Laboratory and Testing Project Officer; Interview and Recruitment Project Officer

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking talented, dedicated and committed individuals to join our team in Vietnam to conduct new and exciting research studies in HIV prevention, including: i) HPTN 074, a 3-year pilot feasibility study to inform a future randomized controlled trial designed to determine the efficacy of antiretroviral treatment (ART) as prevention of HIV transmission from HIV-infected people who inject drugs to their HIV-uninfected injection partners as well as HIV-infected sexual partners; and ii) Reducing Hazardous Alcohol Use & HIV Viral Load: an RCT in ART Clinics in Vietnam, a 5-year randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of two evidenced-based behavioral interventions of Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on alcohol use, HIV viral load and HIV risk behaviors among HIV clinic patients. We will conduct ethnographic research, conduct a baseline survey, enroll participants, implement the intervention and follow study participants for about 2 years after enrollment.

Positions:    01 Laboratory and Testing Project Officer
                  01 Interview and Recruitment Project Officer

Based in Hanoi, frequent travel between Hanoi and study sites required.

Report to:    The in-country project director

Scope of work and Responsibilities:

For Laboratory and Testing Project Officer:

Scope of work: Supervise, control and assure the quality of laboratory process, research specimen storage and transportation. Assist in on-site monitoring the implementation of research activities at the study sites.

Responsibilities:
Primary duties and responsibilities for the incumbent of this position may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assist the in-country project director in procurement of test kits for  laboratory testing to be performed in the two above-mentioned research studies;
• Participate in field supervision of research specimen storage and transportation;
• Participate in the development of standardized operating procedures (SOPs) for research activities in study sites;
• Supervise day-to-day activities of laboratory staff in the study sites;
• Provide regular training in relevant SOPs for laboratory staff in the study sites;
• Participate in field supervision of data collection process and the implementation of research activities in the study sites (frequent travel to study sites required); ;
• Translate project documents (English-Vietnamese-English);
• Perform other tasks as requested by the in-country project director and the principal investigators.

For Interview and Recruitment Project Officer:
Scope of work:  Supervise, control and assure the quality of interview and recruitment process. Assist in on-site monitoring the implementation of research activities at study sites.

Responsibilities:

• Assist  the principal investigators and the in-country project director in developing and piloting data collection instruments;
• Participate in the development of standardized operating procedures  (SOP) for research activities in the study sites;
• Regularly provide relevant trainings in administering questionnaires and SOPs for interviewers at the study sites
• Regularly supervise the performance of the interview team to assure the accuracy and consistency of the administered questionnaires;
• Prepare visit schedules for study participants in line with research protocols;
• Closely collaborate with recruitment team to recruit and follow up study participants, ensure the recruitment flow and the retention rate of study participants to meet researches’ targets;
• Provide regular trainings in relevant SOPs for recruiters;
• Participate in field supervision of data collection process and the implementation of research activities in the study sites (frequent travel to study sites required);
• Translate project documents (English-Vietnamese-English)
• Perform other tasks as requested by the principal investigators and the in-country project director.

Qualification and skills required for both positions:

• University degree or higher in public health, epidemiology, medicine, social sciences or relevant fields;
• At  least two years of experience working with research studies/international NGOs or in fields of injection drug use and/or HIV/AIDS is desirable;
• Experience in importation of test kits  and international transportation of specimen will be an asset (for the laboratory and testing project officer)
• Experience of working with outreach workers preferred (for the recruitment and interview project officer)
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated
• Fluent in both spoken and written English
• Advanced in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint)

Salaries and Benefits:    Competitive salary

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to send a cover letter with contacts of three references and a CV to Ms. Tran Viet Ha at [email protected]  (in the subject line, please put “UNC PO”)  or by post to the office No.6, Lane 76, Linh Lang street, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi no later than December 31, 2013. We are sorry that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.