Laboratory Scientist

at Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI)
Location Dar es salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
Date Posted June 30, 2020
Category Health Care / Medical
Management
NGO
Job Type Contract
Currency TZS

Description

Job Summary

The candidate is expected to provide support through both technical and analytical expertise to CHAI Tanzania’s FASTER Project to optimize policies and processes that will ensure sustainable access to high quality HIV care and treatment services in Tanzania.

  • Minimum Qualification: Bachelor
  • Experience Level: Mid level
  • Experience Length: 3 years

Job Description

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work with our partners to strengthen the capabilities of governments and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance.

CHAI begun work in Tanzania in 2002, helping the government in its efforts to curbed the burden of HIV , particularly in hard to reach areas of the country. Today ,CHAI has expanded its workstreams to include: HIV, malaria, vaccines and reproductive health.

We are continuing to work with the country’s efforts to accelerate the government’s commitment to the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals and are helping to close the treatment gap for children with HIV through improved access to early infant diagnosis9EID) and viral load monitoring at the Point of Care. The emergence of better drugs for young children and more advanced diagnostics brings tremendous potential to accelerate the pediatric and adolescent HIV response. However, their full potential will not be realized unless data-driven and targeted case finding, linkages to treatment, and retention efforts are concurrently scaled-up. Additionally, new and expanded efforts must improve case-finding of uninfected and asymptomatic children and adolescents that don’t interact with the health system. To address these gaps in the pediatric response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is supporting FASTER:

Faith-Based Action for Scaling up Testing and Treatment for the Epidemic Response, implemented by Catholic Relief Services in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative. FASTER will support the efforts of government, civil society organizations (CSOs), private sector actors, and FBOs to catalyze progress towards achieving the 90-90-90 targets by addressing structural barriers to pediatric testing and treatment, expanding innovation, and scaling up what works. CHAI under FASTER is seeking highly motivated individuals with outstanding technical capabilities to serve as Laboratory scientist, Monitoring and Evaluation specialist and Pediatrician.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Provide technical assistance to the MOHSW in the implementation of the Health sector HIV Strategic plan with particular focus on scaling up of Pediatric and adolescent HIV Laboratory HIV services and improving quality
  • Support ministry of health up to date on the changes in laboratory technology and quality practices while assisting introduction and scale new optimal products, including national guideline revision, product quantification and forecasting, transition planning, and monitoring of uptake and impact of new diagnostic products.
  • Serve as an advisor to the Prevention of Mother to Child transmission program (PMTCT), National AIDS Control program and Implementing Partners on increasing access to conventional and POC EID and Viral Load.
  • Serve as advisor to Prevention of Mother to Child transmission program (PMTCT), National AIDS Control program Quality and Efficient EID and Viral load Program to meet Care and Treatment Targets.
  • Liaise with CHAI’s global team regarding information about new diagnostic technology and assist with in-country technical or operational evaluation or new product roll-out strategies to improve and uptake of new diagnostic products as they become available on the market.
  • With regard to HIV EID implementation, will be responsible for developing and implementation of testing models that significantly improve identification of pediatric HIV and viral suppression outcomes amongst infants.
  • Participate and provide guidance in various decisions in the Pediatric Technical Working Groups (PTWGs), HIV Clinical Sub-committee and Stakeholders meetings including policy recommendations and performance monitoring
  • Identify opportunities for sharing challenges and lessons learnt with local government, NACP, donors (CDC/USAID) and respective IPs
  • Support existing strong working relationships with key stakeholders in government, to ensure maximum coordination of resources and effort for treatment scale-up
  • Liaise closely with technical partners in government to monitor and evaluate interventions against objectives and targets, bringing in technical expertise when needed to ensure rapid implementation of FASTER Project.
  • Accounting

o Assist Program Manager in developing and managing detailed program budgets

  • Program monitoring & analytics

o Coordinate quarterly data collection and analysis at FASTER demonstration sites

o Work in collaboration with the project technical teams to review program performance

o Actively participate in routine internal and external data quality assessments

  • Reporting

o Ensure that routine annual planning, monitoring and reporting of all program activities is carried out timely

  • Performing any other related duties as assigned from time to time

Qualifications

CHAI works in a fast-paced, results-driven environment. We are seeking a highly motivated individual who is a fast learner and who is both detail oriented and has the ability to ask the key questions or see the “big picture.” CHAI places great value on resourcefulness, responsibility, tenacity, flexibility, independence, energy, work ethic and humility.

Qualifications include the following:

  • A minimum of a Bachelor's degree, preferably in Laboratory science or a health-related discipline
  • Excellent problem solving, analytical and quantitative skills, including attention to detail and fluency in Microsoft Excel;
  • Strong organizational skills;
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment;
  • Ability to learn on the job quickly;
  • Ability to navigate ambiguous and complex processes and be flexible;
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships;
  • Strong communication skills, including development of compelling presentations with the ability to translate technical content and results into formats suitable for various audiences;
  • Strong skills in Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word;
  • Strong command of English and Swahili language required;
  • Willingness to travel within Tanzania as needed

Advantage

  • Previous work experience in laboratory science work
  • Strategically minded, able to think creatively around long-term program objectives and the detailed steps necessary to achieve these goals