PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Zambia National Public Health Institute with support from the World Bank is implementing the Africa CDC Regional Investment Financing Project (ACDCP). The Project seeks to provide institutional strengthening to the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) to enhance Zambia’s public health security and will support the development of vital institutional capacities to execute measurable functions.

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to support Africa CDC to strengthen continental and regional infectious disease detection and response systems.

The Project has five strategic components: (1) Governance, Advocacy and Operational Frameworks; (2) Public Health Assets; (3) Human Resource Development; (4) Project Management Support; and (5) a Contingent Emergency Response component.

Component 2: Public Health Assets will support the establishment of a small number of fit for purpose laboratories, transnational surveillance networks, emergency response mechanisms, and other health assets designed to manage disease risks on regional or continental scale.

Under the ACDCP, The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) seeks to engage a Laboratory Specialist to be based in the ZNPHI Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to support the project implementation on Laboratory related issues.

a. Duty Station: Zambia National Public Health Institute PIU, Lusaka

b. Reports to: Project Coordinator – ACDCP

c. Title: Laboratory Specialist (1 Post)

Objectives of the Assignment

The Laboratory Specialist will primarily be responsible for implementation of the Laboratory aspects of the Project including contributing to the design and procurement of the equipment for the Laboratory complex (which includes BSL1, BSL2 and BSL3 Laboratory) and will be a Regional Centre of Excellence to ensure adherence to set standards and quality. This requires working closely with the ZNPHI Laboratory Systems and Networks (LSN) cluster.

Technical Responsibilities

• conducting laboratory assessments, capacity building and strengthening of the laboratories;
• supporting strategies to enhance diagnostic surveillance systems;
• support for improved and sustainable laboratory services both at the national and subnational levels with an emphasis of strengthening the role of the Public Health Reference laboratories for greater sustainability of laboratory services, including strategies for maintenance of QMS;
• Support hub system for specimen referral, testing, and result transmission;
• Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS);
• biosafety and biosecurity;
• increased utilization of the National Health Laboratory standards and regulations; and ensuring effective national, regional, and local partnerships and collaborations with technical experts and other professionals.

Main Duties/key Responsibilities

This position is suitable for an experienced laboratory scientist with public health experience. The Laboratory Specialist will work very closely with the ZNPHI Director of LSN and his/her team. The Laboratory Specialist is expected to develop collaborative relationships with other project staff, interact with internal and external clients and partners. The laboratory specialist will provide technical assistance, quality assessment and capacity building services to ensure and enhance the quality of laboratory services associated with the Project. Specifically, the key responsibilities are:

• Work closely with the ZNPHI Laboratory System Network Cluster in achieving the goals of establishing a functional One Health public health laboratory system and network for Zambia, particularly the design, equipping and operationalisation of the national BSL-3 laboratory facility to be constructed under the ACDCP.
• Participate in and provide technical input in the design and construction of the Laboratory complex BSL1, BSL2 and BSL3.
• Advise ZNPHI/MOH on the type and specification of Laboratory equipment to be procured for the Laboratories to be constructed under the project.
• Support the development of equipment maintenance and calibration plan for laboratory complex.
• Support the implementation of good laboratory practices and biosafety & biosecurity standards.
• Support to build laboratory network and foster collaboration between the Regional Centre of Excellence (Laboratory complex) and other National and regional Public Health Laboratories.
• Support to establish a sample referral system and feedback mechanism between the Regional Centre of Excellence and other National Public Health Laboratories.
• Contribute to the development of research agenda for priority pathogens including result dissemination and scientific publications.
• Contribute to development of BSL3 laboratory standard operating procedures and other management documents compliant with national and international quality and governance standards.
• Support the development of management processes such as supply chain monitoring plan for the BSI-3 laboratory.
• Participating in activities relevant to laboratory committees, working groups and other expert groups as required.
• Participate in developing and monitoring of annual work plans and budgets and execute the work-plan and budget using team effort.
• Support the development of training plan and participate/ facilitate in trainings for laboratory staff that include test methods, QMS (including mentorship towards accreditation), biosafety & biosecurity, laboratory management and others.
• Conduct assessment of needs for expansion of laboratory testing profiles and procurement of new equipment and support operationalization of satellite BSL 2 laboratory sites and public health laboratory network laboratories.
• Support laboratories in data management and data sharing.
• Support the implementation of laboratory-based sentinel surveillance activities and ensure timely laboratory communication of results of notifiable disease from sub national to national level and within the national public health laboratory network.
• Support the implementation of laboratory activities in the AMR national action plan.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Timelines and Duration

This is a full-time position for the duration of the Project.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory sciences or biological sciences or other related biomedical sciences discipline is required.
• Postgraduate qualification in a Science field, Public Health field, or any relevant equivalent subject preferred.
• At least five-year work experience at senior level managing public health laboratories and/or laboratory programs under donor funded projects.
• Experience of working with high pathogens risk and biosafety level 3 or 4 laboratories will be an added advantage.
• Experience in supporting the design, construction and equipping of a laboratory will be an added advantage.
• Experience in implementing quality management systems and laboratory quality control (including external quality assurance program).
• Familiarity with international biosafety and biosecurity regulations.
• In-depth understanding of relevant laboratory policies, standards, and guidelines.
• Experience of participation in research and publications.
• Experience in organize and facilitate training/ workshop for health professionals.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) in English.
• Proficiency in use of general computing applications such as MS Excel, Word, Power point.
• Member of relevant professional body is an added advantage.

