Clinical Laboratory Advisor

**Health Systems Strengthening Unit**
*Clinical Laboratory Advisor - eThekwini District
*

**PURPOSE**
Health Systems Trust (HST) wishes to appoint one Clinical Laboratory Advisor to serve the South Africa Sustainable Response to HIV and TB (SA SURE Pro) Project in the eThekwini District.
The project aims to strengthen local capacity for the provision of sustainable HIV- and TB-related care and treatment through community
- and facility-based services. This incumbent will provide strategic direction and operational support to the project team and ensure compliance with the project's financial and reporting requirements.
Working collaboratively with the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and the Department of Health (DoH) to strengthen the clinic laboratory interface (CLI) in the districts, the Clinical Laboratory Advisor will provide technical assistance to develop and implement quality improvement (QI) standards and systems for HIV and TB care.
This is a fixed-term contract position, renewable based on continuation of funding.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Provide technical assistance and mentorship to the District DoH structures and municipal project-supported facilities in the districts.
- Provide direct service delivery to monitor and implement eLABS e-Continuous Quality Improvement (eCQI), the Results for Action (RFA) Dashboard, and CLI interventions.
- Conduct site visits and perform baseline and ongoing assessments to evaluate progress achieved in implementation of project plans.
- Provide on-the-spot training and mentorship on performance gaps identified and monitor these on a monthly basis.
- Provide technical assistance to support differentiated care activities through WebView access of pending viral load (VL) results, VL rejection rate support, and ensuring availability of laboratory consumables at facility level.
- Provide technical assistance and trainings on the NHLS _Primary Health Care (PHC) Laboratory Handbook._
- Provide technical support with a focus on laboratory impact indicators and monitor results review, filing, and management of pending results with the teams
- Support District, Sub-district and Facility Management Teams to meet at least every quarter with local laboratory management (District Health Team and regional laboratory staff) to address any bottlenecks identified e.g. long turnaround time (TAT), high specimen rejection rate, courier scheduling and adjustment.
- Provide on-site mentorship for VL specimen rejections and develop quality improvement plans (QIPs).
- Support the facilities providing point-of-care tests (PoCT) to strengthen HIV Testing Services (HTS) and implement Rapid Testing Continuous Quality Improvement (RTCQI).
- Provide technical assistance to the DoH on the roll-out of Stepwise Process for Improving the Quality of HIV Rapid Testing (SPI-RT) assessments at facility level.
- Support the community and facility teams with implementation of RTQCI activities and developing QIPs for facilities to reach and sustain National Certification qualification.
- Ensure that all project reports are completed and submitted in accordance with workplans and funder requirements.
- Support the procurement and distribution of IQC samples for the community-based Outreach Teams.
- Provide technical support to teams for Proficiency Testing (PT) surveys and submissions to the NHLS.
- Participate in strategic meetings with work-stream leads and other stakeholders.
- Develop an annual sub-district project plan aligned with the macro-plan for the SA SURE Pro project.
- Identify topics for case studies and success stories, and support staff in developing these outputs.
- Submit weekly, monthly and quarterly reports.

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EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE*
**Minimum qualifications and training**
- A degree or diploma in Medical Biotechnology or Medical Science.
- A postgraduate degree or diploma in Medical Biotechnology or Medical Science.
- A certificate in Project Management will be an added advantage.
- Certification as a Master Trainer for RTCQI would be an added advantage.
- Certification as a Master Trainer for eLABS would be an added advantage.

**The incumbents must have expertise in at least one of the following areas**:

- **Health systems**:Demonstrable knowledge of health system strengthening, including the World Health Organization building blocks
- **Leadership and management**:Relevant HIV management training
- **Clinical care**: Understanding of quality-improvement processes and concepts
- **Monitoring and evaluation**: A good understanding of the importance and role of health information systems in health system strengthening.

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Specific experience required**
- At least five years' experience with laboratory processes
- At least five years of project management experience
- Proven project-management abilities, with experience in the design, administration, management and implementation of public health programmes, including supervision of staff and reporting
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