Medical Laboratory Scientist (cART Team) at Society for Family Health (SFH)

Job Profile:

The officer will be responsible for establishing and running a laboratory within a HIV treatment facility. The medical care provided in these health facilities include disease-specific components such as HIV/AIDS care and treatment, treatment of co-infection of HIV with Tuberculosis, Hepatitis screening and management of sexually transmitted infections.  It will be the main role of the staff to ensure that all requested laboratory tests are suitably conducted in line with standard protocols to ensure timely results turn-around time and accurate diagnosis for client/patients’ care, and treatment monitoring.

Job-role: The successful candidate will perform the following functions:

• Provision of timely and quality laboratory and HIV Testing Services under GFHIV project to ensure comprehensive HIV prevention, care, and treatment among Key Populations.
• Maintain a robust Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and timely reporting of laboratory activities on SFH, state and national data repositories using appropriate reporting tools.
• Contribute to the development of lessons learned from projects related to laboratory component of HIV comprehensive services for Key populations.
• Interface with external stakeholders in the state on laboratory matters and support in building a resilient system for sustainable laboratory system strengthening.
• Timely processing of LAMIS reports, and filling of requirements to ensure that health facilities are re-supplied with appropriate commodities.
• Tests new and improved laboratory methods and procedures.
• Keeps accurate monthly Laboratory Project Records Development of standard tools for evaluation & troubleshooting of laboratory Instrument new devices.
• Support development & revision of Instrument maintenance policy, SOPs and guidelines.
• Track all clients that are due for viral load test.
• Collect, prepare, and transport samples to PCR labs for viral load tests and retrieval of test results.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned.

Qualifications/Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years post-NYSC relevant work experience.
• Experience in phlebotomy and sample analysis (e.g. blood, stool, sputum)
• Experience in implementation and administration of the National Integrated Sample Referral Network (NISRN) policies, objectives and goals.
• Specific expertise in HIV / AIDS, TB or Malaria programs.
• Knowledge of Polymerase Chain Reaction equipment for viral load and Early Infants’ Diagnosis, and GeneXpert machine is desirable.
• Experience in implementing a supply management system.
• Knowledge of all basic laboratory techniques and quality control systems
• Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload.
• Ability to use Microsoft office suite packages (Excel, words, PowerPoint).
• Knowledgeable in laboratory information management system
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and excellent technical writing and oral presentation skills are highly desired.
• Experience in key population programming would be an added advantage.

Skills and competencies: 

• Excellent skills in Good Clinical Laboratory Practice.
• Experience in sample referral and result tracking.
• Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload.
• Ability to work in a team.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication (oral and written), presentation skills.
• S/He must be attuned to and be comfortable with the culture/traditions of the people.
• Candidates should be able to communicate proficiently in the dominant language of the region.
• Must have demonstrated proficiency using intermediate-level office software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, spreadsheets, and database.
• Multitask and work with minimal supervision.