Description of the organization
Created by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in 1986, Epicentre conducts field epidemiology, training and medical research activities in support of MSF’s humanitarian objectives. We have 3 research centres in France, Niger and Uganda and relocated epidemiologists. Our areas of expertise cover infectious diseases (malaria, TB, HIV, cholera, Ebola, etc.), neglected diseases (leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, etc.) and chronic diseases that are on the rise in African countries, such as diabetes and cancer.
Job Description
Assignment :
For decades, MSF has been advancing care for children under 5 suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). In 2023, nearly 150,000 children with SAM were hospitalized in MSF’s intensive nutritional recovery centers (CRENI), where they received stabilization care and nutritional support.
MSF is currently in the initial development phase of a project aimed at improving the outcome of nutritional treatments provided to hospitalized children, by developing, evaluating, promoting and enabling global access to a new therapeutic milk for the stabilization phase, while continuing to improve the quality of care in CRENIs.
Epicentre will play a leading role in the research component of the project, which involves evaluating the safety and efficacy of the new milk in a randomized clinical trial, sponsored by MSF.
Epicentre is currently looking for a co-investigator in charge of research; to lead the collective work of preparing the trial.
As a core co-PI, you will report to the Epicentre Research Director, work closely with another core co-PI (working remotely part-time, primarily on product specifications), and supervise a core team for the trial.
Main responsibilities:
- Coordinate the collective development of the protocol (bibliography, coordination of investigators and study partners, consultations and negotiations, initial drafting and coordination of revision, etc.)
- Coordinate and contribute to the literature review and scientific monitoring
- Contribute to the finalization of the design and methodology of the trial and its approval (collegiate decision)
- Ensure participant safety, including overseeing a risk mitigation strategy and ensuring internal and external security input is incorporated
- Ensure consistency with WHO guidelines for further data review
- Oversee and approve trial-related deliverables (participant materials, trial standard operating procedures, etc.)
- Ensure scientific excellence, including by identifying and liaising with external experts/collaborators for scientific oversight and the establishment of a scientific committee (collegiate decision), and by liaising with study team members, to achieve consensus on all of the above
- Coordinate the submission of the final protocol to the relevant ethical and regulatory authorities and obtain all necessary approvals
- Support all aspects of trial implementation preparation.
- Contribute to the drafting of legal documents (research agreements, material transfer agreements, etc.)
- Contribute to the evaluation of the test site(s)
- Support the project manager in defining a monitoring plan for improving the quality of care
- Coordinate networking with potential research partners (including universities)
- Contribute to relationships with institutional and regulatory stakeholders, in particular WHO and UNICEF, and other external stakeholders (nutrition actors, donors, etc.) throughout project development
- Coordinate the writing and editing of all scientific communications, contribute to the development of other communication media
- Contribute to first publications with mixed authorship
- Actively participate in the daily activity of the Epicentre Research department
This list of activities is subject to change. If the project and position are expanded, other activities will be added throughout the development and implementation of the trial
Qualifications
Education / Degree
- A Master’s or PhD in epidemiology or clinical research is essential
- A degree in medicine or nursing is a major asset
- Training in good clinical practices (GCP) – essential
Experience
- At least 4 years of successful professional experience in clinical research, including clinical trials, in resource-limited environments – essential
- Successful experience in clinical trial design and development – essential
- Clinical experience in a hospital setting, particularly in resource-limited environments – a strong asset.
- Experience and knowledge of pediatrics, nutrition or nursing – a strong asset
- Experience working in an MSF field, particularly in a nutrition project – a strong asset
Knowledge and skills
- Excellent command of research project development and team management – essential
- Collaborative and inclusive leadership, excellent interpersonal skills, team spirit
- Innovative spirit, goal-oriented
- Ability to understand and adapt to a complex environment
- Ability to provide support/contribution beyond one’s area of expertise
- Ability to lead multicultural teams, including some working remotely
- Sense of responsibility, rigor
- Ability to place people at the centre of all practices, commitment to creating a reassuring environment
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, diplomacy
- Strong autonomy and organizational skills, good meeting management
- Ability to work collaboratively with Microsoft Office suite
- Flexibility for occasional travel, especially to potential test sites
Language
- Fluent spoken and written English (work mainly in English) – C1 or above – essential
- Good level of French – B2 – an asset
Job specifics
Full-time, fixed-term contract; until the end of December 2025
Position preferably based in Paris, France / or relocated within another MSF office
25 paid holidays + 22 additional days of holidays
Position to be filled : As soon as possible
Salary (€)
According to Epicentre/MSF salary scale paid in 13 installments
Benefits
Restaurant vouchers face value €11 covered at 60% by MSF + 100% mutual insurance + 50% reimbursement of public transport ticket (Conditions for position based in Paris, otherwise different conditions)
- You will work with a multicultural team in the field of epidemiological research
- You will evolve in the humanitarian environment
- Your contributions and ideas will be valued and greatly appreciated.
- You will participate in the life of the association and your missions will evolve as your involvement progresses.
How to apply
Please submit your application (CV + cover letter) no later than January 23, 2025 via this
Only pre-selected candidates will be contacted.
Epicentre is committed to protecting the personal data of its members, employees and people wishing to join the association. The data collected during this application will be strictly transmitted, for fair and quality processing, to the people involved in the recruitment process, regardless of where the Epicentre structure to which they belong is located.
NB : Female candidates meeting the application criteria are strongly encouraged to apply.