Demonstrate Skills And Competencies

• A team player with strong interpersonal, communication skills, relationship building and networking skills;
• Strong analytical skills with an ability to evaluate and propose strategic options;
• Ability to multi-task (prioritize, organize, schedule work);
• Ability to think critically and strategically in difficult conditions to diplomatically challenge the status quo and encourage shared ownership of outcomes;
• Commitment to ensuring that knowledge transfer and capacity building is central in the work;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

• conducting laboratory assessments, capacity building and strengthening of the laboratories;
• supporting strategies to enhance diagnostic surveillance systems;
• support for improved and sustainable laboratory services both at the national and subnational levels with an emphasis of strengthening the role of the Public Health Reference laboratories for greater sustainability of laboratory services, including strategies for maintenance of QMS;
• Support hub system for specimen referral, testing, and result transmission;
• Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS);
• biosafety and biosecurity;
• increased utilization of the National Health Laboratory standards and regulations; and ensuring effective national, regional, and local partnerships and collaborations with technical experts and other professionals.
• Work closely with the ZNPHI Laboratory System Network Cluster in achieving the goals of establishing a functional One Health public health laboratory system and network for Zambia, particularly the design, equipping and operationalisation of the national BSL-3 laboratory facility to be constructed under the ACDCP.
• Participate in and provide technical input in the design and construction of the Laboratory complex BSL1, BSL2 and BSL3.
• Advise ZNPHI/MOH on the type and specification of Laboratory equipment to be procured for the Laboratories to be constructed under the project.
• Support the development of equipment maintenance and calibration plan for laboratory complex.
• Support the implementation of good laboratory practices and biosafety & biosecurity standards.
• Support to build laboratory network and foster collaboration between the Regional Centre of Excellence (Laboratory complex) and other National and regional Public Health Laboratories.
• Support to establish a sample referral system and feedback mechanism between the Regional Centre of Excellence and other National Public Health Laboratories.
• Contribute to the development of research agenda for priority pathogens including result dissemination and scientific publications.
• Contribute to development of BSL3 laboratory standard operating procedures and other management documents compliant with national and international quality and governance standards.
• Support the development of management processes such as supply chain monitoring plan for the BSI-3 laboratory.
• Participating in activities relevant to laboratory committees, working groups and other expert groups as required.
• Participate in developing and monitoring of annual work plans and budgets and execute the work-plan and budget using team effort.
• Support the development of training plan and participate/ facilitate in trainings for laboratory staff that include test methods, QMS (including mentorship towards accreditation), biosafety & biosecurity, laboratory management and others.
• Conduct assessment of needs for expansion of laboratory testing profiles and procurement of new equipment and support operationalization of satellite BSL 2 laboratory sites and public health laboratory network laboratories.
• Support laboratories in data management and data sharing.
• Support the implementation of laboratory-based sentinel surveillance activities and ensure timely laboratory communication of results of notifiable disease from sub national to national level and within the national public health laboratory network.
• Support the implementation of laboratory activities in the AMR national action plan.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• A team player with strong interpersonal, communication skills, relationship building and networking skills;
• Strong analytical skills with an ability to evaluate and propose strategic options;
• Ability to multi-task (prioritize, organize, schedule work);
• Ability to think critically and strategically in difficult conditions to diplomatically challenge the status quo and encourage shared ownership of outcomes;
• Commitment to ensuring that knowledge transfer and capacity building is central in the work;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) in English.
• Proficiency in use of general computing applications such as MS Excel, Word, Power point.

• Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory sciences or biological sciences or other related biomedical sciences discipline is required.
• Postgraduate qualification in a Science field, Public Health field, or any relevant equivalent subject preferred.
• At least five-year work experience at senior level managing public health laboratories and/or laboratory programs under donor funded projects.
• Experience of working with high pathogens risk and biosafety level 3 or 4 laboratories will be an added advantage.
• Experience in supporting the design, construction and equipping of a laboratory will be an added advantage.
• Experience in implementing quality management systems and laboratory quality control (including external quality assurance program).
• Familiarity with international biosafety and biosecurity regulations.
• In-depth understanding of relevant laboratory policies, standards, and guidelines.
• Experience of participation in research and publications.
• Experience in organize and facilitate training/ workshop for health professionals.
• Member of relevant professional body is an added advantage.