REPORTS TO: Technically to Senior TB Expert (KNCV) Administratively to Principal TB Adviser MSH
BACKGROUND:
Management Sciences for Health (MSH) saves lives and improves health by helping public and private organizations throughout the world to effectively manage people, medicines, money, and information. Working from more than 30 country offices and our Arlington, Virginia and Cambridge, Massachusetts US headquarters, our staff from 65 nations is highly regarded for its technical expertise, integrity, and commitment to making a lasting difference in health. We live our mission to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. MSH is seeking applicants for a USAID-supported five-year program in Ethiopia, Challenge TB (CTB), which will support the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) and partners in providing a comprehensive package of TB interventions. The overarching strategic objectives of CTB globally are to support countries in improving access to quality patient centered care for TB, TB/HIV, and MDR-TB services; to prevent transmission and disease progression; and to strengthen TB platforms.
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES:
In close collaboration with the Senior TB Expert (KNCV), the TB Laboratory Advisor’s responsibilities will include overall strategic planning, coordination, and technical direction of laboratory activities for the project to ensure quality assured laboratory services to the beneficiaries. As the laboratory is an essential component in the continuum of TB diagnosis, care and treatment, s/he will work closely with the Senior TB Expert, as well as with the M & E Officer (KNCV) to ensure progress is being achieved towards ensuring quality laboratory services.
The TB Laboratory Advisor will assist regional reference laboratories (RRL’s) to strengthen the External Quality Assessment (EQA) and Q/A systems in their catchment areas in collaboration with other partners. S/he will contribute to improved lab services at health facilities. S/he establishes, and/or reinforces innovative protocols for transfer of sputum smears from the community to health center labs and receipt of results back in a timely fashion. He /she will contribute to introduction and implementation of new TB diagnostic technologies.
S/he will ensure that effective systems are put in place to support reliable, user-friendly and accessible TB Program (NTP) of the MOH, RHB and PFSA to ensure that laboratory supervisory and monitoring systems, training, commodity and equipment management, Standard Operating Procedures are appropriately introduced, strengthened, and sustained. S/he will provide technical support to the laboratories as required.
S/he will be expected to maintain MSH’s professional and procurement integrity standards in all activities.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Develop close working relationships with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and other stakeholders that have responsibility for strengthening and improving TB microscopy capacity nationally. Adapt existing procedures in place in regional laboratories to meet the needs of health centers.
Work with EPHI and the Regional Laboratories to assist in the Training-of-Trainers program for TB microscopy.
Coordinate with Regional Reference Laboratories and Hospital laboratories in the project regions to ensure that laboratory personnel are trained on the revised TB laboratory standards and support health centers to achieve these standards during supportive supervision visits.
Provide support to labs to implement external quality assessment (EQA) and support supervision systems for health center TB laboratories.
Develop/strengthen innovative protocols for sputum transportation from the community to health center laboratories in a safe and secure way to ensure viability of samples, timely testing in labs and prompt notification of results.
Work with Regional PFSA hubs and EPHI/RRL in TB lab commodities specifications, procurement and inventory management implementation.
Work with EPHI and RRL to scale up the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures for TB microscopy and the Quality Assurance Guidelines for TB lab diagnosis.
Develops and maintains strong working relationships with the donor, partner organizations, and other relevant parties, and represents the HEAL TB project in relevant technical and coordination meetings, when required.
Provide support to RRLs to implement external quality assessment (EQA) and support supervision systems for health facility TB laboratories
Together with Regional Laboratory staff, provide support to RRL and participate in supportive supervision and on-site mentorship/coaching of health facility lab staff.
Ensure that all supported laboratories implement and follow internationally-recognized TB laboratory biosafety practices to ensure the safety of staff, patients and the public. Ensure appropriate disposal of sputum specimens and other infectious material.
Ensure that the standard Ethiopian and appropriate TB Laboratory Information System (TB lab register) is employed at all project supported microscopy sites. In addition, set up systems to capture both commodity use and specimen workload data.
Coordinate with Regional Reference Laboratories and Hospital laboratories in the project zones to ensure that laboratory personnel are trained on the revised TB laboratory standards and support health centres to achieve these standards during supportive supervision visits.
Develop/implement tools for lab reporting as part of lab network strengthening and build capacity of staff at regional labs and below in data management for decision making
Develop annual plan and budget for TB laboratory activities in Challenge TB project areas
Communicate with other partners working to strengthen labs and ensure that Challenge TB laboratory activities are coordinated with the regional level.
Represent Challenge TB on regional and national TB, TB/HIV and MDR/XRD TB working groups.
Support the implementation of new TB diagnostic technologies like Gene Xpert and others
Work with EPHI/national TB reference laboratory and regional laboratories and implement TB culture EQA
Analyze the data collected in the Challenge TB -supported laboratories and work with the Project Coordinator to contribute to the written quarterly and annual progress reports, in line with the agreed indicators that have to be reported to USAID
Develop close working relationships with the RRLs, health facility labs and other stakeholders that have responsibility for strengthening and improving TB microscopy capacity nationally. Adapt existing procedures in place in regional laboratories to meet the needs of health facilities.
Contribute to the quarterly and annual report writing processes.
Perform other duties as required.
Job Requirement
Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science or related field with six and above years of relevant experience or, Master’s in microbiology, tropical & infectious diseases, biomedical science or related pathology discipline with four and above years of experience.
At least six years post-qualification experience, with responsibilities in each of the following areas:
Implementing laboratory components of international public health programs
Providing technical leadership and support to regional and peripheral laboratories
Interacting with donors, implementing partners and host country governments. Past experience working with USAID an added advantage.
Knowledge and experience of the managerial, financial, human resource, infrastructural and systems requirements for ensuring the operation and sustainability of TB laboratory services in a resource-poor setting
Understanding and working knowledge of the role of the laboratory in TB prevention, care and treatment, TB/HIV, and Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant TB (PMDT)
Experience working with the Ethiopian diagnostic laboratory system essential
Knowledge of and recent experience in laboratory equipment and commodity management, including new TB diagnostic technologies, with particular reference to those required for scale-up of TB diagnosis and PMDT.
Knowledge on TB microscopy EQA and new TB diagnostic technologies
Familiarity with and experience in implementing local and national laboratory quality assessment, quality assurance and accreditation systems, including the ISO accreditation standards and accreditation process.
Knowledge of and experience in laboratory capacity building, monitoring and supervision.
Excellent communication, and interpersonal skills, demonstrated leadership, and the ability to work collaboratively with culturally diverse partners.
Computer literacy; competency with Microsoft Office, internet and email systems.
Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic is required.
Ability to work independently as well as in collaboration with colleagues and partners.
Willingness to travel frequently (up to 50% time) within Ethiopia required.