Senior Laboratory Technologist

Requisition ID: req47247

Job Title: Senior Laboratory Technologist

Sector: Health

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Hagadera, Kenya

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee(IRC) responds to the worlds worst humanitarian crises and helps people whoselives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive,recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC has been working in Kenyasince 1992, providing crucial services across the two refugee camps, Dadaab andKakuma, and a number of counties (Garissa, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu,Kajiado, Lamu and Nairobi) implementing programs in the sectors of health,nutrition, governance & rights, womens protection & empowerment,Economic Recovery and Development, as well as providing emergency responsethrough a network of field offices and a range of institutional andcommunity-based partnerships.

Job Purpose/Objective

The Laboratory in-charge willplan, lead, and supervise all laboratory operations in the IRCs Dadaab programas defined by the IRCs policies, protocols, procedures and standards. Theywill supervise laboratory technologists to ensure high quality diagnosticlaboratory services are offered to the IRCs clients.

Key Responsibilities:

Laboratory Management

• Ensure the laboratory unit has allthe requisite resources for effective and efficient work.
• Follow laid down KMLTTBregulations rules for the medical lab profession while adhering to MOH, WHO,CDC and SPHERE standards of patient care.
• Review and approve technicaldocuments, reports, methods, specifications, SOPs and change controls as may benecessitated by changes in policies, procedures, or general practice.
• Serve as laboratory departmentalliaison during government inspections and audits.
• Give technical support to all MOHlaboratories supported by IRC.

Budget Management

• Participate in budget and proposaldesign for available funding opportunities with respect to laboratoryactivities.
• Supervise and manage the use ofresources to ensure allocated budgets are met.
• Improve operational andadministrative processes to ensure cost-effectiveness and show good judgment inthe utilization of funds, laboratory supplies and human resources.

Supplies Management

• Advise the supply chain departmentand participate in defining medical supplier qualification requirements,quality assurance and cold chain/ storage advisories.
• Schedule and lead regular stocktakes of lab supplies and submit reports on short expiries.
• Maintain adequacy and properstorage of lab supplies and blood products.
• Ensure the lab fridgestemperatures and ambient temperature and humidity are charted daily, reportingany aberrations.

Equipment Management

• Maintain optimum performance ofmedical laboratory equipment in all facilities.
• Promptly report any malfunctionsand liaise with the supply chain department for timely repair or replacement.
• Update asset declaration with thesupply chain department quarterly.

People Management

• Provide effective leadership andguidance to technologists, assistants, and support staff.
• Recruit laboratory staff, ensuringthey have the required education, training, and competence to provide medicallaboratory services that meet the needs and requirements of the clients andclinical team.
• Assign lab staff duties andsupervise their work performance.
• Identify capacity-building andgrowth areas among lab staff and cultivate their learning and development.
• Prepare quarterly leave plans forthe laboratory team, ensuring adequate coverage in all three facilitiesthroughout the year.
• Address staff complaints andconcerns, solve problems and handle any difference of opinion within thedepartment, employing a helpful and productive approach.
• Lead by example, being a positiverole model to staff under their supervision by exemplifying the IRC Way ofIntegrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.

Technical Activities

• Facilitate departmental strategicplanning and coordination of departmental operations across the sites (mainlab, health posts and other IP labs) and contribute to system-based managementof laboratories.
• Lead specific initiatives acrossall sites to ensure standardization and effectiveness of key processes.
• Implement innovative programs,tests, methods, instrumentation, and procedures by investigating alternatives;preparing proposals; developing and performing parallel testing and monitoringprogress.
• Define, develop, and deploy keyquality systems for the operations of the laboratory.
• Design and implement contingencyplans to ensure that essential services are available during emergencysituations or other conditions when laboratory services are limited orunavailable.

