Research Coordinator

About the role

A full-time Research Coordinator position in Harare, Zimbabwe, coordinating day-to-day implementation of research projects in line with approved protocols, workplans, timelines and budgets. The role covers study coordination, data collection, quality assurance, reporting and capacity building.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain study workplans, trackers, meeting records, action logs and documentation; translate protocols into operational procedures, SOPs and implementation plans.
• Monitor progress against milestones, identify risks and support corrective actions.
• Coordinate study start-up, site readiness, recruitment, retention, follow-up and participant engagement.
• Support implementation according to protocols, ICH-GCP, ethics approvals and national regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate ethics and regulatory submissions, amendments, informed consent documentation and protocol deviations and adverse events.
• Coordinate monitoring visits, audits and inspections, and data collection processes, tools and electronic systems such as REDCap.
• Conduct data-quality checks, resolve queries and support dataset cleaning.
• Provide day-to-day guidance to research assistants, nurses and data staff, and train them on data collection, quality assurance, confidentiality and REDCap/Kobo Toolbox.
• Prepare progress, data quality, funder, ethics, regulatory and project reports, and contribute to manuscripts, abstracts and grant applications.
• Coordinate budgeting, procurement, resource planning and administrative processes, and deliver capacity-building and mentorship for staff.

Required profile

• Master's degree required.
• Relevant background in public health, epidemiology, M&E, health informatics, biostatistics, data science, social science, research or a related field is advantageous.
• At least 2-3 years of experience in research, community health, NGO programme coordination, mental-health implementation, M&E, clinical-trial support or project coordination.
• Experience with lay health workers, community participants, lived-experience contributors, digital tools or multi-partner studies is an advantage.

Required skills

• Strong research coordination, communication, documentation and organisational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, SharePoint/OneDrive, email and online meeting tools.
• Basic familiarity with Excel, REDCap, Kobo Toolbox/ODK or similar systems.
• Understanding of confidentiality, research ethics and data protection; knowledge of GCP, SOPs and data protection is desirable.