Regional Laboratory Officers at The Center for International Health, Education and Biosecurity (CIHEB)

Overall Job Function

Reporting the KENPHIA II Field Laboratory Manager, the Regional Laboratory Officer will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of field biomarker testing and satellite/mobile laboratory activities through extensive monitoring, supervision and carrying out spot checks to ensure compliance to the KENPHIA II protocol.

The role will also be responsible for providing Field & Satellite laboratories and Logistics oversight, ensuring coordinated supervision and smooth running of the satellite Laboratories, sample and team movements for the KENPHIA II Survey. The incumbent will ensure that samples are correctly collected, processed, and transported in line with SOPs and QA/QC procedures for point of care HIV rapid testing. In addition, the KENPHIA II Regional Lab Officer will be responsible for overseeing the smooth operations of the satellite/mobile labs as well as supplies and stocks management prior to and post satellite lab staff deployment and exit in liaison with supply chain team. The role is also responsible for the supervision of the Satellite Laboratory Leads.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure acceptable best practices, procedures and SOPs adherence are followed during sample management processes in the survey through daily monitoring and Weekly reporting.
• Supervise the satellite lab leads to ensure Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) are followed and Quality assurance is maintained in the survey.
• Ensure that all tests are preformed according to good laboratory practices (GLP) both in households and satellite labs.
• Responsible for set up and readiness of satellite labs in the assigned regions at least 1 week prior to opening.
• Coordinate with the Satellite laboratory logistician on availability and delivery of needed supplies for all the satellite labs in the region on time.
• Ensure that All survey equipment in the lab meet Kenya calibration standard before usage in the survey mainly Gene Xpert and PIMA CD4 machines.
• Ensure timely submission of reports to immediate supervisor
• Management of all laboratory supplies including tracking of expiry dates in appropriate forms at any given timeline.
• Resolving all non-conforming events (NCEs) relating to the biomarker component of the survey.
• Coordinate with the satellite lab leads to ensure maintenance of specimen’s integrity during the survey.
• Provide support at the meeting points by ensuring that the samples have been collated and shipped to the satellite lab on time.
• Work closely with the Regional survey coordinator and the other regional supervisors in addressing survey matters and ensure seamless flow of field and satellite lab activities.
• Where necessary perform refresher training as part of Quality Assurance (QA).
• Attend regional meetings and any other meetings called upon by the survey management team.
• Provide any technical support to the survey monitors when needed.
• Share daily reports on occurrences in their regions.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor of science in Medical Laboratory Sciences
• A Medical Laboratory Scientist should be skilled in QMS
• Must be registered with the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board (KMLTTB) with a current practising license.
• Experience in working on the laboratory bench for at least three (3) years.
• Experience Field laboratory sample management processes.
• Good Phlebotomy experience will be an added advantage.
• Experience in CD4 testing; proficiency in use of Point of Care (POC) is an advantage.
• Experience with population-based surveys such as KAIS, KENPHIA, Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) etc. will be an added advantage.
• Knowledge of and practical experience in Laboratory logistics requirements.

Other Requirements

• Experience performing Quality Assurance measures in all phases of biomedical testing
• Ability to write clear and concise summaries of reports for internal and external audiences
• Able to maintain high levels of confidentiality
• Fluent in both written and verbal English and Swahili languages.
• Friendly and patient
• Detail orientated and highly organized person with a go getter attitude yet a team player.
• Self-supervised and self-motivated person
• Proactive and collaborative
• Ability to travel and work non-standard working hours in any part of the country as per survey requirements.