Back Senior Technical Officer, Laboratory Services

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Senior Technical Officer, Laboratory Services

Location: Akwa Ibom

Supervisor: Associate Director, Laboratory services

Basic Function

• Provide technical expertise and assistance in implementing high-quality laboratory services within the care and treatment project in Nigeria, including laboratory capacity development at the PCR laboratory and project health facility sites.

  Duties and Responsibilities

  • Give technical support and develop quality policies, quality tools, SOPs and recommendations related to the implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of laboratory services for HIV/AIDS, opportunistic (OI) and malaria care and treatment in collaboration with technical staff within FHI and at national, state and local agencies in Nigeria.
  • Provide technical assistance in capacity building for laboratory services at health facilities and other settings as appropriate.
  • Develop concept papers and research papers to improve and or extend existing laboratory activities.
  • Carry out quality control functions/activities, in collaboration with the zonal and state teams, of the labs, including quality control inspections schedules and the collection of quality control records; ensure the availability of quality records documents.
  • Review and monitor QA and QC activities of the Laboratory in order to determine conformance with established policies, national regulations, or accreditation requirements.
  • Provide technical leadership and technical support related to high technology (TB culture, PCR) laboratory services.
  • Remain informed on new findings in the field of laboratory technology that relate to HIV/AIDS, OI, malaria care and treatment by reviewing current literature, and drawing implications from research for program activities.
  • Coordinate Proficiency testing (PT) activities and ensure PT is being done for each specialty; explore other ways of testing evaluation in the absence of PT.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

    Knowledge, Skills & Attributes:

    • Knowledge of health and development programs in developing countries in general and Nigeria specifically.
    • Excellent working knowledge of laboratory equipment and techniques for the following categories of assays: HIV rapid and confirmatory testing, hematology, biochemistry, CD4/CD8, HIV viral load, HIV DNA qualitative test, HIV viral resistance (genotype and phenotype).
    • Excellent working knowledge of laboratory equipment and techniques for the identification and culturing of different TB species,and drug resistance tuberculosis
    • Thorough knowledge of QA, QC and proficiency testing concepts; the ability to apply these concepts to resolve complex conditions in laboratory and administrative settings.
    • Knowledge of laboratory service and management issues related to the clinical management of HIV/AIDS, including ART.
    • Knowledge of laboratory service and management issues related to Opportunistic infection (OI) and malaria.
    • Knowledge of District Health Information System (DHIS) and Lafiya Management Information System (LAMIS) is required.
    • Laboratory management and training experience and ability to understand full range of issues around the laboratory management of HIV/AIDS, including provision of counseling and testing services.
    • Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the social, political and ethical issues surrounding HIV infection.
    • Excellent data driving and analytic skills
    • Ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain compatibility among project staff, subcontractors, consultants and recipients of assistance.
    • Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.
    • High degree of proficiency in written and spoken English communication.
    • Well-developed computer skills.
    • Ability to travel within Nigeria 25% time.

      Qualifications and Requirements

      📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

      ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

      • B.Sc in Laboratory sciences or related field with 7 - 9 years post national youth service experience and a minimum of 5 years’ experience in provision of laboratory support for HIV/AIDS. Or
      • Master’s degree in laboratory sciences or related field with 5-7 years post national youth service experience and a minimum of 5 years’ experience in provision of laboratory support for HIV/AIDS.
      • Experience in the management of laboratory services, particularly health facility-based services, including quality assurance systems, laboratory analysis, and interpretation and reporting techniques based on best practices, quality management practices and safe work practices.
      • Experience implementing in the North East Zone.
      • Knowledge of advanced laboratory procedures, diagnosis and management related to HIV/AIDS care and treatment is required with some experience in an international development organization preferred.
      • Certification of license to practice as a medical laboratory scientist is required.
      • Expertise in hematology, TB and blood safety issues will be an added advantage.

        Safeguarding:

        FHI 360 is committed to provide a safe environment for all employees, beneficiaries and anyone contracted by FHI 360. This Includes taking measures to protecting vulnerable people from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by either FHI 360 employees or associated personnel. FHI 360 abides by child safeguarding principles. FHI 360’s Safeguarding Policies apply and flow out to all FHI 360 staff, board members, volunteers, and partner staff (subcontractors, consultants, vendors, and sub-recipients), regardless of the funding mechanism or amount of contract, agreement, or purchase order.

        This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

        FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

        Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

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