Laboratory Supervisor at Medecins Sans Frontieres

Main Purpose

• Planning, organizing and carrying out laboratory activities and supervising the laboratory staff according to MSF protocols, security measures and hygiene standards, in order to support the MSF medical team in the diagnosis of patients’ diseases.
• The Mini-Lab supervisor is involved in the delivery of clinical laboratory operations in accordance with the Mini-Lab protocols and safety and hygiene rules, in order to obtain reliable results allowing clinicians to choose patient treatments.
• He/she will also be involved in various general activities related to his/her role as laboratory supervisor.
• He/she will also be in charge of the specific human resources operations set out in the responsibilities section of this job description.
• The supervisor reports to the MIO or, in their absence, to the MTL
• The supervisor works in partnership with all other laboratory supervisors in the mission.
• The supervisor will have to work in close partnership with the medical team of the
• mission.
• The Mini-Lab supervisor will have to work in strong collaboration with the other pillars of
• AMR (IPC & AMS) of the project to support patient safety, data analysis and public health interventions.

Job Description

• Participating in the project planning and follow-up and reviewing the laboratory budget when necessary, in order to support MSF’s medical activities.
• Ensuring the compliance of MSF hygiene and safety protocols, both individually and collectively as well as informing staff of existing biological risks.
• Performing laboratory tests and carrying out sample collection (serology, hematology, biochemistry, bacteriology, parasitology...) in accordance with prescriptions as well as ensuring that quality control tests are carried out regularly.
• Informing the doctor of the results of the tests and keeping a record of the analysis with data from patients.
• Ensuring proper management (cleaning, maintenance, arranging) of all laboratory equipment and the adequate supply of needed equipment and material in order to prevent stock-outs. This includes being responsible for all required automatic instrument calibration, ensuring that no material is taken out of laboratories without prior authorization, and carrying out a proper storage system and conditions, inventory, etc.
• In cooperation with the logistics department, ensuring that cold chain is properly
• maintained in Laboratory areas for both samples and reagents.
• In the absence of a Laboratory Manager, ensuring proper registration and the needs of all lab-related activities, and implementing a correct use of the associated management tool (EpyTryp, Etc.).
• In order to have a proper recording of laboratory activities. Preparing and sending slides/samples for external quality control.
• Supervising, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, coaching, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication) of the staff under his/her responsibility in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required.
• Ensuring that all staff using medical devices are qualified and trained.
• Ensuring cleaning and minor maintenance tasks are performed according to the protocols. Report any malfunction to the project's biomedical service.
• Producing regular reports on the testing and on any issues/problems related to laboratory personnel and/or the material used.
• The supervisor will have the same responsibilities as a laboratory technician, plus those relating to his/her status as supervisor.
• Being proficient in good laboratory practices and safety rules;
• Being proficient in and delivering the whole testing process for each type of sample:

Pre-testing:

• Receipt and recording of all samples.

Testing:

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• Performing all examinations and clinical tests according to the defined techniques while
• Following the different standard Mini-Lab protocols and procedures.
• In particular, this role involves identifying micro-organisms and performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Post-testing:

• Understanding the interpretation of test results and the return of results.
• Being proficient in the Mini-Lab computer system (Mini-LIMS) in order to ensure that the data collected at each step is logged;
• Maintaining the direct work environment (workstation) according to the recommendations and carrying out all the tasks, maintenance, and readings by following and complying with the defined work plan;
• Noting any non-conformities related to tests, equipment, or more generally to the operation of the MiniLab as a whole, and reporting these to managers;
• Reporting any relevant information related to laboratory operations and any problems concerning tests being performed correctly to the line manager;
• Ensuring that samples and all infectious waste generated by the Mini-Lab are disposed of correctly in accordance with established protocols and defined safety rules
• Monitoring the stock in the Mini-Lab using the available resources;
• Understanding the document management setup in the laboratory;
• Managing, performing, and reporting on the results of quality controls, as well as ensuring that any corrective actions are performed correctly if any non-conformity is detected.

Responsibilities Specific to the Mini-Lab Supervisor Role: 
HR:

• Ensuring that documents are given out to operators, in particular when there is an updated version;
• Managing the monitoring of technicians’ skills in the performance of their role;
• Carrying out individual interviews and managing any type of team conflict;
• Assisting the mission’s HR department in recruiting new laboratory technicians;
• Training new staff (laboratory technicians);
• Managing the Mini-Lab on a day-to-day basis to ensure proper functioning in terms of work organisation, distribution of tasks, technician planning, leave planning;
• Working in partnership with the mission’s HR department on human resources aspects of the Mini-Lab (leave, working hours, absence for any reason, etc.).

Stock:

• Managing the stock of consumables and reagents in the laboratory and placing routine orders;
• Supporting the pharmacist in pharmacy stock management, inventories and preparing international orders.

Technical:

• Supervising laboratory technicians in their daily tasks;
• Ensuring that laboratory technicians strictly follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the Mini Lab, good laboratory practices (GLP), and hygiene and safety rules;
• Resolving and monitoring non-conformities in the tests or in the functioning of the laboratory;
• Monitoring quality assurance (internal and external quality controls);
• Knowing how to find help if there is a breakdown in testing capability.

Communication and Validation of Results:

• Managing strains being sent to reference laboratories;
• Validating and communicating test results to clinicians;
• Ensuring that all sensitive data, in particular those relating to patient test results, remain confidential;
• Participating in the various meetings that may involve or concern the Mini-Lab.

Monitoring Operations:

• Collecting and analysing laboratory activity data;
• Monitoring activity, quality and epidemiological indicators;
• Writing all types of reports for monitoring indicators on a monthly and annual basis.

Requirements

• Education: Essential Degree as a Laboratory Technician.
• Experience: Minimum 2 years working experience in a laboratory, preferably as a Lab Tech.
• Desirable in MSF or another NGO, desirable in a clinical laboratory.
• Languages: Local language and mission language essential.
• Knowledge: Essential computer literacy (Word, Excel, and internet).
• Competencies:  Results, teamwork, flexibility, commitment, stress management.