Public Health Specialist (Laboratory Advisor)
US EmbassyDate Listed: Nov 5, 2012
Phone: No Calls Please
Area: Dar Es Salaam
Application Deadline: Nov 19, 2012
Position Description:
ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT (OR) APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.
The US Embassy is seeking an individual for the position of Public Health Specialist (Laboratory Advisor) in the office of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR).
Please note the position is not to exceed two years from date of hire and renewable based on funding availability.
Basic Function of Position
Job holder serves as a senior scientific and technical advisor to agency officials, Ministry of Health, TPDF, implementing partners and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the planning and strengthening of laboratory programs and activities. Responsibilities include program development, monitoring, reporting and close collaboration with partners to ensure that all research and analysis in laboratories are carried out in accordance with program objectives and internationally recognized best practices. Partners include other agencies, Tanzanian government ministries including military hospitals, International Organizations (IO) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) involved in treatment of HIV/AIDS and other diseases in Tanzania.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Program Management & Technical Assistance
Incumbent serves as principal coordinator for laboratory systems and services within Tanzania and is responsible for planning and implementation of capacity building of all laboratories to ensure consistency of results. In general, reviews individual laboratory procedures, weighing against accepted protocols and develops programs to ensure consistency. Participates in developing major initiatives including the country program plan and planning of all cooperative agreements that require research and diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, STD, AI, TB, malaria and emerging diseases in laboratories throughout Tanzania
Job holder provides technical evaluation of all proposals for laboratory capacity building projects of partners, ensuring that protocols are being followed appropriately and recommends amendments/approval to supervisor. The annual budget for external laboratory programs in Tanzania in fiscal year FY 2013 is $2 million. Incumbent is responsible for planning and drafting the laboratory portion of the Country Operational Plan (COP) each year and working with Counseling & Testing, Care and Treatment, Prevention and Strategic Information colleagues to ensure that programs are working together to complement support and capacity building.
Incumbent provides guidance and direction to grantees, program collaborators and contractors on management and implementation of activities to be consistent with USG and international policies and guidance.
Job holder collaborates with Tanzanian government Ministry of Health, TPDF, international organizations and non-governmental organizations on their activities to make sure programs are being carried out as designed. In building laboratory capacity, collaborates with Tanzanian senior scientists on the design of new public health laboratory diagnostic approaches that are based on latest research findings. Works closely with staff of Tanzanian Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defense and cooperating partners to ensure that tasks are carried out correctly and in a timely manner. Recommends procedural modifications as warranted to align with investigative protocols.
Assesses national referral and regional laboratory capacity to support surveillance and diagnostics for HIV/AIDS and HIV-related risk behaviors, STI, TB, malaria and other opportunistic infections (OIs) as well as international emerging infections. Develops strategies to strengthen capacities and capabilities based on assessment findings. Introduces new diagnostic technology as it becomes available. Develops training plans and arranges for competent instructors to provide training for personnel at laboratories for which responsible.
Plans, oversees and coordinates contracts, grants, cooperative agreements with the Tanzanian government for activities in areas of laboratory diagnostics, including the establishment and maintenance of a national quality assurance system. Institutes Quality Assurance (QA) programs, including internal and external quality control standards. Works with Tanzanian government to support accreditation process of laboratories that have been targeted for that process.
Develops standards to enhance capacities of regional and referral hospital laboratories and to support surveillance for HIV/AIDS, STD, AI, TB, malaria and emerging diseases. Standardizes testing protocols for diagnostics and surveillance. Develops and updates national guidelines for laboratory systems at all levels of operation. Designs safety and anti-contamination strategies according to international standards.
Prepares technical papers that report on laboratory assessments and operational research studies for presentations at national and international meetings on improving laboratory capacity throughout the country.
Management
Promotes the standardization of lab equipment and maintenance assistance and provides technical specifications for procurement of essential laboratory equipment and supplies.
Provides technical assistance on the architectural, structural, security and biohazard design aspects of on-going work related to laboratory renovation and establishment of new laboratories.
Ensures proper budgeting of all national referral and regional laboratory activities supported by grants, partnerships and cooperative agreements. Ensures validity of data and authorizes entry in appropriate data base.
Facilitates procurement of equipment and supplies through agency channels to enhance laboratories operating within the country. Provides guidance to laboratories requisitioning equipment and supplies on the international market. Works within Tanzania to develop forecasting capacity for laboratory commodities.
Serves as project officer and main point of contact for Laboratory branch cooperative agreements and contracts. Once contracts, grants or cooperative agreement is in place, oversees performance of cooperating partners/contractors, carries out technical reviews, reviews progress, identifies potential issues and informs supervisor, recommending actions for amelioration. Cooperative agreements under the purview of job holder total approximately $30 miliion per year.
Interagency Coordination
As a regional and international expert on matters pertaining to testing and operations of a variety of laboratories located within Tanzania, job holder represents (WRAIR/Tanzania) at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with collaborators and donor agencies. Briefs agency officials on the results of such meetings and prepares written reports for submission to other interested parties.
Represents the agency in discussing and developing financial commitment proposals for laboratory programs at administrative and strategic planning meetings. This includes all USG implementing agencies (Departments of State, Defense, and including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USAID, and Peace Corps).
Participates in internal and interagency technical working groups to ensure adherence to internationally accepted/directed standards for laboratories within Tanzania.
Qualifications Required
All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.
Education:Masters level degree in medicine, biology, microbiology, laboratory technology or chemistry is required.
Prior Work Experience:A minimum of eight years of work in public health laboratory testing procedures and systems is required. Two additional years of managerial experience is required.
Post Entry Training:Attendance at conferences and workshops addressing laboratory practices including HIV conferences and workshops. Agency-specific leadership and development and grants/cooperative agreements management training are required.
Language proficiency:Level IV (Fluent) in English and Kiswahili (speaking, reading and writing) is required.
Knowledge:Comprehensive knowledge and experience in advanced laboratory techniques is required including comprehensive knowledge of procedures for laboratory diagnostics and associated technologies. Thorough public health knowledge of current communicable disease issues is required. Comprehensive knowledge of the Tanzanian government laboratory facilities, health care system and structures including familiarity with MOH policies, program priorities and regulations is required. Good working knowledge of USG public health programs, strategies, methods, processes and techniques used to plan, develop, implement and evaluate results is required. Good working knowledge of team management techniques to plan, organize and direct multi-disciplinary project teams and activities and overall administrative requirements, budgeting and fiscal management in support of contracts/cooperative agreements/ grants/purchase requisitions is required.
Skills and Abilities:Strong oral and written communications skills are required. Ability to analyze, understand and discuss new program design, management and implementation approaches is required. This includes the development of evaluation designs, use of reliable and valid instruments, and methods for data collection, analysis and reports. Ability to lead project teams and workgroups and to develop effective working relationships with national and international working partners is required. The incumbent will be expected to exercise ingenuity and tact in applying guidelines to unique and different settings, as the work is highly complex and can be threatening to stakeholders. The ability to influence and persuade others will be required to work collaboratively with organizations engaged in laboratory programs to adopt appropriate strategies for their program activities and to coordinate with partners on national strategic planning for laboratory programs. Intermediate user level of word processing, spreadsheets and databases is required. Advanced knowledge of statistics and data analysis is required.
Application Instructions:
Go to the Website link below for applications instructions
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