QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Master’s degree in public health, medicine, health policy, or a related field
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in public health research, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Extensive experience in proposal development for research, implementation, result synthesis, and reporting.
• Proven track record of conducting and publishing high-quality research in peer-reviewed journals.
• Ability to demonstrate a successful history of strategic leadership and driving impact, along with a strong desire and ambition for growth.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience:

• PhD in a relevant field.
• Experience in engaging with government and international partners at a senior level.

TECHNICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

• Problem-Solving Skills
• Business Savvy
• Service Minded
• Good Communication Skills
• Planning and Organization
• Influencing Skills
• Initiative
• Resourcefulness

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Scientific Leadership and Innovation

• Develop and execute a cutting-edge research and innovation strategy that positions RTCZ as a key player in public health science and evidence generation.
• Drive the exploration and adoption of emerging scientific technologies, methodologies, and interventions to address Zambia’s pressing health challenges.
• Build RTCZ’s scientific reputation by fostering a culture of innovation and ensuring that research outputs are aligned with global best practices.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams to design and implement high-impact scientific initiatives that address the intersection of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and emerging public health priorities.

Research and Evidence Generation

• Oversee the design, implementation, and dissemination of high-quality research, including clinical trials, operational research, and epidemiological studies.
• Establish and manage partnerships with academic institutions, research organisations, and global health entities to advance RTCZ’s scientific agenda.
• Ensure all research activities adhere to ethical guidelines and receive the necessary approvals from relevant authorities.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences to enhance RTCZ’s visibility and credibility.
• Ensure all scientific and research activities comply with local regulations, donor requirements, and international standards.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with research activities, including ethical, operational, and financial risks.
• Maintain robust data management and protection systems to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of research data.

Programme Support and Evidence Utilization

• Collaborate with the EXCO to integrate research findings and evidence into programme design and implementation.
• Provide scientific oversight to ensure programmes are aligned with global best practices and local epidemiological trends.
• Integrate Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Adaptation (MELA) frameworks into RTCZ’s research and innovation processes to enhance programme impact.
• Promote adaptive management practices that enable RTCZ to remain responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities.

Capacity Building and Mentorship

• Build the capacity of RTCZ staff in research methodologies, data analysis, and scientific writing.
• Mentor early-career researchers and technical staff, fostering a pipeline of skilled professionals within RTCZ.
• Promote a learning environment that encourages inquiry, knowledge sharing, and professional growth.
• Contribute to the institutionalization of RTCZ’s core values—innovation, quality care, and responsiveness—within all programmes and operations.
• Lead the development of a succession plan for the Research department to reflect a long-term strategic focus.

Organisational growth and financial sustainability

• Provide strategic oversight to the Business Development Unit (BDU), ensuring the identification of funding opportunities and the successful acquisition of diverse resources to support RTCZ’s programs.
• Cultivate relationships with funders, ensuring alignment between RTCZ’s research priorities and donor interests.
• Drive RTCZ’s strategic expansion into new areas of public health research, including non-communicable diseases, climate change, and health technology.
• Strengthen RTCZ’s internal capacity to conduct high-quality research while building its profile as a local organization.
• Leverage evidence to inform RTCZ’s strategic decisions and enhance its credibility with donors, partners, and beneficiaries.
• Provide oversight to the Communications Unit and ensure that RTCZ’s impact is effectively showcased across multimedia platforms, thereby enhancing the organization’s public profile.

Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy

• Represent RTCZ in high-level scientific forums, technical working groups, and policy discussions at the national, regional, and global levels.
• Collaborate with government ministries, donors, and partners to align research efforts with national and international priorities.
• Advocate for the inclusion of RTCZ’s research findings in policy development and public health decision-making.
• Develop and present scientific updates to the CEO and senior leadership team, ensuring alignment and transparency.
• Lead the development of research reports, policy briefs, and other publications to communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences.
• Ensure the timely and accurate submission of scientific deliverables to donors, partners, and other stakeholders.

Self-management and performance ownership

• Take ownership and accountability for tasks & activities and demonstrates effective self-management.
• Follow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of own work are consistently and accurately maintained.
• Inform relevant parties in the event of tasks or deadlines not met and provides.
• Appropriate means of resolution
• Support and drives the business’ core values.
• Maintain a positive attitude.
• Respond openly to feedback.
• Take ownership for own career development.
• Manage colleagues and client’s expectation and communicate appropriately.
• Willing to help others and go the extra mile to meet team targets and objectives.
• Manage own disruptive emotions (handle stress in ways that do not negatively impact on the team.

