District Clinical Lab Advisor

2023/05/16

Reference Number

2023051001DrKK

Description

The Laboratory Advisor (LA) provides management, leadership, and technical support to activity design, implementation, monitoring and reporting related to these activities. The Laboratory Advisor is responsible for overall oversight of laboratory system strengthening efforts. The Laboratory Advisor will work with NTP ensuring core strategic and technical laboratory activities are strengthened and improved. This position ensures a seamless link between service delivery interventions and country capacity in laboratory systems development and strengthening.

S/He will assist to address the critical gaps of the comprehensive Tuberculosis (TB) program, and focus on locally generated solutions to provide TB prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and notification, while addressing stigma and discrimination. The LA will promote the overall coordination and implementation of TB Laboratory and diagnostic network activities in the project working in close collaboration with the NTP S/he will have the capacity to mentor and train at national and provincial. S/he will have experience in strengthening diagnostic networks including supporting elements, such as specimen transport, biosafety, supervision, mentorship and quality assurance. S/he will have knowledge of mycobacteriology laboratory work, solid and liquid culture and/or other TB diagnostics. The LA will have working expert knowledge of laboratory and diagnostic network for TB. S/he will lead, develop, oversee and coordinate innovative strategies.

The LA will assist in strengthening the province laboratory network, reinforce the national and provincial laboratory quality improvement program, and support identification and implementation of interventions and technologies to provide timely, accurate and reliable results for diagnosis and treatment monitoring. S/he provides high level TA to NDoH to implement novel technologies and strengthen laboratory systems to improve access to timely HIV and TB diagnosis and HIV monitoring. S/he ensures implementation of the national laboratory policy to improve efficiency of the provincial laboratory services.

S/he supports diagnostic capacity building through implementation of new technologies, organizing appropriate staff training and competency assessment on HIV and TB related diagnostic tests. S/he assists the optimization of the use of point of care / next-to-point-of-care technologies (GeneXpert, and other POC technologies).

S/he provides comprehensive technical and logistic support for efficient, integrated specimen referral systems in the target provinces to ensure timely access to testing and expedited results delivery’s/he provides support to implement laboratory commodity management and information systems at provincial and site levels.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership

The Laboratory Advisor provides technical expertise and leadership in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of laboratory strengthening and laboratory quality assurance and control activities within the health systems strengthening portfolio. S/he provides guidance in the development of achievable, measurable plans and objectives in support of quality laboratory activities. S/he provides expert advice based on knowledge of evidence
- based methods and strategies, current practice, and established laboratory and operational standards.
- The Laboratory Advisor supports a full range of consultative, advisory, strategic planning and evaluation activities staying current on active and new laboratory system strengthening issues, recommendations on options in shaping laboratory strengthening and capacity building approaches.- S/he provides technical input into strategies and tools for the design and implementation of laboratory capacity building components.- S/he assesses current technical, scientific, managerial and operational efficiencies supported laboratory system strengthening activities.- S/he provides high-level guidance oversight and direction for developing and maintaining key HIV laboratory systems and services including use of data to identify priority areas and sites.- S/he makes regular project supervision and monitoring visits as directed by NDoH, ascertains progress, identifies delays and problems, if any, and recommends solutions- The Laboratory Advisor identifies areas for improved efficiency or effectiveness within prescribed parameters, and recommends enhancements to procedures.
- S/he provides technical assessment and recommended strategies to existing and planned interventions, including the integration of innovative approaches (where appropriate) into laboratory strengthening activities.

**Requirements**:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Advanced degree (or professional equivalent) in laboratory sciences or related relevant scientific.

Prior Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional-l