PHIA Project – ICT Officer | - 2015

ICAP at Columbia University works in partnership with the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) in Tanzania to support the implementation of high-quality comprehensive family-focused HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment services with funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through PEPFAR. A key aspect of the program is to build the capacity of the MOHSW, at the national and sub-national levels, and indigenous CBO/NGOs to manage HIV programs, including financial, administrative, program management and technical advisory skills. The organization has employed talented, dynamic individuals with strong clinical backgrounds and public health management expertise to achieve its programmatic objectives.

ICAP is currently implementing a large Combination Prevention project in Kagera and a Key Populations friendly clinic in Mwanza, as well as providing technical assistance to improve pediatric HIV testing and counseling. In 2016, ICAP will implement a household population survey (PHIA) countrywide to analyze HIV prevalence and incidence. Additionally, ICAP aims to expand and diversify its current portfolio of activities by implementing innovative strategies, incorporating and piloting new technologies and promoting scientific research that will guide Tanzania health decision makers.

Reporting to the Tanzania PHIA Project Director, the PHIA Project ICT Officer is responsible for in-country management, storage, and security of data, as well as other technical aspects of the population-based surveys conducted on tablets. Works to ensure delivery of clean, high-quality survey data and troubleshoot possible information and communications technology (ICT) challenges during data collection.

More details on ICAP’s PHIA Project may be found at:

http://icap.columbia.edu/news-events/detail/icap-to-lead-large-populatio…

This position is grant funded.

Location: Tanzania

Major Accountabilities

Attend in-country meetings on data management and security and facilitate consensus on data architecture plan
Collaborate with NY-based Lead Strategic Information (SI) Advisor and Regional ICT Specialist to conduct testing of ODK tablet forms
Troubleshoot platform-level technology issues that may arise with tablets under the guidance of the NY-based Data Manager and Regional ICT Specialist
Help identify and resolve potential connection issues with mobile operators using mobile data devices; help identify and resolve potential connection issues within the survey team (e.g., from tablets to a group router, from lab equipment to tablets, etc.); help troubleshoot database
Conduct daily data quality control checks under guidance of NY-based Data Manager and Regional ICT Manager
Provide remote technical assistance by phone or through remote access of tablets used during survey; provide in-person technical support on ad-hoc basis for field teams; provide technical assistance to MOH ICT team to obtain and maintain local copy of survey data
Install application updates under guidance of NY-based Data Manager and Regional ICT Specialist
Coordinate replacement of damaged or lost equipment; report and send damaged equipment for repair; control and maintain an active inventory of tablets and other ICT equipment
Troubleshoot basic network configuration issues on IP-enabled lab equipment; troubleshoot basic software issues for the satellite and lab databases; help troubleshoot any software and connectivity issues with PIMA machines and Alere server
Perform other related duties as directed

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics, Engineering, or related field

Experience, Skills, and Minimum Qualifications

Minimum two (2) years of related experience managing and working directly with health informatics applications and databases from large research studies
Demonstrated experience conducting data quality checks and producing data collection monitoring reports
Demonstrated experience in using and troubleshooting electronic data collection tools, especially tablets
Basic understanding of cloud-based data storage service offerings
Basic understanding of TCP/IP protocol suite

Experience, Skills & Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated experience in providing remote assistance (e.g., from a central office location) to public health teams working in the field
Demonstrated and successful experience managing large, population-based survey data
Demonstrated experience in resolving IP-level connection issues, IPv4 sub-netting, etc.
Demonstrated experience in working with mobile telecommunications technologies (GSM, 3G/4G, etc.), mainly in disconnected mode
Strong writing and verbal communication skills
Experience working with issues relating to HIV/AIDS

Travel Requirements

Periodic domestic travel to troubleshoot technical data collection issues (requiring overnight stay of up to 2 days)