Job Opportunities

About Indlela@HE2RO

Indlela is a collaboration between the University of Witwatersrand’s Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO, South Africa) and the University of Pennsylvania’s Centre for Health Incentives and Behavioural Economics (CHIBE, USA). We’re dedicated to using behavioural economics to improve public sector healthcare delivery and health outcomes in South Africa. Our goals are to build behavioural economics capacity within HIV programs and empower health service providers and research institutions to develop contextually tailored interventions rooted in behavioural science principles. 

What is the Indlela BE fellowship program?

Indlela’s BE fellowship program is designed to develop future leaders in the field of behavioural economics. We’re looking for passionate graduates who are living in South Africa to join a 12-month immersive experience. This program will provide theoretical and practical training in behavioural economics with on-the-job research experience. This creates an opportunity for early career researchers to gain experience and open doors for professional positions at HE2RO or elsewhere.

What will Indlela Fellows do? 

As a fellow, you will work alongside experts from Boston University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Witwatersrand. You will also have the opportunity to engage in real-world problem-solving, participate in behavioural insights tests, and contribute to research studies. Depending on your level, tasks may range from data collection to supporting study implementation. Mentorship opportunities, participation in meetings and training sessions are also part of the journey.

Requirements:

• Minimum master’s degree in public health, psychology, economics, public policy, or a related field
• Quantitative training and/or experience in epidemiology, research design biostatistics, and/or health economics
• Qualitative training and/or experience in designing in-depth interview or focus group discussion guides, conducting qualitative interviews and analysing data
• Proficiency in working with primary data and conducting analysis
• Good communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Word and Excel programs

Term of service: Fellows are appointed for 12-months.  Fellowship terms may be extended at the discretion of Indlela@HE2RO. Fellowships will start by the second quarter of 2024.

Location

HE2RO offices in Johannesburg, South Africa. Some travel to study sites and/or other parts of South Africa may be required. There may also be travel outside of South Africa to other countries where Indlela is engaged in research. 

Compensation

Fellows will receive a stipend which is expected to be sufficient to pay for housing, board, transport to work, health insurance and sundries. The stipend for 2024 will be approximately ZAR 47, 000 per month (incl. VAT). Fellows must pay for their own health insurance/medical aid or show proof of active health insurance (required) and arrange their own travel and accommodation.

Application Process:

To apply for the Indlela BE fellowship, please submit your CV, a cover letter, academic transcripts, two letters of recommendation and a writing example to Vacancy@heroza.org. 

Please include “FELLOWSHIP” in the Subject heading of your email and be sure that your cover letter summarizes your skills and experience. Applicants need to have permission to reside and work in South Africa for a minimum of two years from appointment in order to be considered eligible to apply. Candidates who are not contacted for an interview should assume that their applications were not successful.

Application Deadline: 15 Mar 2024

Reference number – 2023SR082

Researcher or Senior Researcher – Quantitative health data analysis 

• Implement and supervise all data and analytic aspects of the project including: 1) contributing to writing research protocols and SOPs; 2) developing and designing research tools; 3) coordinating data acquisition (data collection, transfer, dataset linkages, pre-processing, quality assurance etc.); 4) developing data analysis plans and sample size calculations, conducting data analysis, and writing up results; 5) writing analytic reports including data visualizations to contribute to presentations for stakeholders including networks and funders; and 6) supporting and training and mentorship of junior analytic research staff.
• Present scientific findings at research conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and disseminate findings to other stakeholders such as research networks, universities/academic institutions, government departments, funders, the community, and media.
• Supervise, manage and train research staff and study teams.
• Perform other tasks and contribute to organizational management as needed.

• Doctoral or master’s degree in epidemiology, health economics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum 5 years’ research experience or comparable professional experience.
• Experience implementing independent projects including designing and implementing data analysis plans and managing study staff.
• Expertise with data analysis software and advanced statistical techniques; experience with large observational datasets and public health EMR sources preferred.
• Knowledge of health systems and public health priorities in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Demonstrated writing and communication skills, with a relevant publications record.
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• If not a South Africa citizen, the candidate should have a valid work permit for South Africa.