• Develop and execute a cutting-edge research and innovation strategy that positions RTCZ as a key player in public health science and evidence generation.
• Drive the exploration and adoption of emerging scientific technologies, methodologies, and interventions to address Zambia’s pressing health challenges.
• Build RTCZ’s scientific reputation by fostering a culture of innovation and ensuring that research outputs are aligned with global best practices.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams to design and implement high-impact scientific initiatives that address the intersection of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and emerging public health priorities.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and dissemination of high-quality research, including clinical trials, operational research, and epidemiological studies.
• Establish and manage partnerships with academic institutions, research organisations, and global health entities to advance RTCZ’s scientific agenda.
• Ensure all research activities adhere to ethical guidelines and receive the necessary approvals from relevant authorities.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences to enhance RTCZ’s visibility and credibility.
• Ensure all scientific and research activities comply with local regulations, donor requirements, and international standards.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with research activities, including ethical, operational, and financial risks.
• Maintain robust data management and protection systems to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of research data.
• Collaborate with the EXCO to integrate research findings and evidence into programme design and implementation.
• Provide scientific oversight to ensure programmes are aligned with global best practices and local epidemiological trends.
• Integrate Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Adaptation (MELA) frameworks into RTCZ’s research and innovation processes to enhance programme impact.
• Promote adaptive management practices that enable RTCZ to remain responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Build the capacity of RTCZ staff in research methodologies, data analysis, and scientific writing.
• Mentor early-career researchers and technical staff, fostering a pipeline of skilled professionals within RTCZ.
• Promote a learning environment that encourages inquiry, knowledge sharing, and professional growth.
• Contribute to the institutionalization of RTCZ’s core values—innovation, quality care, and responsiveness—within all programmes and operations.
• Lead the development of a succession plan for the Research department to reflect a long-term strategic focus.
• Provide strategic oversight to the Business Development Unit (BDU), ensuring the identification of funding opportunities and the successful acquisition of diverse resources to support RTCZ’s programs.
• Cultivate relationships with funders, ensuring alignment between RTCZ’s research priorities and donor interests.
• Drive RTCZ’s strategic expansion into new areas of public health research, including non-communicable diseases, climate change, and health technology.
• Strengthen RTCZ’s internal capacity to conduct high-quality research while building its profile as a local organization.
• Leverage evidence to inform RTCZ’s strategic decisions and enhance its credibility with donors, partners, and beneficiaries.
• Provide oversight to the Communications Unit and ensure that RTCZ’s impact is effectively showcased across multimedia platforms, thereby enhancing the organization’s public profile.
• Represent RTCZ in high-level scientific forums, technical working groups, and policy discussions at the national, regional, and global levels.
• Collaborate with government ministries, donors, and partners to align research efforts with national and international priorities.
• Advocate for the inclusion of RTCZ’s research findings in policy development and public health decision-making.
• Develop and present scientific updates to the CEO and senior leadership team, ensuring alignment and transparency.
• Lead the development of research reports, policy briefs, and other publications to communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences.
• Ensure the timely and accurate submission of scientific deliverables to donors, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Take ownership and accountability for tasks & activities and demonstrates effective self-management.
• Follow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of own work are consistently and accurately maintained.
• Inform relevant parties in the event of tasks or deadlines not met and provides.
• Appropriate means of resolution
• Support and drives the business’ core values.
• Maintain a positive attitude.
• Respond openly to feedback.
• Take ownership for own career development.
• Manage colleagues and client’s expectation and communicate appropriately.
• Willing to help others and go the extra mile to meet team targets and objectives.
• Manage own disruptive emotions (handle stress in ways that do not negatively impact on the team.

• Problem-Solving Skills
• Business Savvy
• Service Minded
• Good Communication Skills
• Planning and Organization
• Influencing Skills
• Initiative
• Resourcefulness

• Master’s degree in public health, medicine, health policy, or a related field
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in public health research, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Extensive experience in proposal development for research, implementation, result synthesis, and reporting.
• Proven track record of conducting and publishing high-quality research in peer-reviewed journals.
• Ability to demonstrate a successful history of strategic leadership and driving impact, along with a strong desire and ambition for growth.
• PhD in a relevant field.
• Experience in engaging with government and international partners at a senior level.