Program Officer Laboratory Services

Title: Program Officer Laboratory Services
Location: Shinyanga
Report to: Regional Program Coordinator

Major Responsibilities:
The purpose of this position is to strengthen the implementation and management of overall laboratory quality assurance activities and training as needed for the AGPAHI supported programs. Program Officer Laboratory Services [POLS] will provide direct technical assistance to laboratory sites and/or serve a coordinating role in ensuring that the appropriate resources are recruited in order to assist sites in maintaining the highest level of quality systems.

Travel:
In order to achieve the goals at least 50% of working days will require local travel in Shinyanga region.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Ensuring good quality clinical laboratory services in AGPAHI supported sites in Shinyanga region:

• Conduct Laboratory specific supportive supervision and Laboratory Mentorship
• Conduct ongoing assessments of Laboratory Quality Systems within the AGPAHI supported labs; identify areas for quality improvement and provide advice and technical assistance.
• Ensure that SOPs, laboratory manuals, guidelines, worksheets and forms are appropriately utilized at all sites and assist in the modification of these forms whenever appropriate.
• Prepare and facilitate trainings for laboratory staff and other stakeholders, to ensure good quality lab services.
• Liaise with the AGPAHI Technical in Shinyanga and HQ, to provide strategic technical guidance on laboratory activities in field and strategies for improvement.
• Assisting EID activities (Lab Technical assistance, samples, results transportation, DBS SCM) in the Geita Shinyanga and Simiyu regions.
• Ensures that laboratories have an uninterrupted supply of reagents as well as the conditions necessary to ensure reagent stability
• Assesses laboratories for current capacity and guides capacity building efforts
• Facilitate supply chain management system on laboratory reagents and equipment through central procurement system and Medical store.

Capacity building of lab services in districts and sites:

• Liaise with Laboratory Quality Officers and other stakeholders in the district and region in developing strategies to improve and standardize the quality systems in all of the AGPAHI supported laboratories.
• Liaise with the RPM and RPC to identify additional regional technical assistance needs and resources for laboratory quality assurance.
• Actively propose innovative strategies to RPM and RPC for strengthening laboratory activities in the region, including the local capacity to implement and supervise these activities.

Reporting:

• Responsible for Lab related data collection, analysis and reporting and proper documentation.
• Collaborate with the RPM, RPC to regularly inform all local stakeholders about the AGPAHI supported laboratory activities in the region.
• Provide any other information / reports as requested by the RPM or RPC.

QUALIFICATION
• A minimum of advanced diploma or equivalent in Medical Laboratory Science
• Minimum of three years working in a clinical laboratory
• Experience with laboratory tests and techniques required for the diagnosis and monitoring of the following (but not limited to): HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, STIs, and other infectious diseases.
• Experience working with laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables required for the above-mentioned infections
• Preference given to those who have proven ability to service and properly maintain laboratory equipment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• A proven ability to work as part of a team.
• Suitable computer skills with spread sheet and word processing and other software, preferably Microsoft Word and Excel

HOW TO APPLY
AGPAHI is an equal opportunities employer and these positions are open to all, but ONLY qualified candidates should submit a CV and a cover letter explaining how the experience detailed in the CV will contribute to the requirements of the position and references to AGPAHI.  For those who will send e-copies please send documents saved in your names

Submissions may be sent to:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AGPAHI
P.O. BOX 38252
Plot 373, Mtitu Street, East Upanga
Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania. Or e-mail: recruitment@agpahi.or.tz

OR you can apply online through: www.agpahi.or.tz

Closing date: 1st February, 2013
If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks after the closing date, please assume that your application was not successful.