Laboratory TB Consultant at Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria

Basic Functions of the Position

• Overall, this consultant should be able to provide strategic and technical support to laboratory strengthening efforts.
• S/he will promote and support implementation of WHO's TB Laboratory technical recommendations including, policy guidance on appropriate TB laboratory technologies, infrastructure and bio-safety, and best-practices.
• Other functions include: laboratory capacity development, including technology transfer and know-how, monitoring and evaluation, and quality improvement; interface with other laboratory networks to facilitate integration; human resource development, including training and mentoring.

Key Working Relationships:

• Associate Director Global Fund Programs (Office of the Chief Executive Officer)
• Director & Head of Department, Clinical Laboratory Services.

Specific Responsibilities
As part of the Terms of Reference, the Laboratory TB Consultant will play leading role in:

• Developing/updating the TB laboratory component of National Strategic Plan (in support of NTBLCP).
• Assisting in the development or optimization of national laboratory policies.
• Promoting interaction and collaboration with laboratory stakeholders at national and zonal levels by serving on National Laboratory Technical Working Groups (TWG).
• Assisting the National Laboratory TWG to develop a strategy to improve human resources for laboratory management.
• Ensuring the implementation of Quality Management Systems with the purpose of strengthening of laboratory quality systems including, development of quality manual, safety manual, audits, testing, developing standard operating procedures (SOPs), national documents developed along with NTBLCP Laboratory Team.
• Working with the TB reference laboratories to attain international laboratory standards towards accreditation using of the Global Laboratory Initiative (GLI) stepwise process towards accreditation with other tools and checklists for implementation of Quality Management Systems.
• Contributing to development of a National TB Quality Assurance Policy (based on recently introduced National Quality Assurance Policy) including all Quality Assurance/Quality Control pharma (incl. pharmacovigilance) and laboratory areas (incl. External Quality Assurance for all technologies including GeneXpert) in close collaboration with National Laboratory TWG and concerned national agencies like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN),National Product Supply Chain Management Program (NPSCMP) of the Food and Drugs Services (FDS) etc.
• Reviewing national guidance on engineering requirement for different risk level TB laboratories.
• Providing expertise in clinical/laboratory diagnosis of HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic HIV/TB infections.
• Supporting the development of mechanism on establishing linkages between the National Reference Laboratories and Zonal Reference Laboratories with a view to ensuring linked referral services and timely reporting.
• Advising and recommending best practices on sample logistics from the peripheral laboratories to testing centers thus ensuring a timely Turnaround time (TAT)
• Providing guidance for the standardization and selection of vendors for equipment and reagents and following-up on the Biotech unit to ensure all equipment platforms are warrantied and regularly maintained, and to ensure zero downtime.
• Develop equipment management systems for GeneXpert and other laboratory equipment platforms.
• Reviewing and advising on equipment and supplies list for zonal and national reference laboratories - logistics and commodity management.
• Assisting in setting up offline Probe Assay (LPA) and culture laboratories - from site assessment, design, equipment installation, training and mentoring (hands on).
• Advising and recommending best practices on first-line and second line Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) for Tuberculosis Reference Laboratories (TRLs) and to ensure they are done.
• Providing onsite technical support (bench training) to the laboratory network by mentoring of laboratory staff.
• Capacity building of laboratory staff through trainings, including on-the-job mentoring, peer network development and online support.
• Formulating research questions and conducting of research to facilitate improved implementation.
• Contributing to the development of a National GeneXpert laboratory management plan with concerned stakeholders (National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), MLSCN, development partners etc.)
• Contributing to selection, roll-out and improvement of the National Laboratory Information Management System for DR-TB in an integrated way with Drug Sensitive TB (DS -TB) where possible.
• Considering all laboratory IMS needs linked to GxAlert, e-TB Manager, HIV/TB integration etc. and developing a system to track laboratory commodity consumption and avoid expiries and stock-outs.
• Supporting the rollout of Gx Alert or similar remote monitoring system for GeneXpert and preparing quarterly reports on WHO recommended indicators.

Qualifications and Skills

• B.Sc. in Medical Laboratory Sciences or Medical Microbiology but preferably a Master's degree in Medical Microbiology
• At least 10 years of experience in TB microbiology.
• The candidate is also expected to be a practitioner licensed by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) or with professional membership acceptable to MLSCN.