Job Summary:

The TB Diagnostics Specialist will be responsible for supporting, strengthening, and maintaining the tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic network, providing mentorship to key national stakeholders, and supporting key laboratories to obtain or maintain accreditation. This includes strengthening laboratory systems, primarily in public health but also private health and other non-governmental laboratories. This position reports to the TB Coordinator but will also be working closely with the TB Strategic Lead, Country Coordination team, IDDS Diagnostic Lead, and Regional Diagnostics Advisor. The TB Diagnostic Specialist will be seconded to the NTRL to support capacity building and provide on-site support to NTRL staff.

Responsibilities:

  • Implement tuberculosis-focused technical assistance, diagnostic network and facilities strengthening, and quality improvement interventions in line with national priorities.
  • Support developing or updating national diagnostic network strategic plans, SOPs, and policies.
  • Review adherence to diagnostic algorithms and use of those algorithms to make clinical decisions.
  • Conducts assessments of diagnostic facilities and the follow-up of corrective and preventive actions and initiatives.
  • Provides technical oversight for data management and reporting of MDR TB and monitors and reports progress with diagnostic network enhancement activities as per the approved country workplan.
  • Work collaboratively and coordinate with other technical staff as well as project partners on development and implementation of the project workplans.
  • Build capacity in local TB diagnostic stakeholders and leaders to identify and oversee enhancements in diagnostic networks.
  • Provide technical assistance and training to TB diagnostic facilities and the overall diagnostic network as part of overall capacity building and continuous improvement programs.
  • Support strategies to ensure functional TB diagnostic equipment including systems to maintain laboratory equipment, securing maintenance contracts, and establishing a cadre of trained biomedical engineers.
  • Build capacity of TB laboratories to perform more TB diagnostic tests (culture, Xpert, drug sensitivity tests, and line probe assay including resistance to second line drugs).
  • Develop and implement a package of comprehensive and linked interventions enabling functional GX sites at the national and sub national levels.
  • Work closely with the IDDS team to define and adjust annual work plans as well as implementing technical activities.
  • Coordinate and work with a diverse group of national organizations including the Government and other diagnostic network leaders, development partners, other regional and global IDDS staff and USAID.
  • Follow established processes to guarantee the technical and programmatic quality of IDDS work in Malawi.

    Required Qualifications:

This vacancy is archived.

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