Technical Officer - Laboratory Services at Amref Kenya

Ref: Amref/IMARISHA/TO-Lab/2018/04-04

Duty Station: Wajir Town

IDENTIFICATION

REPORTING TO:  County Coordinator, Wajir

DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM/PROJECT: APHIAplus IMARISHA

PHYSICAL LOCATION: Wajir town (Wajir County)

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB: To coordinate APHIAplus IMARISHA’s support to commodity and laboratory services in Central Support Counties in the Northern Arid Lands. These are Garissa, Isiolo, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River and Wajir Counties.

The incumbent will be expected to offer support to counties by coordinating support through the respective CMLTs and County Coordinators/ C&T Officers.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Working with the respective County Coordinators/ C&T Officers and CMLTs, supports the functionality of County Commodity Security Committees
• Conducts laboratory assessments in regard to capacity, quality control, quality assurance and laboratory needs and ensures follow-up on needed corrective and preventive actions
• Carry out laboratory capacity building, assist in managing laboratory logistics e.g. sample networking and providing technical assistance.
• Support health care facilities to forecast their reagent needs, offer support towards strengthening of Laboratory infrastructure, equipment, logistics and procurement systems for sustainable and quality services.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance in the expansion of access to quality laboratory services by strengthening tiered laboratory networks and specimen referral for CD4, HIV early infant diagnosis (EID), HIV viral load, opportunistic disease detection, TB culture, molecular diagnostic/gene Xpert and HIV/TB drug resistance.
• Support implementation of a quality improvement, data demand and information use framework aimed at improving County level capacity in reporting and utilization of data for enhanced service coverage.
• Support strengthening of biosafety, infection control, occupational health and safety and medical waste management and will support strengthening of Laboratory Quality Management Systems (QMS) ensuring QA/QC/EQC systems are functional.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education

• Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences or Higher Diploma in Medical Laboratory Sciences
• MUST be registered by KMLTTB
• Holder of a valid practice license.

Experience

• At least 5 years post-qualification experience
  Experience in ISO15189 standards and training and knowledge in accreditation processes for laboratories is desirable.

Skills

• Medical laboratory technical skills including QA/QC,
• ICT proficiency
• Excellent communication skills
• Interpersonal skills

Competencies

• Mature with initiative
• Ability to work in multi-cultural teams
• Confidentiality;
• Ethical;
• Integrity;
• Reliability; and
• Ability to work within deadlines.
• Attention to detail

Work Environment: Normal office environment at the work station. Will be expected to travel extensively (>50% of the time) and may be required to stay longer at the project sites

Hours of Work: Job holder may be required to work outside normal working hours due to the nature of the work in general

The jobs offer competitive salary and excellent work environment.