Consultant, Air Pollution Technician, Population Health

Consultant- Air Pollution Technician

Department

Population Health

Entity

Aga Khan University

Location

Kenya

Introduction

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact and access.

Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya (LOSHAK) is an interdisciplinary national ageing cohort study established to generate high-quality evidence on the health, cognitive function, environmental exposures, economic wellbeing, and social circumstances of adults aged 45 years and older in Kenya. Around the world, people are living longer, but in Sub-Saharan Africa there hasn't been much research on how people age, what helps or harms them as they get older, or how an ageing population affects society. Kenya's population is ageing faster than most countries in the region, highlighting an urgent need for nationally representative data to inform public health planning, social protection, healthy ageing policies, and health system strengthening. LOSHAK follows the same approach as the international Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) networks, which comprise of more than 52 ageing studies worldwide, enabling cross-national comparisons of ageing, cognitive health, and associated determinants. The study is jointly led by Aga Khan University East Africa (AKU-EA) and the University of Michigan (UM), in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and county governments.

LOSHAK-Core Wave 1 represents the first national implementation of these validated and contextually adapted instruments in Kenya. It is designed as a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of adults aged 45 years and above across all 47 counties in Kenya and will form the baseline cohort for future follow-up waves. Prior to national rollout, pilot study will be conducted in eight counties to refine study procedures, evaluate operational feasibility, optimize data collection systems, and validate field implementation protocols.

This pilot study will aim at measuring key elements and field enumerators will undergo specialized training and will be certified in the collection of each of the measures before entering the field. Air Pollution technicians’ training shall include tailored components on data collection using UPAS V2+, Purple air and LASCAR mounting, unmounting, calibration and cleaning of the devices. These measures will take place in the following stages. Data on exposure to household air pollution will be assessed as per the air pollution SOP.

The air pollution technician shall be responsible for mounting and unmounting the device after 24 hrs at participant’s households to assess exposure to particulate matter (e.g., PM1/2.5/10) and other pollutants using device Ultrasonic Personal Air Sampler (UPAS V2+), Purple air and LASCAR. They shall also explain to the participants about the data collection using the device. This shall be based on protocols on household air pollution data collection and processing.

Job Summary.

The purpose of this role is to support data collection, i.e. conduct household interviews, deploy and retrieve UPAS V2+ as well as ensure correct calibration, functionality and recording of air pollution measurements for the LOSHAK study in the following counties Kakamega, Kirinyaga, Kisumu, Kitui, Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru & Wajir..

Terms of Reference

• Attend all mandatory training sessions and successfully complete the required certification prior to field deployment.
• Calibrate, mount, unmount, clean, and maintain UPAS V2+, PurpleAir, and LASCAR monitoring devices according to study protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and supervisor instructions.
• Implement field activities strictly in accordance with approved study protocols, operational manuals, and training guidelines.
• Conduct pre-deployment functionality checks on monitoring equipment and promptly report any malfunctions or technical issues that could compromise data quality.
• Adhere to all ethical principles governing air pollution monitoring, participant interaction, and research conduct.
• Ensure the safe custody, proper handling, security, and accountability of all project equipment assigned for fieldwork, returning all equipment to Aga Khan University (AKU) upon completion of the assignment.
• Conduct respondent revisits for validation, quality assurance, and back-check activities as directed by supervisors.
• Participate actively in regular field debrief meetings and implement feedback to improve field performance.
• Avoid any activity that may present a conflict of interest or compromise the integrity, independence, or credibility of the study.
• Prepare and submit accurate daily field activity summaries and progress reports to the Field Supervisor.
• Manage routine field challenges professionally, de-escalating situations where possible and promptly escalating issues requiring supervisory intervention.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of participant information and project data in compliance with the Kenyan Data Protection Act, 2019, study protocols, and institutional policies.
• Support quality assurance and data integrity activities to ensure complete, accurate, and reliable field data collection.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor that contribute to the successful implementation of the LOSHAK project.

Requirements

· Minimum of a diploma in environmental health or related sciences.

· Minimum of 2 years’ experience.

· Fluency in English, Kiswahili and local dialects.

· Previous experience in surveys and field work involving air pollution monitoring

· Proficiency in ICT and computer/tablet usage and associated applications.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

· Culturally adaptable and sensitive.Have fluency in English, Kiswahili, and the local language(s) spoken within the assigned study area.

Primary Location

Kenya

Organisation

Aga Khan University Hospital Kenya

Employee Status

Regular

Job Type

Standard

Job Posting

24/09/2026, 7:09:20 AM

Closing Date

11/10/2026, 6:59:00 PM