Senior Technical Advisor (01) REF/CDC/Senior Technical Advisor-12-22.
Main purpose of the job
Amref Health Africa is seeking a qualified Senior Technical Advisor to provide leadership in capacity building and Technical Assistance for the transition and integration of the anticipated CDC-funded activity titled Transitioning and Integrating Laboratory Services for High-Quality HIV Diagnosis, Care, Treatment, and Monitoring to the Ministry of Health (MOH) to Sustain Achievement of the 95-95-95 Goals in Zambia under PEPFAR.
The Senior Technical Advisor (STA) will work under the supervision of the Project Director to support the stepwise full transition of PEPFAR-supported laboratory systems and services to the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ). The project will provide technical assistance (TA) for further adaptation of the diagnostic system for immediate needs such as outbreaks of novel diseases, additional surveillance system requirements, and new international reporting mechanisms as guided by CDC. By the end of the project period, the project will perform a capacity assessment of GRZ to carry out all the laboratory system functions and a cost assessment to fully understand the costs of sustaining the system.
The STA will provide leadership for the transitioning and integration processes. S/he will implement the laboratory capacity building and networking strategy and support laboratory training, mentorship, technical assistance, and quality assurance activities to build the capacity of health staff at national and provincial government and local partners. S/he will also evaluate programmatic effectiveness and provide laboratory technical assessment reports to include corrective actions and capacity building plans.
Duties and Responsibilities.
- Lead the assessment for the transition that will include: viral load (VL), early infant diagnosis (EID), sample referral, testing, and results return systems, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), including integration with SmartCare, eLABS, and DHIS2, laboratory equipment calibration facilities and systems, external quality assurance (EQA) systems following implementation of ISO 17043, diagnostic equipment maintenance program, courier vehicle replacement, salvage, and maintenance program, waste management, backup power systems, rapid test continuous quality improvement (RTCQI) as an activity related to baseline VL, diagnostic network optimization (DNO), laboratory quality management systems (QMS), biosafety and biosecurity program, and laboratory- specific supply chain management and integrated testing including human papillomavirus (HPV) and TB.
- Take part in donor review meetings on a quarterly basis.
- Directly supervise the project staff both the national and provincial level.
- Provide national and provincial oversight over laboratory- clinical-interface and quality management systems for HIV and TB testing services S/he will ensures the MOH is supported to develop, review and implement laboratory policies and guidelines for HIV/TB related diagnosis and management both at national and country levels.
- Ensure effective and efficient completion of all project technical and financial deliverables and reports;
- Work with M&E staff to adopt M&E framework and effectively track project implementation.
- Mentor, support, supervise and manage the project staff and align efforts to ensure rapid and sustainable results.
- Oversee the preparation and timely submission of project reports to CDC.
- Lead the annual work planning process in close collaboration with project team, CDC, national and country teams.
- Ensure compliance with project and CDC operational policies and guidelines.
Required Qualifications
Education Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health or related field.
Experience Required
- At least Six (6) years’ experience in project management, planning, monitoring and evaluation preferably in health programs, at least Four (4) years in implementation of HIV related medical laboratory activities in a donor funded project.
- Demonstrated success managing and leading technical and administrative teams in USG funded programs – CDC experience strongly desired.
- Experience in client relationship management, developing program work plans, developing program budgets, managing program implementation, and managing and supervising staff.
- Proven ability to negotiate with senior government and donor officials.
Skills and Competencies
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a multicultural team.
- Able to work under pressure and on multiple tasks.
- Dynamic, self- motivated and able to demonstrate initiative.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English (written and spoken).
If you are interested, please send your application to Recruitment.Zambia@amref.org so as to be received on or before 10 January 2023. Your application should include a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for the position, and a CV with relevant skills and experience. The subject of the email should reference the position you are applying for and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Duly note that Amref Health Africa does not require applicants to pay any money at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process and has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment. Although Amref may use different job boards from time to time to further spread its reach for applicants, all open vacancies are published on our website under the Vacancies page and on our official social media pages. Kindly note that official emails from Amref Health Africa will arrive from an @amref.org address.
Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is an equal opportunity employer and has a non-smoking environment policy.
