Position Summary:
Under the supervision of the Project Director, the Laboratory Advisor will provide technical laboratory leadership, including technical assistance and capacity building support, for ICAP at Columbia University’s proposed program to support efforts to strengthen surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), antimicrobial consumption (AMC) and antimicrobial use (AMU) in the human and animal health sectors in Zimbabwe under the Fleming Fund’s Country Grant to Zimbabwe. The Laboratory Advisor will spearhead the standardization and implementation of an AMR, AMU and AMC laboratory agenda, provide technical expertise and mentoring on laboratory infrastructure, oversee laboratory renovations, review and update key resources, and implement and strengthen sustainable laboratory services in Zimbabwe.
The position is contingent upon availability of grant funding
Major Accountabilities:
- Lead the strengthening of laboratories to conduct testing and data reporting as part of the AMR surveillance system, including hiring and on-boarding of staff, facilitate the development of standard procedures, procurement of equipment, and implementation a sustainable specimen transportation system for all sites.
- Oversee renovations and upgrading of human/animal health laboratories to ensure improved biosafety and biosecurity, as well as ensuring all sites have staff capacity, equipment, and reagents to perform culture, bacterial, identification and susceptibility testing on all relevant sites as it relates to the surveillance of AMR, AMU, and AMC.
- Support the development and/or refinement of laboratory quality-related policies, strategic plans, guidelines, manuals, SOPs, training materials, and quality management systems.
- Manage the development and implementation of SOPs for laboratory components of the surveillance system, including specimen collection, storage, transport, and testing.
- Ensure the capacity building of the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) to function as a reference laboratory and coordination center for human AMR surveillance in Zimbabwe, and the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) to function as the center for animal AMR surveillance.
- Ensure that laboratories strengthened to maintain an accurate database of all results produced.
- Support the development and implementation of quality control measures that will monitor specimen quality and storage conditions, including temperature and time, and testing procedures.
- Provide ongoing supportive supervision and mentoring to laboratory staff.
- Attend quarterly meetings with all contributors to AMR, AMU, and AMC surveillance to discuss laboratory system and issues related to the laboratory infrastructure.
- Develop and implement a national external quality assessment (EQA) program for AMR within the national laboratory network model.
Education:
- Master’s degree in laboratory medicine preferably with additional training in related fields including laboratory quality management systems.
Experience, Skills, and Minimum Qualifications:
- 10+ years of experience working in a large clinical or research laboratory, preferably in a governmental setting, with significant experience in microbiology, laboratory management, and renovation.
- Prior experience with relevant current technical laboratory procedures regarding AMR.
- Demonstrated experience in quality assurance, quality control, biosafety, protocol development, specimen management, and use of electronic information systems within a laboratory context.
- Experience implementing EQA programs, laboratory accreditation, standardization of equipment, and supply chain management.
- Proven ability to effectively mentor and advise laboratory professionals; experience overseeing training of staff engaged in laboratory activities and improvements.
More Information
- Job City Zimbabwe
