Technical Officer Laboratory

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Description

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• Provide support to the Ministry of Health in developing and implementing strategies to strengthen the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) core capacities in the areas of laboratory, biosafety and biosecurity; including the national public health laboratory network, specimen referral mechanisms, introduction and rollout of new diagnostic technologies, implementation of quality management systems, in accordance with the APHSAF and guided by performance in other IHR M&E frameworks like the IHR Joint External Evaluation; State-Party Annual Reporting and National Action Plan for Health Security, where available
• Support the development and implementation of technical guidelines and standard operational procedures on laboratory testing for the detection of emerging, re-emerging, vaccine-preventable, and other
• infectious diseases, including the development and implementation of quality assurance mechanisms that contribute to strengthening quality management at the public health laboratories.
• Support the enhancement of laboratory infrastructure and the development of standard operating procedures to ensure safe and quality collection, handling, shipment storage and analysis of human specimens;
• Coordinate and organize, in collaboration with WHO HQ/RO and WHO Collaborating Centers, capacity building activities for strengthening national and subnational laboratory capacity to detect, confirm and characterize emerging, re-emerging, vaccine-preventable, and other infectious diseases pathogens, including those of epidemic and pandemic potential;
• Participate, in timely and efficient response to outbreaks/epidemics in collaboration with national health officials and with other partner organizations;
• Promote coordination among partners from national laboratories and international/regional laboratories, including One Health partners, as needed;
• Support the development and implementation of national biosafety and biosecurity frameworks, using an all-of-government approach;
• Support planning and implementation of research activities to strengthen policy and performance of public health laboratories; and
• Perform other related duties as may be required relevant to the context of the country or regional office

• First university degree in Laboratory medicine, Laboratory sciences, microbiology, pathology, molecular biology, virology, bacteriology, and/or related fields, from a recognized university.

• Minimum of five years’ relevant experience working in laboratory diagnostics or related work at public health laboratories or clinical laboratories, or research laboratories, including, experience working at national and international levels.

• Sound knowledge of standards, methodology and techniques in public health laboratories, including those in microbiology, molecular biology, virology, bacteriology, and, biosafety and biosecurity;
• Knowledge in communicable disease prevention and control, including the concept and principles of surveillance, laboratory confirmation, risk assessment, rapid response and
• preparedness;
• Knowledge of international public health laboratory systems including quality management systems and external quality assessment schemes;
• Ability to assess laboratory capacity and to find solutions to fill gaps;
• Ability to work flexibly, autonomously and efficiently, in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to adapt to shifting priorities;
• Demonstrated ability to use and make sense of complex data and/or information to effectively solve problems and contribute to public health decision-making;
• Strong writing skills including for presentations, proposals, concept notes, reports and other documents;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and diplomatic skills;
• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational background and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

• Expert knowledge of written and oral English is essential.  Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

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