Project Coordinator, Ethiopia 119 views0 applications

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is looking for a fulltime Project Coordinator.

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis (TB), the first deadliest infectious disease in the world. KNCV is an international center of expertise for TB control that promotes effective, efficient, innovative and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national and international context.

We are an organization of passionate TB professionals, including doctors, researchers, training experts, nurses and epidemiologists. We aim to stop the spread of the worldwide epidemic of TB and to prevent the further spread of drug-resistant TB. We operate from a central office in The Hague in the Netherlands, a regional office in Central Asia and country offices worldwide. KNCV raises funds from private, institutional, corporate, and government donors. KNCV’s main funding source is the USAID funded Challenge TB project, which is also implemented in 22 countries.

Background

Diagnosis of TB in children is made difficult by children not being able to expectorate sputum, which leads to both overdiagnosis on clinical grounds and incorrect treatment due to lack of drug resistance profiles. A non-sputum-based sample, such as stool, which could be run on the Xpert MTB/RIF cartridge could provide bacteriological confirmation of disease, along with information on resistance to rifampicin. Different processing protocols for stool specimens have been developed that warrant evaluation, most of which are technically complex and require specific reagents and/or equipment. KNCV has developed a simple one-step stool processing method with no specific infrastructure or equipment requirements that has the potential to improve access to rapid diagnostic confirmation and appropriate treatment for children.

People living with HIV (PLHIV) often also find expectoration of sputum challenging and therefore are often either not diagnosed, or given a smear-negative diagnosis, with no possibility for drug resistance testing. Use of a non-sputum based sample, such as urine, has been proven to work well to diagnose TB in PLHIV. This could confirm TB infection and would lead to more accurate diagnosis and earlier treatment for PLHIV. It is hypothesized that the use of a screening algorithm that incorporates symptom screening, CD4 testing, Xpert MTB/RIF and urine LAM testing (FujiLAM) will increase the yield of bacteriologically confirmed TB cases, reduce time to TB diagnosis and treatment, and improve patient outcomes among PLHIV.

KNCV is implementing projects focusing on providing children in Ethiopia with access to non-invasive diagnostic methods for TB and to assess how the above two diagnostic interventions (stool testing for children and urine testing for PLHIV) can be incorporated into diagnostic algorithms to allow for improved diagnosis of TB in children and PLHIV, and generate implementation guidance to support WHO policy recommendations. Purpose of the position

KNCV is looking for a project coordinator who will lead and provide oversight on the above projects related to non-invasive diagnostic methods for TB. Position in the organization

The project coordinator will report directly to the Country Representative, and will work in close coordination with the KNCV central office teams leads and grant manager.

As the Project coordinator you will:

Technical assistance

• Coordinate KNCV’s implementation of feasibility of alternative non-invasive samples for Xpert MTB/RIF and LAM testing
• Contribute to design of study protocols and data collection tools for the validation studies under this project
• Coordinate submission of the study protocols for local human subjects review and approval
• Build the capacity of public TB officers within the NTP, EPHI, Regional Health Bureau in relation to exploring the feasibility of alternative non-invasive samples for TB testing
• Train and mentor health personnel in the project sites on enrollment, techniques of sample collection, and data collection for the studies
• Supervise the overall specimen transport and results feedback system (communication) strengthening of the networks of the GeneXpert sites with EPHI.
• Provide technical support to the health facilities during supportive supervision and review meetings
• Ensure that records are maintained at facility level, EPHI and at the office
• Prepare project progress reports for regular meetings and donor reports and report to KNCV country office and HQ on a pre-defined basis.

People, project and quality management

• Oversee the day-to-day implementation of the study, including activities undertaken by the staff involved in the projects (including the senior laboratory advisor)
• Maintain close communication related to the project implementation with Ethiopian Public Health Institute, National TB Program, National HIV/AIDS Program, Regional Health Bureaus, Zonal Health Departments and Health Facilities where the project is implemented
• Ensure coordination between projects
• Develop annual work plan and coordinate implementation, in coordination with EPHI/NTP, the Regional team and other relevant partners and stakeholders, of the outlined project activities

Knowledge management

• Identify knowledge gaps at office level and health facility level regarding the project and its essence – and initiate and guide further capacity building
• Ensure that up to date knowledge on TB control areas and new technologies especially in area of non-invasive sample collection for TB testing
• Actively share knowledge and skills with the national, regional reference laboratories, GeneXpert laboratories and TB control program

What does KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation offer?

• A fixed-term contract for a year with a possibility for extension;
• An informal work atmosphere in an international environment where a pro-active mentality is appreciated;
• A highly-motivated team of experienced, self-driven colleagues;
• The salary is dependent upon education and relevant working experience;
• KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation has its own Employment Conditions Scheme;
• Full-time employment consists of 40 hours per week.

Job Requirements

Who are we looking for?

Education

• Medical Doctor with Specialty in Pediatrics or Masters’ Degree in Public Health or equivalent

Knowledge/experience

• Minimum 7 years, post qualification experience including working in TB control at national or sub-national level
• Solid knowledge and experience of operational research related to TB with particular focus on childhood TB including implementation, proposal development, research ethical policy and procedures
• Experience in childhood TB program management and implementation
• Sound knowledge of basic principles of childhood TB and the challenges associated with diagnosing childhood TB
• Candidates with experience in working with the National TB Program and building the capacity of health care workers in childhood TB will be preferred.
• Behavioral competencies and skills
• Good interpersonal skills with experience in networking with partners at all levels (ministry, donors, private sector, NGOs and local community-based organizations);
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and one other relevant language;
• Country national preferable, conversant in the local language;
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently;
• Ability to cope with a demanding work environment and to organize and prioritize workload;
• Ability to work in a national and international team.