Job Description: Data Manager

Project: HealthyStart
Duty Station: Kigali, Rwanda (with regular travel to Gicumbi District Health Centres)
Reports to: Senior Project Manager / Principal Investigator
Contract Type: One-Year Renewable (One Position)

Position Overview

The Data Manager will be responsible for overseeing all research data management activities for the HealthyStart Project. The successful candidate will ensure the quality, integrity, security, and confidentiality of research data throughout the project lifecycle. The Data Manager will work closely with investigators, statisticians, software developers, field teams, health facility staff, and other project partners to support high-quality data collection, management, analysis, and reporting in accordance with national and international research standards.

Key Responsibilities

Data Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain the study Data Management Plan (DMP). 
• Oversee all electronic data collection systems used by the project. 
• Manage study databases developed using CommCare and eHealthyStart. 
• Ensure proper database configuration before data collection begins. 
• Monitor database performance and maintain study metadata and documentation. 
• Maintain database version control and archive study datasets according to project procedures. 

Data Quality Assurance

• Develop data quality control procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 
• Perform routine data quality checks and database cleaning. 
• Identify and resolve inconsistencies, duplicates, and missing data. 
• Generate data queries and coordinate their resolution with field teams. 
• Verify the completeness, consistency, and accuracy of study datasets. 
• Monitor adherence to study data collection standards. 

Data Security and Confidentiality

• Ensure compliance with national and international data protection regulations. 
• Maintain secure storage, backup, and disaster recovery systems for study databases. 
• Ensure appropriate user access controls and secure data transmission. 
• Maintain participant confidentiality and support pseudonymisation procedures. 
• Monitor compliance with institutional data governance policies. 

Data Collection Support

• Support deployment and maintenance of electronic data collection tools. 
• Assist with configuration of tablets and electronic devices. 
• Coordinate synchronization of field data and monitor real-time data submission. 
• Troubleshoot data collection challenges. 
• Support electronic case report forms (eCRFs). 

Monitoring and Reporting

• Develop routine data quality reports. 
• Produce weekly and monthly data summaries. 
• Prepare recruitment, enrolment, and study progress reports. 
• Generate dashboards for investigators and project management. 
• Support monthly data review meetings. 

Database Administration

• Maintain master study databases and participant identification systems. 
• Ensure accurate linkage between maternal and child datasets. 
• Maintain audit trails of database modifications. 
• Archive research datasets according to project requirements. 

Collaboration

• Work closely with the Principal Investigator, Senior Project Manager, statisticians, intervention teams, software developers, and health facility staff to support project implementation and data management activities. 

Training and Capacity Building

• Train study staff on electronic data collection procedures and data quality standards. 
• Conduct refresher training as required. 
• Develop user manuals and data management guidance documents. 

Statistical Analysis Support

• Prepare clean, analysis-ready datasets. 
• Support statisticians during data analysis. 
• Document data cleaning procedures. 
• Develop data dictionaries and codebooks. 
• Assist in responding to data-related reviewer comments. 

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with: 
  • Good Clinical Practice (GCP) 
  • Good Clinical Data Management Practice (GCDMP) 
  • Rwanda National Ethics Committee requirements 
  • Institutional data governance policies 
  • Study protocol and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) 
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Senior Project Manager or Principal Investigator. 

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Master’s degree in public health, Biostatistics, Health Informatics, Data Science, Epidemiology, Nursing Science, or a related field.
  OR
• Bachelor's degree in one of the above disciplines with substantial relevant experience. 
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in research data management. 
• Experience managing large health research databases. 
• Experience using electronic data capture systems such as CommCare, SPSS, Stata, Epi Info, R, or similar platforms. 
• Experience supporting multi-site health research projects. 
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams. 

Preferred

• Experience in maternal, newborn, child health, nutrition, or implementation research. 
• Experience with longitudinal research studies. 
• Experience using DHIS2 and dashboard development tools. 
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Good Clinical Data Management Practice (GCDMP). 
• Experience working in international research collaborations. 

Required Technical Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel. 
• CommCare administration. 
• Statistical software (Stata, R, SPSS, or SAS). 
• Data cleaning, validation, and quality assurance. 
• Dashboard development and reporting. 
• Electronic data collection systems. 
• DHIS2 experience is an added advantage. 

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 
• High attention to detail. 
• Excellent organizational and time management skills. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively. 
• High ethical standards and commitment to confidentiality. 
• Strong commitment to research quality and data integrity. 

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should apply via this link by July 24, 2026