Senior Laboratory Associates at KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation - 2 Openings

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Nigeria is a local non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis (TB), the deadliest infectious disease in the Nigeria. KNCV Nigeria is a local center of excellence for TB control that promotes effective, efficient, innovative and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national context. Our multidisciplinary team of passionate professionals covers a broad range of expertise such as programmatic TB control, research, clinical management, social science, education, digital health, and project management.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Laboratory Associate

Vacancy Number: KN053
Locations: Bauchi and Taraba
Reports to: The Laboratory Advisors

USAID Nigeria TB LON Region 1 and 2 Project
The TB LON Project is funded by USAID Nigeria and focuses on locally generated solutions to provide TB prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and notification, while addressing stigma and discrimination. The TB LON region 1 and 2 project is to be implemented by KNCV TB foundation Nigeria to expand the provision of and increase access to TB services among formal and informal health providers through the engagement  of the private sector, umbrella and local chapters of health and allied professional organizations, faith-based institutions, communities and civil society.The project is targeted at increasing the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases that are detected, treated and notified to  437,895 within the five year grant implementation period 2020 to 2025 and implemented across 14 states in Nigeria; Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Imo and Rivers State. The project’s four intermediate results are as follows:

• Improved access to high-quality, person-centered TB, DR-TB, and TB/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (TB/HIV) services;
• Strengthened TB service delivery platforms;
• Reduced TB disease transmission and progression and
• Accelerated TB innovations with improved impact on program implementation.

KNCV Nigeria is working with a consortium of partners- two sub recipients- CCCRN and KNCV International and six strategic service package providers- Intrasat Global, IPCD, Jana Health Foundation, Diadem Consult, Public Health Concerns Ltd and TB Network. Towards meeting the project set targets, KNCV Nigeria and partners adopted a mixed model of community and facility based, health systems strengthening strategies and digital solutions to find TB cases in a Roll in, Roll on and Roll out staged approach. Roll in is in year 1 which is the planning stage, collaborations and capacity building, Roll on is the saturation stage in Year 2,3 and 4 while Roll out in year 5 is the transitioning Stage.

Responsibilities

• Provide support and technical assistance to sample transport network including working closely with NiSRN state team to ensure prompt transportation of samples, redistribution of samples where necessary and timely retrieval of results.
• Provide technical oversight to GeneXpert laboratories to facilitate quick resolution of faulty Xpert machines through prompt escalations of faults, collection of mandatory documents and performing minor troubleshooting with Cepheid guidance.
• Provide Technical oversight to Truenat laboratories to ensure uninterrupted testing, regular supply of reagents ad other consumables as well as timely reporting of data
• Interface with lab focal persons and data entry clerk to facilitate timely processing of samples, retrieval of all results and timely upload unto Commcare device to improve and sustain high evaluation rate across testing facilities.
• Collate and validate weekly and monthly data reports from Xpert labs for routine performance evaluation of the project.
• Conduct routine surveillance of GXAlert functionality and data upload for all Xpert and Truenat machines in the state and report gaps to the GXAlert focal person for immediate resolution.
• Supervise Xpert optimization related jobs (eg A/C repairs, inverter and battery replacement etc) to ensure timely execution of quality jobs.
• Any other duties that may be assigned by the cluster Lab advisor.

Who Are We Looking For?
Education:

• Medical Laboratory Technologist or any other Laboratory related discipline.

Knowledge / Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years work experience in public health settings preferable – preferably TB or HIV programs;
• Experience in managing a team.
• Experience in coordinating multiple party stakeholder.
• Experience in wide scale community-based intervention;
• Experience in community mobilization efforts;
• Experience managing complex health data.

Behavioral Competencies and Skills:

• An out-of-the-box thinker who can develop innovative ideas towards achieving the objective of increasing TB case finding;
• Demonstrated facilitation skills;
• Proven ability to develop effective working relationships;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• The ability to organize and prioritize with eye for detail.

What Do We Offer?

• A full-time (40 hours per week) short-term contract with the intention to extend the contract depending on funding and performance;
• An informal work atmosphere in an international environment where initiative is appreciated;
• A highly-motivated team of experienced, self-driven colleagues;
• KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation has its own Employment Conditions Scheme.

Application Closing Date
22nd February, 2022.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send submit their CV, including a Motivation Letter and 3 Professional References which must be indicated in their CV to: recruitment@kncvnigeria.org using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

Note

• For more information, please contact us via +234 (0)9030349255.
• We only consider applications that are received through the KNCV TB Foundation Nigeria recruitment email.