Research Coordinator, Department of Community Health Sciences

Aga Khan University, a pioneering private international university established in 1983, is dedicated to delivering education, research, and healthcare services that meet international standards and address the needs of Pakistan and the surrounding region. The University’s Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in public health research and primary healthcare system development. The department encompasses five key areas: Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Health Policy & Management, Population & Reproductive Health, Environmental Health & Climate Change, and Non-Communicable Diseases & Mental Health. This position is a grant-funded contractual role based in Karachi, focusing on community engagement and immunization initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

- Conduct house-to-house visits within the Polygon area to plan, coordinate, and implement project activities effectively.
- Collaborate closely with frontline staff, including vaccinators and community-based volunteers (CBVs), to identify and map local influencers, with particular emphasis on women influencers, to promote vaccination efforts.
- Identify community engagement venues such as pop-in clinics, influencer houses, bethkes, and deras to facilitate sessions aimed at increasing immunization awareness.
- Ensure timely submission of high-quality social profiles and daily activity reports, maintaining an updated social profile of the project area.
- Support and facilitate digital communication efforts using Android phones, social media platforms, and the internet by creating digital awareness messages, posts, and organizing community interaction activities.
- Organize community events focused on immunization awareness and recognize households that have received immunizations.
- Build community capacity for interpersonal communication to enhance participation and referrals throughout the project duration.
- Perform any additional tasks assigned by the supervisor to support project objectives.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification.
- Minimum of two years’ experience in immunization programs, Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) or Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI), community health, or related projects.
- Experience in training teams on evaluation methods and intervention strategies.
- Willingness to travel frequently to remote locations to oversee quality assurance of research projects and provide training to local staff.
- Commitment to conducting house-to-house fieldwork, community mobilization, and engaging directly with families and communities.
- Strong organizational skills and self-motivation to manage and execute assigned tasks independently.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- Proven skills in mixed methods research and solid understanding of research methodologies.
- Knowledge of and adherence to research ethical standards.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English.
- Strong computer literacy.

Preferred Qualifications and Additional Information

- Preference will be given to candidates residing in District West, Karachi.
- Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted as part of the recruitment process.

This role offers an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to public health initiatives within a reputable institution committed to diversity, inclusion, and ethical standards. The successful candidate will play a vital role in advancing immunization awareness and community health engagement in Karachi.