Health-focused Research Scientist

About the role

Innovations for Poverty Action is seeking a health‑focused Research Scientist to lead coverage surveys, data audits, and impact evaluations for large‑scale infectious disease prevention programs across Sub‑Saharan Africa. The role combines technical survey design, health‑systems expertise, and field research management to produce credible evidence for program partners and funders.

Key responsibilities

• Design and oversee coverage survey protocols, including sampling strategy, questionnaire development, and quality‑control procedures.
• Serve as principal investigator for evaluations, surveys, and health‑facility data audits.
• Provide technical guidance on health‑system contexts in Nigeria and other West African countries.
• Collaborate with the Survey Delivery Unit on data‑collection platforms, field protocols, and quality assurance.
• Manage relationships with government health partners and program stakeholders to secure data‑collection access.
• Supervise and mentor field research staff such as enumerators and field coordinators.
• Write and review research proposals, budgets, and funder‑facing narratives.

Required profile

• PhD or equivalent in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, health economics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading large‑scale surveys or impact evaluations in low‑ and middle‑income settings.
• Strong understanding of health‑systems operations and data‑quality challenges.

Required skills

• Survey design
• Sampling strategy
• Questionnaire development
• Quality‑control procedures