Public Health Specialist, Laboratory Advisor at the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Public Health Specialist, Laboratory Advisor - All Interested Candidates

Announcement Number: Abuja-2021-034
Location: Abuja
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Series / Grade: LE - 0550 11
Work Schedule: Full-time - 40 hours per week
Promotion Potential: LE-11

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
  • Who May Apply / Clarification From the Agency:
  • For USEFM - FP is 4.  Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.
• All Interested Applicants / All Sources
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Term appt, NTE 2 yrs
• Appointment Type Details: Definite not to Exceed 2 years

Summary

• The work schedule for this position is: Full Time (40 hours per week)
• Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (6 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
• Travel Required: 25% or less (Incumbent will perform work related travel)

Duties

• The incumbent serves as a Senior Laboratory Specialist and technical advisor to the CDC Global Health Security Agenda Program and Laboratory program, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the Ministry of Health, Implementing Partners (IPs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the designing, planning, implementation, Performance management, and laboratory systems strengthening programs and activities.
• The incumbent under the leadership and direct supervision of the Division of Global Health Protection Program Director, will be responsible for  the designing, planning, implementation oversight, monitoring, reporting and documentation of performance, as well as provision of technical assistance support and quality assurance management for the capacity building, and laboratory systems strengthening for COVID-19 and related laboratory activities funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements
Education Requirements:

• Masters' degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Microbiology, Chemical Pathology / Clinical Chemistry is required.

Experience:

• 5 years’ progressive medical laboratory science experience which includes at least 2 years as a laboratory program manager in a medical laboratory service delivery and health research setting.
• Experience in public health laboratory program implementation and laboratory-based surveillance at state or national level is required.
• Additional two years of managerial experience is also required.

Job Knowledge:

• Detailed knowledge of advanced laboratory procedures, laboratory diagnostics and biosafety-biosecurity of infectious diseases is required. Detailed knowledge of the public health laboratory systems in Nigeria is required. This includes knowledge of the principles, theories and practices of USG and internationally recognized standards for Laboratory regulations and procedures.
• Detailed knowledge of the host government health care system and structures including familiarity with Ministry of Health policies, program priorities and regulations is required.
• Good working knowledge of team management techniques to plan, organize and direct multi-disciplinary project teams and activities is required.
• Good working knowledge of overall administrative requirements in development and support of grants, contracts, memoranda of understanding and cooperative agreements is required.

Evaluations:

• Language:  Advanced fluency in speaking/reading/writing of English is required. This may be tested.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to resolve problems independently associated with the delivery of laboratory services is required. These could include procurement and distribution of lab supplies, equipment, manpower shortages, infrastructure deficiencies.
• Ability to analyze and interpret the spectrum of laboratory medicine services and to identify and resolve a variety of technical issues such as testing algorithms and diagnostic procedural weakness is required.
• Ability to lead project teams and workgroups to develop effective working relationships with national and international working partners to identify training needs and solutions is required.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills are required to develop and maintain effective, sustainable working relationships with national and international working partners and to prepare substantive and analytical reporting.
• Strong management skills are required to operate independently with limited direct supervision of day-to-day activities and to lead results-driven project teams and workgroups.
• Excellent overall computer skills (keyboarding with both speed and accuracy) is required.
• Ability to persuade others, ingenuity and innovation will be required to influence collaborative organizations engaged in disease prevention and control to adopt appropriate strategies for improving the Lab systems and processes in-country. Very good numerical skills for manipulating and reporting statistical data is required.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO):  

• The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Qualifications:

• All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits
Agency Benefits:

• Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Abuja, Nigeria may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.
• For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.
• The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

Other Information:

• Hiring Preference Selection Process: Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

Hiring Preference Order:

• AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
• AEFM / USEFM
• FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

Important

• Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), equivalent documentation, or certification.  A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
• ** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
• For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.

Marketing Statement:

• We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

Salary
NGN 15,890,203 - USD $58,767 / Annum

Application Closing Date
14th April, 2021.