Job in Abuja at The Institute of Human Virology (IHVN) for a Laboratory TB Consultant
The Institute of Human Virology (IHVN)
is a leading and reputable indigenous non-governmental organization
implementing comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment,
Multi-Drug Resistant TB, Malaria and Research Programs, in partnership
with the different tiers of the
Government of Nigeria, health facilities
and Community-based Organizations. IHVN seeks a suitably qualified and
experienced person to serve as a Laboratory TB Consultant to work
within the Laboratory Department in implementing the laboratory
component of the Global Fund New Funding Mechanism for TB.
We are recruiting to fill the position of:
Job Title: Laboratory TB Consultant
Location: Abuja
Basic Functions of the Position
- Overall, this consultant should be able to provide strategic and technical support to laboratory strengthening efforts.
- S/he will promote and support implementation of WHO's TB
Laboratory technical recommendations including, policy guidance on
appropriate TB laboratory technologies, infrastructure and bio-safety,
and best-practices.
- Other functions include: laboratory capacity development,
including technology transfer and know-how, monitoring and evaluation,
and quality improvement; interface with other laboratory networks to
facilitate integration; human resource development, including training
and mentoring.
Key Working Relationships:
- Associate Director Global Fund Programs (Office of the Chief Executive Officer)
- Director & Head of Department, Clinical Laboratory Services.
Specific Responsibilities
As part of the Terms of Reference, the Laboratory TB Consultant will play leading role in:
- Developing/updating the TB laboratory component of National Strategic Plan (in support of NTBLCP).
- Assisting in the development or optimization of national laboratory policies.
- Promoting interaction and collaboration with laboratory
stakeholders at national and zonal levels by serving on National
Laboratory Technical Working Groups (TWG).
- Assisting the National Laboratory TWG to develop a strategy to improve human resources for laboratory management.
- Ensuring the implementation of Quality Management Systems with
the purpose of strengthening of laboratory quality systems including,
development of quality manual, safety manual, audits, testing,
developing standard operating procedures (SOPs), national documents
developed along with NTBLCP Laboratory Team.
- Working with the TB reference laboratories to attain
international laboratory standards towards accreditation using of the
Global Laboratory Initiative (GLI) stepwise process towards
accreditation with other tools and checklists for implementation of
Quality Management Systems.
- Advising and recommending best practices on sample logistics
from the peripheral laboratories to testing centers thus ensuring a
timely Turnaround time (TAT)
- Providing guidance for the standardization and selection of
vendors for equipment and reagents and following-up on the Biotech unit
to ensure all equipment platforms are warrantied and regularly
maintained, and to ensure zero downtime.
- Develop equipment management systems for GeneXpert and other laboratory equipment platforms.
- Contributing to selection, roll-out and improvement of the
National Laboratory Information Management System for DR-TB in an
integrated way with Drug Sensitive TB (DS -TB) where possible.
- Considering all laboratory IMS needs linked to GxAlert, e-TB
Manager, HIV/TB integration etc. and developing a system to track
laboratory commodity consumption and avoid expiries and stock-outs.
- Supporting the rollout of Gx Alert or similar remote monitoring
system for GeneXpert and preparing quarterly reports on WHO recommended
indicators.
- Reviewing and advising on equipment and supplies list for zonal
and national reference laboratories - logistics and commodity
management.
- Assisting in setting up offline Probe Assay (LPA) and culture
laboratories - from site assessment, design, equipment installation,
training and mentoring (hands on).
- Advising and recommending best practices on first-line and
second line Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) for Tuberculosis Reference
Laboratories (TRLs) and to ensure they are done.
- Providing onsite technical support (bench training) to the laboratory network by mentoring of laboratory staff.
- Capacity building of laboratory staff through trainings,
including on-the-job mentoring, peer network development and online
support.
- Formulating research questions and conducting of research to facilitate improved implementation.
- Contributing to the development of a National GeneXpert
laboratory management plan with concerned stakeholders (National
Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP), National Agency for
the Control of AIDS (NACA), MLSCN, development partners etc.)
- Contributing to development of a National TB Quality Assurance
Policy (based on recently introduced National Quality Assurance Policy)
including all Quality Assurance/Quality Control pharma (incl.
pharmacovigilance) and laboratory areas (incl. External Quality
Assurance for all technologies including GeneXpert) in close
collaboration with National Laboratory TWG and concerned national
agencies like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and
Control (NAFDAC), Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria
(MLSCN),National Product Supply Chain Management Program (NPSCMP) of the
Food and Drugs Services (FDS) etc.
- Reviewing national guidance on engineering requirement for different risk level TB laboratories.
- Providing expertise in clinical/laboratory diagnosis of HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic HIV/TB infections.
- Supporting the development of mechanism on establishing linkages
between the National Reference Laboratories and Zonal Reference
Laboratories with a view to ensuring linked referral services and timely
reporting.
Qualifications and Skills
- B.Sc. in Medical Laboratory Sciences or Medical Microbiology but preferably a Master's degree in Medical Microbiology
- At least 10 years of experience in TB microbiology.
- The candidate is also expected to be a practitioner licensed by
the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) or with
professional membership acceptable to MLSCN.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send a detailed resume and a
one page cover letter as one MS Word document explaining suitability
for the position to "Associate Director, Human Resources" through this
email address:
[email protected]
Application must explicitly state the position and location applied
for in the subject of the email e.g. Laboratory TB Consultant.
Candidates are advised to provide three professional referees with
functional email addresses and telephone numbers.
Note: Only applications sent in the required format will be considered and only short listed candidates will be contacted
Application Deadline 8th December, 2015.