Job Vacancy @ Partners in Health – Clinical Microbiologist Consultant

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health center and to referral hospitals.

• Support the PIHSL Microbiology Lab team to be operational based on the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) or European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) to process blood cultures for patients.
• Support the activities from the project side and be the link between PIHSL and project team.
• Ensure competency of all Lab personnel and adherence to PIH/MOHS Quality Management System.

• Train PIH/Ministry of Health (MoH) laboratory technicians on microbiology techniques in accordance with PIH/MOHS and international standards.
• Ensure to provide timely, reliable, and reproducible identification of microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility results.
• Actively participate in the antimicrobial stewardship committee and development of guidelines for the most common infectious diseases.
• Ensure the implementation of an Internal and external quality control system in the laboratory.
• Adapt the existing WHO Standard Operation Procedures for microbiology and other tools in accordance with MoH guidelines.
• Ensuring proper registration and records of all microbiology lab-related activities, implementing the correct use of the surveillance program WHONET to have proper records of laboratory results.
• Provide monthly reports based on extracted data from surveillance program WHONET.
• Compile, analyze and report microbiology lab activities and results to the clinical team providing relevant information for AMR surveillance and IPC.
• Plan and supervise, in close coordination with the project team, supply chain team for local and international orders for consumables and equipment needed for the microbiology laboratory.
• Monitor laboratory stock ensuring that stock cards are updated to calculate proper Average Monthly Consumptions of commodities to avoid stock ruptures.
• Collaborate with the M&E team in the development of data tools.
• Ensure all equipment in the Lab is functional and report faults timely to the PIH Biomed and other reporting lines.
• Ensure good collaboration with the MoH laboratory team.
• Ensure safety and security of labs, in collaboration with Lab Quality Officer (LQO) and MOH Lab Lead

• Responsible for ordering and supply chain management of reagents and materials for micro lab in line with the approved laboratory budget:
• Oversee consumption of supplies and requests
• Work closely with PIHSL and Lab cross site team and procurement teams to ensure timely order processing and adherence with the national guidelines.
• Develop SOPs for tests and procedures
• Evaluate and mentor staff in the performance of laboratory functions and procedures
• Train laboratory technicians in laboratory techniques, SOPs and quality assurance (QA) protocols for essential laboratory services
• Oversee record keeping and data management
• Perform other task as may be required

• Technical knowledge and professional experience in laboratory diagnostics and Clinical Microbiology.
• University degree, with advanced degree in Clinical Microbiology.
• Biologist or medical doctor, with clinical microbiology specialization or equivalent.
• Clinical microbiologist (MD) 
• Laboratory scientist certified in clinical microbiology

Skills & Qualities

• Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to teamwork and humanitarian principle
• Flexible, enthusiastic and willing to learn from others
• Ability to multitask and cope with competing demands under tight deadlines
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment
• Strong organizational and time management skills and flexibility to learn and take on new tasks
• Strong ability to meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.

Experience:

• Previous working experience with local or international NGOs will be considered as a strong advantage 
• 5 years of relevant professional experience in bacteriology services preferably in a busy hospital
• High professional ethics
• Ability to collaborate professionally with culturally diverse colleagues and constituencies.
• Strong verbal and written English skills
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Strong competencies in antibiograms analysis and identification of resistance mechanism.
• Experience in team management. 
• Experience in training and mentorship.
• Language skills: English