Quality Management

• Implement a safe laboratoryenvironment in compliance with good laboratory practice and applicablerequirements.
• Maintain high quality results byparticipating in the laboratory quality assurance program.
• Ensure results are relayed to endusers in a timely manner.
• Serve as a contributing member ofthe medical team by providing clinical advice with respect to the choice oftest, use of lab services and interpretation of test results.
• Ensure that any issue pertainingto quality is raised to the Health Manager.
• Prepare, analyze, and act onquality indicator reports (IQC and EQA).
• Coordinate EQA for all thelaboratories, HIV program and TB program and ensure regular feedback from thereference laboratory is available.
• Identify areas for qualityimprovement and establish, monitor and evaluate continuous laboratory qualityimprovement plans.
• Ensure all sentinelincidents/events are recorded and reported to the Health Manager within 24hours.
• Maintain sound laboratoryinfrastructure by prompt reporting of any infrastructural needs, concerns, ordefects to the field construction team to facilitate timely assessment andinitiation of repairs/ renovations.
• Guide the supply chain departmentthrough the selection of referral laboratories and supervise the quality oftheir service.

Infection Prevention & Control (IPC)

• Maintain and implement IPCstandards in the lab environment, and when carrying out tests.
• Ensure appropriate personalprotective equipment (PPE) is available and consistently worn by all laboratorystaff.
• Make sure of the proper disposalof medical waste.

Reporting and Coordination:

• Lead specific initiatives acrossall testing sites to ensure standardization and effectiveness for key reportingtools in data collection and reporting.
• Develop and implement a laboratoryreporting tree for notifiable diseases such as polio, measles, dengue fever andcholera, ensuring outbreaks are well documented and promptly communicated.
• Develop user-friendly reportingtools for all types of results including weekly, monthly and special reportsand proactively seek the necessary feedback.
• Attend daily hospital handovermeetings and communicate any updates pertaining to laboratory operations.
• Coordinate and maintain goodworking relationships with key partners such as MOH, NRL, KEMRI, CDC, NPHL,APHL and other Implementing Partners.

Client Satisfaction

• Relate well to the patientpopulation served and other cadres of health staff alike.
• Ensure client satisfaction throughhigh quality of service, effective communication, prompt feedback andescalation of any unresolved issues to the Health Manager.
• Always maintain patient privacyand confidentiality.

Key Result Areas

• Achievement of overalldepartmental strategic and operational goals.
• Proper coordination andimplementation of lab systems including quality, SLAS and capacity building.
• Implementation of cost-effectivemeasures and systems in laboratory supplies procurement and management.
• Accurate forecasting and budgetingto avoid service interruption due to stock outs.

Qualifications

• Minimum of bachelors degree orHigher National Diploma in Laboratory Medicine.
• Registered by Kenya MedicalLaboratory Technicians and Technologist Board.
• Served as a medical laboratorytechnician or technologist under supervision for a period of not less than 7years.
• Knowledge of national andinternational laboratory standards and regulations.
• Excellent strategic planning,forecasting and budgeting skills.
• Excellent interpersonal,communication and presentation skills, including report writing.
• Proficiency in MS Excel.
• Strong analytical and criticalthinking skills.
• Demonstrate a high level ofintegrity and deference to GEDI principles.
• Previous work experience with theInternational Rescue Committee is an added advantage.
• Previous laboratory managementexperience is a plus.
• Prior work experience inLaboratory Systems Development and validation preferred.

Standards of ProfessionalConduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principlesoutlined in the IRC Way Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, andAccountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforcespolicies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, ChildSafeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation,Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC iscommitted to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offerbenefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in ourworkforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols andother supportive benefits and allowance.

Kenyan nationals are encouragedto apply. International allowances are not available for this position. Salaryand employee benefits are compliant to the Kenyan NGO Sector.

IRC is an Equal OpportunityEmployer and considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard torace, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, maritalstatus, veteran status or disability.

Disclaimer:

Please take note thatInternational Rescue Committee (IRC) does not ask for any fees in connectionwith its recruitment processes.