Research Assistant – Antimicrobial Stewardship

Department

OUCRU – HN or Nam Dinh

Location

This position will be based can be based in Hanoi or Nam Dinh, and will require frequent travel within Nam Dinh, as well as some travel within Viet Nam, and possibly internationally to attend conferences and workshops.

Hours of work

Full time Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours per week, extra hours may be required.

Tenure

Initially for 01 year, including a 02 month probation period, with possibility of extension based on annual performance appraisal and research approval

Reporting to

The Principal Investigator/Senior Epidemiologist, and Post-doctoral Researcher, OUCRU Hanoi

Vacancy reference

(JDHAN_0821_011)

Background

The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) is a large-scale clinical and public health research unit, with sites offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam, Jakarta in Indonesia and Kathmandu in Nepal. In Vietnam, we are hosted by the Hospital of Tropical Diseases (HTD) in Ho Chi Minh City, and the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (NHTD) in Hanoi. OUCRU-Nepal is hosted by the Patan Academy of Health Sciences, and in Indonesia we exist in partnership with the Eijkman Institute as the Eijkman-Oxford Clinical Research Programme (EOCRU). As a Wellcome Trust Africa Asia Programme, we have received considerable support from the Wellcome Trust since our establishment in 1991.

OUCRU’s vision is to have local, regional and global impact on health by leading a locally driven research programme on infectious diseases in Southeast Asia. Priority is given to health issues important to the hospitals where we work, and to the countries as a whole where we operate: Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal. All work is intended not only to benefit the patients seen daily at our host hospitals, but also to help improve patient care throughout Southeast Asia.

OUCRU employs approximately 320 people across Viet Nam and has an average annual budget of USD 12mil.

Please see more information on OUCRU website: www.oucru.org

Job summary

The main research interests for the Hanoi office are antimicrobial resistance and influenza. As part of our work on antimicrobial resistance we are partnering with the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology to develop community-based and facility-based interventions to change the way antibiotics are currently used, in order to reduce the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. We are looking for Research Assistant with knowledge on or experience working in or with the healthcare system in Vietnam, experience with academic literature review and with quantitative data collection and management.

The Research Assistant will provide support to the implementation of research studies related to antimicrobial stewardship programmes in provincial and district hospitals. This includes support in the development, testing and use of tools and methods to collect and retrieve data, and in the management and analysis of datasets to evaluate and inform antimicrobial stewardship programmes at hospitals and at national level. The post holder will work closely with local partners to develop locally feasible work plans based on study protocols and implement the work plans to achieve the expected study deliverables.

The Research Assistant will work closely with other members of the research team, and coordinate with local health facilities, governmental departments and institutes in Viet Nam and with the other national organizations on our projects in Nam Dinh, principally focusing on projects related to antibiotic use and resistance. They will engage with Antimicrobial Stewardship and Quality Improvement teams through dialogue and discussion, using participatory methods to gain a better understanding of the perspectives and practices of multiple stakeholders.

They will be personable, organised, enthusiastic, creative and highly motivated. They will be able to work independently but also be a team player.

They will be expected to contribute to wider research, and partner with the other Nam Dinh Coordinators when needed.

Key responsibilities and tasks

The main research interests for the Hanoi office are antimicrobial resistance and influenza. As part of our work on antimicrobial resistance, we are partnering with the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology to develop community-based and facility-based interventions to change the way antibiotics are currently used, in order to reduce the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. We are looking for Research Assistant with knowledge on or experience working in or with the healthcare system in Vietnam, experience with academic literature review and with quantitative data collection and management.

They will be personable, organised, enthusiastic, creative and highly motivated. They will be able to work independently but also be a team player.

They will be expected to contribute to wider research, and partner with the other Nam Dinh Coordinators when needed.

Other Requirements

· Where the applicant is unfamiliar with the job they may be required to spend time learning the fundamental aspects of this discipline.

· Other tasks requested by Line Managers

Selection criteria

Essential criteria

· BSc, preferably with a background in pharmacy, public health or related field

· Experience working on health-related research studies

· Experience with quantitative data collection for research studies

· Excellent communication and facilitation skills

· Excellent spoken and written Vietnamese and English

· Highly organized and able to work independently

· Willingness to travel, interact with, and work in a range of local communities and health facilities

· Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy, and yet be a team player

Desirable criteria

· MSc, or higher degree, preferably with a background in pharmacy, public health or related field

· Understanding and experience of antimicrobial stewardship

· Experience using participatory and/or quality improvement approaches

· Experience working in a hospital setting

· Diplomacy skills and evidence of working with hospital management and local government

· Problem solving skills

Benefits

- Contracted salary: Negotiate (depending on actual experience and education).

- Optional insurance: In-patient and out-patient medical coverage; Personal accident insurance coverage

- Two-month salary for annual bonus and clothes

- Annual leave 18 days/year for the first year, a maximum of 30 days.

- Other responsibilities and benefits are based on Viet Nam Labor Law.

How to apply

Interested qualified candidates are invited to send their detailed resume and cover letter in English, including copies of relevant degrees, certificates by email to trangbh@oucru.org

* The cover letter should detail:

- What part of your education, training or employment history has best equipped you for this position and why you would be a good candidate?

- Contacts of two referees who are your latest HR/ line manager and can provide details of relevant work experience and attitude

* We thank all applicants for their interest but only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Contact person

Ms. Bui Huyen Trang

Deadline for submission

12th September 2021