Job Vacancy @ Partners in Health – Senior Laboratory Manager

Job title: Senior Laboratory Manager
Work Location: Kono
Department: Clinical
Reports to: Clinical Service lead
Line Management Yes
Duration of Contract Twelve (12) Months with possibility of extension
Application Status External Advert
Organisation Profile
Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.
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.

Position Overview
PIH-Sierra Leone (PIH-SL) is having an exciting moment of its existence in Sierra Leone as the organization is taking on great challenges to implement new large-scale projects, which are bringing great opportunities to influence significant positive changes in the Sierra Leone health care system and on the global stage. PIH is expanding its support to the MOHS within the Kono district where we have our main interventions with our scale up more CHCs and the construction of the Maternal Center of Excellence MCOE; and beyond Kono supporting primary care facilities in Kailahun district and to provide technical support to 4 other districts. The Senior Lab Manager will work with the PIH clinical team to oversee all lab related interventions and initiatives in those supported districts and facilities in country. This position will ensure that PIH is well connected with relevant entities at MOHS to support adequately the minister strategies. The Senior Lab manager will also learn from lab experts and initiatives across One PIH to ensure that PIH-SL greatly benefit from existing experience and knowledge generated at global PIH. PIH seeks individuals committed to the mission and values of the organization to join the team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Lab Manager is responsible for and oversees all aspects of PIH programs supporting diagnostic and blood bank services in Sierra Leone
Ensure safety and security of labs, in collaboration with lab quality officer
Responsible for supply management of reagents and materials for laboratories and point of care testing:
Oversee consumption of supplies and requests of all diagnostic services and screening programs in all labs and blood bank
Prepare national, regional and international orders, in collaboration with medical leadership, national and Boston supply and procurement teams
Work with pharmacist to ensure supplies form national malaria, HIV and TB programs
Establish and maintain a routine documented schedule of quality control at laboratories in collaboration with Ministry of Health staff.
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
Scale up rapid diagnostic tests and other essential laboratory services as needed
Responsible for managing lab budget
Prepare annual budget for laboratory program
Keep accurate track of budget throughout year
Oversee record keeping and data management
Work with MEQ team, to ensure accurate registration, when applicable, according to MOHS requirements
Support development of Lab Information System at Wellbody Clinic lab
Ensure patient confidentiality
Oversee maintenance of lab equipment
Ensure performance of preventive maintenance
Contact vendors and suppliers for technical support when needed
In collaboration with lab director oversee maintenance agreements
Responsible for staff management
Support superintendents of laboratories in staff management
Support and manage lab quality officer
Recruit and hire new staff when needed

Maintain regular meetings with PIH director of laboratory services in Boston to strategize
Liaise with the Ministry of Health, TB and HIV programs and other PIH leaders, as well as our partner organizations to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate laboratory activities, strategy and policies
Advise on laboratory infrastructure, systems and equipment upgrades
As needed, provide laboratory support for PIH supported research efforts
Perform other tasks as may be required
Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment
At Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partners In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures
Qualifications/Requirements
Technical knowledge and professional experience in laboratory diagnostics.
University degree, with advanced degree in laboratory sciences preferred. At least Lab Scientist level is required.

At least 3 years of relevant work experience in managing lab services at a comparative scale as PIH network of supported facilities.
Experience in exerting leadership role to similar number of lab staff as in PIH-SL network
Previous working experience with local or international NGOs will be considered as a strong advantage
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.
Social Justice
We are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.
Method of application
Interested candidates are required to apply through our website: www.pih.org/employment. In your application, please ensure to include names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) referees not later than 12:00pm GMT (Midnight) on Monday 8th August 2022

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