Program Officer – Education, Research and Advocacy

Role Overview

The Program Officer drives a dual agenda at CHAK Medical Training Colleges: strengthening the research pipeline around cardiometabolic disease (CMD) education, and winning institutional buy-in for modern teaching practices. Day to day, this means working alongside faculty and students to design and carry out studies, then using that evidence to push for curriculum reform and greater investment in CMD and non-communicable disease (NCD) training. The position matters because it connects classroom innovation with national workforce development priorities, helping ensure that future health professionals in Kenya are trained using the best available evidence and methods.

Key Responsibilities

• Help design and execute education and implementation research projects focused on CMD, including developing study tools, supporting data collection, and upholding ethical and gender-responsive standards.
• Involve faculty and students in research activities at every stage, making sure participation is inclusive and reflects the diversity of the college community.
• Document and share research findings through reports, briefs, and presentations that can shape teaching policies within MTCs and inform national CMD strategies.
• Champion the adoption of digital, blended, and simulation-based learning approaches across CHAK MTCs, making the case to leadership, faculty, and students.
• Build support for curriculum reforms and pedagogical innovation by engaging academic leadership and facilitating discussions that lead to concrete commitments.
• Deliver training workshops and mentorship opportunities that raise the research capacity of faculty and students, and create regular knowledge-sharing sessions that embed evidence-based advocacy into college culture.
• Coordinate with external partners such as CHAK, KMTC, KCCB, Amref, APHRC, and NCD Alliance Kenya to keep research and advocacy priorities aligned and to share best practices across institutions.
• Track the progress of research and advocacy efforts, prepare donor reports, case studies, and success stories, and contribute to institutional publications.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a medical or health-related field such as Nursing, Clinical Medicine & Surgery, or Medical Laboratory Sciences. A Master’s degree is an advantage.
• At least three years of experience in education and implementation research, advocacy, or health systems strengthening.
• Prior work as a tutor in a medical training college.
• Demonstrated expertise in competency-based education and faculty development.
• Solid grasp of CMDs, NCDs, and the workforce development challenges facing Kenya’s health sector.
• Experience leading institutional advocacy and engaging with academic leadership.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to turn data into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent advocacy and communication abilities, including comfort with public speaking and stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with innovative teaching methods and digital pedagogy.
• A gender-responsive and equity-focused approach to all work.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government, NGO, and academic partners.