National Stakeholder Engagement Officer Career Vacancy – Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)

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Organisation: Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)
Duty Station: Entebbe, Uganda
Reports to: Target Malaria Stakeholder Engagement
Coordinator
About US:
Uganda
Virus Research Institute (UVRI) is one of the constituent research institutions
under the Uganda National Health Research Organization (UNHRO). UVRI has a
broad mission to carry out scientific investigations on communicable diseases
of public health importance and to advise government on strategies for their
control and prevention. UVRI is a collaborating partner in the Target Malaria
consortium. Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium that wants
to contribute to saving millions of lives from malaria. This project started a
decade ago with a funding from the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative
and is now funded through a program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Job Summary: The National Stakeholder Engagement Officer will
play a focal role in the creation and recognition of the importance of having
dialog with stakeholders at national level to build and maintain effective and
constructive relationships with multiple stakeholders for the success of the
project. The project interacts with a broad range of stakeholders at national
level including representatives of the national government, regulators,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, scientific research
groups, civil society groups or individuals. In the longer-term engagement at
the regional and pan-African level will also be essential for the success of
the project. The National Stakeholder Engagement Officer will play a critical
role in building the profile and voice of Target Malaria through strategic
engagement. The role will require liaising across the full range of the Target
Malaria teams to ensure engagement on the project is coordinated, coherent and
is a two-way dialog. The role is to ensure that stakeholders are informed but
also that their feedback, expectations and concerns are shared with the project
team. This is an essential part of the co-development and co-ownership values
of the project. The national stakeholder engagement officer will actively facilitate
the dialog between the national level stakeholders and the project. He/she will
be responsible for the promotion of trust and confidence between the national
stakeholders and the project
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
Engagement activities:
  • Ensure adequate information for national
    level stakeholders on project activities (whether current or future)
  • Ensure appropriate consultation of national
    stakeholders before the implementation of activities and feedback
    concerns, suggestions to the project for them to be considered;
  • Ensure that the national level dialog is
    inclusive by mapping key stakeholders;
  • Support the regulatory process by advising on
    and managing potential stakeholder issues and coordinating stakeholder
    engagement activities with the regulatory team;
  • Actively promote communication by supporting
    the development of culturally appropriate methods taking into account
    social and cultural contexts;
  • Represent the project as required to
    high-profile, regional and national stakeholders, building constructive
    relationships across governmental, non-profit and private sector
    organisations
  • Support the project team by facilitating the
    dialog with national authorities;
  • Actively participate in regional and
    pan-African engagement activities according to the international
    stakeholder engagement plan and under the leadership of the consortium stakeholder
    engagement manager.
Strategy Activities:
  • Lead the formulation and the implementation
    of a stakeholder engagement strategy at national level in Uganda;
  • Take part in the formulation of tools,
    procedures and policies for stakeholder engagement and documentation of
    activities;
  • Actively contribute to consortium activities
    related to stakeholder engagement. Take part in risk management of this
    project on issues related to stakeholders’ acceptance of the project;
Reporting Activities:
  • Participate in the monitoring and evaluation
    of the engagement and stakeholders’ acceptance level for the project;
  • Provide activity report and updates of
    support tools to facilitate follow- up and reporting on engagement
    activities;
  • Report regularly to the Stakeholder
    Engagement Coordinator and the Principal Investigator
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
  • The applicant must hold a University Degree
    in Social Science, Mass Communication or related field
  • At least five years’ experience working at a
    position with responsibility for community engagement in sub-Saharan
    Africa, including development and implementation of stakeholder engagement
    strategies and national stakeholder engagement in a research, scientific
    or corporate environment
  • Previous experience of working developing
    appropriate communication materials to support external stakeholder
    engagement
  • Prior experience of working providing
    constructive relationships and credibility with influential stakeholders
    at national level including governments, regulatory bodies, civil society
    groups and individuals
  • Strong existing network of stakeholder
    contacts in national health and/ or research sector
  • Previous experience of working with regional
    level (East Africa) or pan-African level
  • Experience of Ugandan regulatory frameworks
  • Familiarity with ethical standards for biomedical
    research or community informed consent processes
  • Ability and willingness to travel within
    Uganda and overseas
  • Ability to work collaboratively and
    productively with colleagues, external consultants, and multiple
    stakeholders with direct management and functional reporting lines
  • High level of interpersonal and influencing
    skills
  • Proficiency in written and oral English as
    well as at least one Ugandan dialect;
  • Excellent written and oral communication
    skills, with the ability to produce effective communication for a broad
    variety of audiences
  • Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple
    work streams and meet tight deadlines
  • Flexible approach to deliver work plans and
    revisions as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements
  • Impeccable ethical standards
How to Apply: 
All
suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their applications with
the following: an updated C.V., detailed, with names and contacts (e-mail and
phone) of two work-related referees, and certified true by the candidate: with
copies of academic certificates, and transcripts. The interested candidates
should submit their applications in a sealed envelope marked: “National
Stakeholder Engagement Officer” to:
The
Director,
Uganda
Virus Research Institute,
P.O.
Box 49, Entebbe. Uganda
Email to: directoruvri®uvri.or.ug (make sure to put Target
Malaria in the subject tine)
OR
Hand-deliver to his office at Plot 51-59, Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe.
Deadline: 22nd August, 2016 by 5:00PM
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