Research Specialist, Community Health Sciences

Introduction

Aga Khan University chartered in 1983 as Pakistan's first private international university, is committed to the provision of education, research, and health care of international standards relevant to Pakistan and the region. The affiliated Aga Khan University Hospital provides state-of-the-art clinical facilities and well-equipped diagnostic services. The University currently has teaching sites in Pakistan, East Africa, the United Kingdom, and Afghanistan, and is a major component of Aga Khan Development Network.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

The Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) is the leading unit of its type in Pakistan, recognized regionally and internationally for the relevance, quality, and extent of its work in support of public health and the development of primary health care systems. It comprises of five major operational sections: Epidemiology & biostatistics, Health policy & management, Population & reproductive health, Environmental health & climate change, and non-communicable diseases & mental health.

This is a grant-funded contractual position.

Responsibilities

You Will Be Responsible To:

• coordinate with schools and field teams to ensure smooth execution of the project
• maintain comprehensive records and documentation, including participant files, consent forms, and regulatory compliance documents
• organize meetings, workshops, and outreach activities with local partners and urban actors
• train and guide field staff; monitor adherence to SOPs and ethical guidelines; conduct routine field visits
• assist in baseline/endline assessments, qualitative interviews, and cocreation activities
• undertake any other responsibilities assigned by the supervisor, aligned with the project’s objectives.

Requirements

You Should Have:

• a Master’s Degree in relevant discipline (including public health, epidemiology & biostatistics) or equivalent
• at least 4 years of experience of public health related research work, including analysis and report writing
• experience in field coordination, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring of public health interventions
• strong communication skills for effective coordination with city officials, civil society, and research teams
• excellent written and verbal communication skills for producing high-quality reports and presentations
• strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities
• skilled in literature reviews and scientific writing
• strong management, organizational, and multitasking skills
• ability to effectively collaborate and communicate within diverse teams
• flexibility to adapt working hours and willingness to travel frequently, both locally and regionally, as per study demands.