Technical Adviser Laboratory Systems G7 at British High Commission

Main purpose of job:

The post holder will support the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) UKAID funded International Health Regulations (IHR) Strengthening Project in Nigeria. The IHR Strengthening Project (IHR-SP) aims to improve global health security through increasing compliance with the IHR in selected countries and regions in Africa and Asia, taking an all-hazards approach.

Laboratory capacity building is a flagship area of UKHSA’s IHR Strengthening project in Nigeria and an area of strategic importance to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) development. Accountable to the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Senior Technical Lead, Laboratory Strengthening and the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), this position's primary responsibility is ensuring organisational effectiveness and efficiency by providing operational support to the management of the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) in Gaduwa, Abuja, as well as the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) in Lagos.

We are seeking individuals with both substantial technical knowledge and demonstrable international relations capability, able to demonstrate both UKHSA’s and NCDCs values and ways of working.  Key to this is the ability to influence and negotiate to manage key relationships with local, national and other international stakeholders.

This post offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience of working in a fast paced and innovative environment and is an ideal chance for someone looking to advance their career in Public Health and laboratory leadership. The ideal candidate must have a flexible approach to meet the needs of the service, be able to work to tight deadlines and manage multiple workstreams and priorities at the same time. This post will be based in Abuja with regular travel to Lagos and other areas of Nigeria as required. Occasional international travel (e.g., to other countries in Africa, or to the UK) may be required.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Support the further development and management of the NRL and CPHL, ensuring excellence in practice, service delivery and appropriate scientific and technical performance at all times.
• Support documentation of laboratory activities, especially the implementation of PH laboratory strategy and plan
• Support the development of management processes such as supply chain monitoring plan for the laboratories.
• Taking the responsibility for supporting the daily management of the technical staff to ensure the successful and effective operation of the laboratories.
• Support NCDC laboratories to maintain Laboratory Quality and Biorisk System Management Resolving complex and urgent problems within the laboratory and assisting/leading in resolving complicated problems involving other NCDC departments and wider service users.
• Support the development of policies and strategies that ensure effective and efficient day-to-day operational work.
• Helping to ensure the laboratories have available to them the relevant equipment and space required to implement and deliver high quality day-to -day operational work.
• Engaging widely with NCDC laboratory service users to seek input into operationalization of strategic objectives and identifying new ideas and improved ways of working.
• Working with others to define the strategy to ensure the laboratories maintain and develop as a centre of excellence in Public Health laboratory services in liaison with the senior management team.
• Participating in relevant and related NCDC key laboratory management programmes, meetings and Laboratory committees, technical working groups, and other expert groups as required.
• Support the development of strategies that promote high standards of quality customer care, implementing and promoting to both internal and external customers.
• Supporting the development and delivery of innovative ways of delivering services and alternative ways of working to ensure continuous improvements in the management of both NCDC Laboratory campuses (NRL & CPHL).
• Carrying out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the DG of NCDC and Laboratory Heads.
• You will be required to provide laboratory support or other cover in times of operational difficulty.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organization.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Graduate / postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject.
• Additional qualification or relevant experience public health or other relevant field or equivalent experience.  Good knowledge of laboratory management.
• Extensive experience of working in a diagnostic/testing laboratory
• In depth understanding of relevant laboratory policies, standards and guidelines, including those relevant to quality control/assurance and accreditation processes
• Leadership and management experience including target setting, selection,
• training and development
• Knowledge of the NCDC and the wider Nigerian public health sector and laboratory network
• Experience of partnership working - linking with staff across varied organisational functions to address inter-dependencies and ensure alignment
• Experience of participation in research and development projects
• Experience of leading change management
• Experience of working with Laboratory Information Management System
• A commitment to social justice and the mission of the NCDC.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written) and the ability to nurture relationships, network and work in effective partnerships with complex stakeholders
• Innovative – ability to find solutions to challenging problems
• High level of organizational skills - able to organise, plan, prioritise and deal with conflicting demands and pressures in a faced paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to solve a wide range of operational, scientific and technical problems.
• Good time management, planning and organisational skills, able to work to tight deadlines and pressures
• Able to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change, and challenge/debate on issues of importance to NCDC
• Demonstrated leadership and vision – ability to manage and lead groups and major projects or initiatives.
• lead and work effectively as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative management style, with ability to understand differing perspectives.
• Fluent spoken and written English.