Reference number – 2023NA081

Indlela Behavioural Science Researcher (Nudge Associate)

Behavioural Science Researcher (Nudge Associate)– Closed

The Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE²RO) of the University of the Witwatersrand, based in Johannesburg, South Africa is an internationally recognized health research group which conducts research and analysis on issues of public health importance, including a strong focus on HIV, TB, and NCDs. HE²RO seeks to build the evidence base to improve health policies and programmes in South Africa and the region.

With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania and HE²RO have launched the ‘Indlela; Behavioural Insights for Better Health’ initiative. This capacity-building initiative aims to expand the use of behavioural economics and insights within HIV prevention and treatment programs in South Africa and strengthen the ability of health service delivery providers and key research institutions to develop and test contextually appropriate interventions that are informed by behavioural science principles. This first-of-its-kind “nudge unit” is focused on improving the effectiveness of health services and HIV service delivery outcomes in South Africa.

We are looking to recruit a dynamic, enthusiastic, and self-motivated Behavioural Science Researcher (Nudge Associate) to work with the Indlela leadership team identifying behavioural aspects of public health issues and developing appropriate ‘nudge’ strategies to address those challenges through collaboration on behavioural science studies with other research and implementation organisations. This individual will work with the team and collaborators to develop research project concepts, identify behavioural insights, contribute to the design of rapid evaluations and support the implementation of these evaluations and data analyses. 

The position will be based at HE²RO head office in Johannesburg but may require travel primarily within South Africa, and possibly sub-Saharan Africa and globally. Overtime/weekend hours and working in rural areas and/or under-resourced circumstances will be required from time to time. This is a full-time position. 

Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide support to implementing partners and other research organisations to co-create research study concepts, design behavioural insights projects and identify methods to measure behavioural change with the Indlela team
• Provide support to implementing partners and other research organisations to conduct behavioural insights test studies and related research by; 1) development of protocols, study tools and SOPs; 2) obtaining appropriate local IRB and relevant provincial and district permissions and approvals; 3) facilitating access to data collection 4) monitoring progress of these studies and study timelines 5) supporting data analysis 6) Ensuring that progress reports are submitted to the funder and IRB
• Manage day-to-day logistics and oversight of behavioural insight test studies and related stakeholder engagement and prepare feedback progress reports to the Indlela team and funders. Responsibilities will include management and oversight of behavioural insights test projects, leading team calls and preparing meeting minutes 
• Participate in and assist with facilitating behavioural economics training and skill building workshops and other meetings in collaboration with Indlela facilitators to build capacity in South Africa
• Support Indlela investigators and managers with stakeholder engagement and participate in related activities as required
• Assist with the presentation of scientific findings and the drafting of conference abstracts and peer-reviewed publications that can be shared with other stakeholders such as research networks, universities/academic institutions, government departments, funders, the community, and media. Provide support on the newsletter, website and social media
• Perform other tasks and contribute to organizational management as needed

Requirements:  

• Masters degree in Public Health, Psychology, Health Economics, Epidemiology or other relevant degree
• At least 3-5 years research experience or comparable professional experience in public health, preferably in socio-behavioural research and demonstrated knowledge of behavioural economics or socio-behavioural principles would be desirable
• Knowledge of the HIV care cascade and relevant policies.
• Experience working with implementers in HIV care and treatment services would be desirable
• Knowledge of data analysis and statistical software (e.g. SAS, Stata, NVivo) and ability to apply both quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills
• Experience in using various research methodological designs
• Experience in the various stages of research including ethics regulatory processes and SOP development

• Experience implementing projects and managing study staff (experience implementing behavioural interventions and studies would be preferable).
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills; good administrative skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Ordered, systematic and analytical approach to research.
• Self-motivated, able to apply critical thinking, has independent problem-solving ability, takes initiative and able to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• If not a South Africa citizen, the candidate should have permanent residency in South Africa and be living in country
• Drivers license

Applicants should email a cover letter and CV to vacancy@heroza.org.  HE²RO will only respond to short listed candidates. The closing date for this position is 31 March 2021. Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications unsuccessful. HE²RO reserves the right not to fill this position should it deem it necessary not to. This position will remain open until filled.