean and organize quantitative and qualitative datasets.
• Conduct basic descriptive analysis (e.g. trends, frequencies, cross-tabs).
• Support thematic analysis of qualitative data.
• Synthesize findings into clear, decision-oriented insights for: Product design, Adoption strategy, Stewardship and decision-support positioning
• Prepare and hand over: Clean datasets, Documentation and audit trails, Short evaluation and market insights briefs

• Survey administration (digital or paper)
• Qualitative interviewing
• Data cleaning and basic analysis (Excel, STATA, R, or similar)
• Strong documentation and reporting skills
• Familiarity with Kobo, ODK, or Google Forms (Added Advantage)

• Bachelor’s degree or finalist in Public Health, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field
• Certificate in Clinical Research Ethics.
• Prior experience as a research assistant in health or social research
• Demonstrated familiarity with IRB or ethics-reviewed studies
• Experience collecting data in health facilities
• Strong understanding of informed consent and confidentiality
• Experience in digital health, AMR, health systems, or facility-level research (Added Advantage)