Study Coordinator at UCSF Global Programs Tanzania, Mwanza September 2026

Study Coordinator

About Global Programs

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) partners with governments, academic institutions, and communities to strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes worldwide. In Tanzania, UCSF, through its local Global Programs office, supports research and implementation science that generates evidence to expand access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services and to inform national health policy and practice.

Project summary

PATHS (“Expanding Access to HIV Self-Test Kits Through Private Sector Channels”) is a mixed-methods implementation study conducted in the Mwanza Region of Tanzania. The study works with approximately 200 Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDOs) and pharmacies across 50 wards to test the monetary and non-monetary, structural and behavioral supports needed to enable independent adoption of HIV self-test (HIVST) kits distribution.

Participating shops procure subsidized HIVST kits to distribute free of charge to young women (reimbursed by the study) while selling to other customers for profit, with procurement subsidies gradually phased out over 39 months to test the sustainability of a segmented pricing model. Data collection includes shop administrative sales data (via the Maisha Meds point-of-sale system), periodic shopkeeper surveys, in-depth and quick-strike exit interviews, and mystery client visits.

Summary of role

The Study Coordinator is the lead for day-to-day implementation of the PATHS study in Mwanza Region. Reporting to the Global Programs Technical Director. The Study Coordinator plans, coordinates, and oversees all field operations- shop recruitment and onboarding, ongoing shop coordination and supply/commodity logistics, quantitative shopkeeper surveys, mystery client activities, and quick-strike and in-depth interviews- and supervises the team of Research Assistants and field staff.

The role oversees study quality, timelines, and protocol and ethics compliance in the field, and serves as the primary link between the field team, the study investigators, and external partners.

Reporting and management responsibilities

• Reports to Technical Director.
• Supervises Research Assistants and all field staff (data collectors, field assistants, and mystery client actors) across the study area.
• Coordinates with study investigators (MUHAS, UCSF, and MITU), regional health authorities (Regional Medical Officer, Pharmacy Council, and Regional Pharmacists), the Maisha Meds team, and the procurement and inventory management team.

Position responsibilities

Technical

• Overall field coordination: Plan, schedule, and oversee all study implementation activities across the 50 study wards; maintain master field workplan and timelines; and ensure activities are delivered on schedule and in line with the protocol.
• Shop recruitment and onboarding: Coordinate the recruitment strategy with the study investigators, regional authorities (Regional Medical Officer, Pharmacy Council); assign wards and shops to Research Assistants; oversee shop informed consent and enrollment process; and resolve escalated recruitment issues.
• Supply and commodity logistics: Coordinate procurement and delivery of HIVST kits, supplies, and commodities to shops, working with the Maisha Meds and procurement/inventory teams to keep the point-of-sale system and stock maintained.
• Quantitative shopkeeper surveys: Oversee scheduling and administration of in-person and phone shopkeeper surveys, and monitor completeness, quality, and timely upload of data.
• Mystery client (MC) actors: Lead recruitment of suitable actors; co-design and co-deliver their training; and oversee scheduling, deployment, audio recording, data capture, and debriefs.
• Interviews: Oversee, and as needed conduct, quick-strike exit interviews and in-depth interviews, following study procedures.
• Quality and compliance: Ensure adherence to the study protocol, SOPs, and ethical/IRB requirements; monitor data quality across all data streams; and safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of all study data and participants.

Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact between the field team and the study investigators and prepare and present regular progress reports on field operations.
• Document activities, challenges, and any protocol deviations, and escalate issues promptly to the Technical Director and Investigators.
• Maintain working relationships with regional health authorities and external partners.

Administrative

• Comply with Global Programs administrative policies and procedures.
• Review and approve team timesheets, field expenses, and logistics documentation, and maintain accurate study records and tracking tools.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Technical Director.

Autonomy and decision-making

• Works independently to plan and deliver field operations, exercising significant judgment on and escalating major decisions or risks to the Technical Director.

Required skills and qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, social sciences, pharmacy, business, or related field; a master’s degree is an advantage.
• At least five (5) years of experience in health or social science research, including field coordination or study management experience.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting, training, and supervising field research teams.
• Experience coordinating field-based data collection, including quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage timelines, budgets, and competing priorities.
• Proficiency with electronic data collection and Microsoft Office, including Excel.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili.
• Resident of Mwanza or ready to work in Mwanza Region for the duration of the assignment.
• Willing and able to travel frequently within Mwanza Region.

Additional preferred skills and qualifications

• Experience with implementation science
• Experience working with private sector, pharmacy or ADDO-based health programming.
• Experience with HIV prevention/testing and sexual and reproductive health programming.
• Experience with mystery client methodology.
• Experience liaising with regional health authorities and regulatory bodies (e.g., Regional Medical Officer, Pharmacy Council).
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills.

Work location

• This position is based in Mwanza, Tanzania.
• The role combines office-based coordination with substantial field presence supervising activities across the study wards.
• The Study Coordinator must reside in Mwanza for the duration of the assignment.

Travel requirements

• This position requires frequent travel within Mwanza Region to participating shops and field sites.
• Occasional travel outside Mwanza may be required for training, coordination meetings, or other study activities.

To apply

All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed in the minimum requirements above with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. All applications must include the following:

• A current CV with names and telephone numbers for at least 2 referees, 1 of whom must be from your current employer.
• Copies of academic and professional certificates.
• Applications and supporting documents should be sent via e-mail to info.tanzania@ucglobalprograms.org.
• Deadline is 30th September 2026.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.