Public Engagement Coordinator

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ADVERTISEMENT

Position: Public Engagement Coordinator
Department: Dengue
Location: This post is based in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. There will be a requirement to travel within Viet Nam and internationally.
Hours of work: Full time Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours per week, extra hours may be required.
Tenure: Initially for 1 year, including a 2 month probation period, with possibility of extension
Reporting to: Head of Public Engagement (Dr. Mary Chambers) and CHIM Grant PI (Prof. Bridget Wills)
Vacancy reference: JD-0519-008

Background

The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Vietnam (OUCRU-VN) is a large-scale clinical and public health research unit based in Viet Nam. We are hosted by the Hospital of Tropical Diseases (HTD) in Ho Chi Minh City, and the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (NHTD) in Hanoi.

OUCRU – VN aims to have a positive and significant impact on global health and, in particular, the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. This is
being achieved via an integrated long-term biomedical research programme, contributions to training, the scientific literature, national and international meetings and membership of national and international committees. Priority is given to health issues important to the hospitals, and to Viet Nam as a whole. All work is intended not only to benefit the patients seen daily at our host hospitals, but also to help improve patient care throughout Viet Nam and the region. Public Engagement is embedded in the programme and in individual research projects to ensure relevance, responsiveness and respectful partnerships.

A new grant has just been awarded focusing on bioethics and stakeholder engagement aiming to: a) explore the legal, regulatory and administrative framework necessary to permit controlled human infection models (CHIMs), otherwise known as human challenge studies, to proceed in Vietnam, and b) to identify and mitigate real and perceived risks of such research, including an understanding of the public perceptions and response to such studies. The pathogen of particular interest for this work is dengue.

Job summary

  • The CHIMs Public Engagement Coordinator will coordinate local engagement activities with project stakeholders, in particular university students.
  • In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate for this position will have experience in participatory methods and visual media.
  • You will be working in a project team to engage with stakeholders related to the CHIM dengue research project, under the immediate guidance/mentorship of the Head of PE, and supported by the wider OUCRU PE team. You will work closely with a CHIMs Communications Officer and Social Scientist. This involves the following:
    • Map project stakeholders;
    • Conduct literature reviews and formative research to inform PE strategy;
    • Develop relationships with local collaborators and stakeholders to facilitate design and implementation of PE activities;
    • Design public engagement activities, primarily with university students;
    • Facilitate participatory visual media activities, such as digital story telling, participatory vox-pop interviews etc.
    • Write up and disseminate results in reports and research papers;
    • Contribute to wider project discussions and planning.

Benefits

  • Contracted salary: Negotiable (depending on actual experience and education).
  • Optional insurance: In-patient and out-patient medical coverage; Personal accident insurance coverage
  • Two months’ salary for annual bonus and clothes
  • Annual leave 18 days each year for the first year
  • Other responsibilities and benefits are based on Viet Nam Labor Law.

Selection criteria

Essential criteria:

  • BSc or higher degree;
  • Excellent spoken and written Vietnamese and English;
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in cross-cultural settings essential;
  • Experience in facilitating group activities;
  • Experience in working with communities /public;
  • Highly organized
  • Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy, and yet be a team player
  • Willingness to perform other tasks requested by Head of PE

Preferred criteria:

  • Experience in film, editing and visual methods;
  • Graphic design skills

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to send curriculum vitae, application and copies of relevant certificates, either by email or by post to

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit
Laboratory of Clinical Science
Hospital for Tropical Diseases
764 Vo Van Kiet, Ward 1, District 5, HCMC
Tel: 39237954
Email: [email protected]

The cover letter should detail:

  • What do you think ‘public engagement with science’ involves?
  • What part of your education, training or employment history has best equipped you for this position?
  • Why you would make a good candidate for this position?
  • Names of two referees who can provide details of relevant experience

* We thanks all applicants but only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Contact person: Ms Nguyen Thi Hong Phuc

Deadline for submission: 5th June 2019

Job Details
Organisation Name: 
OUCRU
Location: 
Ho Chi Minh
Application Deadline: 
Wed, 2019-06-05