Laboratory Technologist - NOB at World Health Organization (WHO)

Ref No: 2107023
Grade: No grade
Contractual Arrangement: Special Services Agreement (SSA)
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 6 Months

Job Description
Under the overall guidance of the WHO country office representative and over all supervision of SHI Cluster Lead and guidance of the Zonal Coordinator, the incumbent will carry out the following specific task:

• Ensure that Quality Control and Standard Procedures are strictly adhered to for specimen handling and processing in the laboratory.
• To provide services for Laboratory backed Surveillance:
  • Development of Laboratory work plans
  • Enterovirus isolation and identification using the WHO recommended guidelines and procedures,
  • Tissue culture maintenance and propagation
  • Specimens Processing and handling
• To liaise with other partners in support of AFP laboratory backed   surveillance
• To ensure that WHO guidelines and standard operating procedures are strictly adhered to as recommended by WHO
• Supervision to the Laboratory assistants.

Secondary activities that the laboratory staff will be involved in include:

• Measles diagnostic procedures for measles isolation and identification. According to WHO guidelines
• Vaccine quality control activities including vaccine sampling and potency testing when indicated.

Laboratory Data Management:

• Establish, maintain and up-date Polio laboratory databases pertaining to AFP/contact and environmental surveillance (ES) lab result.
• Ensure regular feedback of data and relevant information as required to all levels.
• Troubleshoot and prover solutions to data quality issues
• Ensure regular tracking of laboratory shipments and supplies
• Establish, maintain and up-date Polio laboratory databases pertaining to AFP/contact and environmental surveillance (ES) lab result.
• Perform data harmonization and cleaning on all AFP data received using the WHO Data Quality Check and harmonization Tool.
• Ensures weekly sharing of the polio lab data to national WHO and AFRO on a weekly basis.
• Provide regular feedback on any data harmonization issue to the concerned zone and state.
• Track and obtain missing or incomplete data/reports and provide feedback to relevant levels.
• Produce weekly, monthly and quarterly analysis feedback on key polio laboratory indicators.
• Create and secure back-up copies of data in the lab.
• Provide technical support in training and troubleshooting to other countries of the region on laboratory data management in polio laboratory activities as the need arises.
• Documentation and report writing and report writing as a way of feedback to relevant partners
• Ensure regular monitoring, compilation and submission of laboratory equipment and consumable orders to WHO regional office
• Perform other activities as required by WHO Representative

Qualifications & Experience
Qualifications:

• Essential: First level University Degree in Laboratory Science or Biology or any other related field
• Desirable: Master's Degree in Laboratory Science or Biology or any other related field.

Experience:

• Essential:  At least 5 years’ work experience commensurate with the duties of the posts and its grade.
• Desirable: Experience in WHO, UN or other international organizations

Competencies:

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Knowing and managing yourself
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of French will be an added advantage

Other Skills (e.g. IT):

• Basic knowledge of ICT and knowledge of data management
• Ability to acquire sound knowledge of WHO rules, regulations and procedures.  Demonstrated abilities for team-work.
• Ability to establish and maintain good relations with people at various levels and of different background.