OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior DS/Culture Laboratory Advisor is responsible in supporting the national TB reference laboratories and regional TB reference Laboratories in strengthening culture and DST services with major focus on second line DST to improve the diagnosis and Management of MDR, Pre XDR and XDR-TB patients. The position holder, with NTP and EPHI support to establish centers of excellence for PMDT through ensuring access to Second line DST for introduction and implementation of the new injectable free shorter MDR TB treatment regimen, full oral longer MDR TB treatment regimen and other new developments to improve the MDR, Pre-XDR/XDR-TB diagnosis and patients treatment outcome. The position holder also advises and supports the implementation of rapid and new diagnostic techniques for diagnosis of DS/DR-TB.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide support to the NTP, National and Regional Tuberculosis reference laboratory/ Ethiopia and Regional Public Health Institutes (NRL/EPHI & RTRL/RPHIs) and Eliminate TB from Ethiopia project (ETBE) in strengthening of culture and DST capacity with main focus on SLD DST & culture;
• Provide support to NTP, EPHI, RTRLs, RPHIs and ETBE project related to building national and regional capacity in management of culture and second line DST laboratory services (included EQA, biosafety, maintenance plan of equipment and BSC, BSL2, referral and Transport system of samples, reporting and recording and quality management system)
• Advise and support development and adherence to SOPs for culture and DST (phenotypic and Genotypic)
• Provide support to NTP, EPHI, RTRLs, RPHIs and ETBE project in strengthening and establishing Center of excellence for PMDT through ensuring access to timely quality TB lab services with focus on second line DST and culture services;
• Advise and assist in the development of an effective patient-based laboratory notification system of M/XDR-TB, allowing NTRL/NTP to immediately track any diagnosed X/MDR-TB case for proper case management;
• Maintain close communication with NTP, EPHI, RTRLs, RPHIs and other technical partners;
• Provide technical advice to the EPHI/RPHIs/RTRLs on all matters pertaining to culture and DST services and surveillance of DR-TB;
• Provide technical advice and expertise on the implementation of the new TB laboratory diagnostic tools;
• Continuously support transfer of skills and knowledge on mycobacteriology to laboratory technologists and any other laboratory staff as relevant.
• Participate in laboratory TWGs, DSM related to laboratory supplies
• Work with other partners that work in building the national CDST laboratory services
• Contribute to the implementation of LMIS
• Undertake other responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERINECE

• At least Master’s degree in medical laboratory sciences or equivalent,
• At least 10 years of work experience in a medical diagnostic laboratory specifically in TB diagnostics, culture and DST laboratory;
• Knowledge in using liquid and solid medium for TB culture and DST;
• Knowledge in mycobacterial identification using different techniques;
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of the public health and clinical functions of a National and Regional TB Reference Laboratories;
• Knowledge in Laboratory Quality Assurance, and strong experience of instituting good lab practice;
• Experience with automated equipment in particular: MGIT, SL-LPA GeneXpert;
• Experience with laboratory information systems, referral and quality management system is an important advantage;
• Operational research experience and publication in peer reviewed journals is an advantage;
• Supervisory, training, management and monitoring skills of other lab staffs;
• Extensive experience in the general management of a laboratory;
• Previous experience with USAID project is an advantage;
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English;

Behavioral competencies and skills:

• Good interpersonal communication;
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently;
• Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload;
• Ability to work in an international team;
• Demonstrated intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office applications
• Willingness to travel frequently within the project Regions (about 50%).