John Snow, Inc.

Supporting an AIDS-Free Era

Position Description

Background

John Snow, Inc. (JSI) seeks highly qualified and accomplished public health leaders and providers for the recently awarded United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/PEPFAR-funded Supporting an AIDS-Free Era (SAFE) Project in Zambia. The five year project which will be led by JSI in partnership with Abt Associates, mothers2mothers, and the Catholic Medical Mission Board, will work to reduce HIV mortality, morbidity and transmission, while improving nutrition outcomes and family planning integration in three provinces: Central, Copperbelt, and North-Western. USAID/PEPFAR SAFE will work with the GRZ, private sector and civil society institutions at the national, provincial, and district level to increase access to ART for HIV positive adults and children, reduce the incidence of new infections, improve Nutritional Assessment, Counseling and Services (NACS) and family planning services, and increase the capacity of local health institutions to better serve affected populations.

Position Title: PCR Support Scientist

Position Type: Fixed Term

Location: Arthur Davison Childrens Hospital Hub

Job Summary

The purpose of this job is to facilitate VL EID sample courier services in the catchment Hub and associated satellites. It involves; sample collections, sorting, separation register completing including eLab management processes, refrigeration, cold chain maintenance in transit, results sorting and results delivery to facilities in order. VL Demand creation and process management at each facility including supporting and reporting back Laboratory Quality Management aspects as noticed on the ground. Also the Job will involve but not limited to Equipment functionality and updating of potential sites requiring VL associated Equipment such as Centrifuges, fridges and MoH approved analyzers.  This activity supports the Project mandate on the 95, 95, 95 strategies in addition to effective patient care. The PCR scientists are now becoming critical members of ART teams in health facilities and communities. The incumbent, who must be fully registered with the Health Professions Council of Zambia, will report to the Provincial Laboratory Services Coordinator at the Region.

Primary Responsibilities and Duties:

• Provide visibility to VL EID laboratory services in all USAID/PEPFAR SAFE supported health facilities within the Hub Catchment area.
• Work with other partners to ensure that the GRZ agenda on VL EID laboratory services in the catchment area are promoted.
• Conduct sample collections, sorting, separation, register entering, results sorting and delivery.
• Be part of the Hub Catchment VL demand creation team and ensuring facilities have the necessary supplies and registers needed for VL/EID services
• Ensure that all clients due for VL /EID are not being missed by the facilities
• Ensure that laboratory equipment is in good working conditions at all times in all SAFE supported facilities within the Hub Catchment
• Facilitating support to VL associated SOPs for sample collections and others
• Working closely with GRZ counterparts at District Hub level to implement the sample referral system in place
• Provide regular feedback to the Provincial Laboratory Services Coordinator and local supervisor Teams
• Work with the GRZ counterpart to plan and organize stock adjustments to avert stock out of essential laboratory commodities
• Ensure that motorbikes carry out courier services in line with planned routes.
• Any other duty assigned by the project leadership.

Desirable Competencies

• Being able to work effectively with GRZ through DHOs and health facilities;
• Good oral and documentation communication skills;
• Computer literate especially in word, excel, power point and internet and
• People centered change agent and a unifying player in multi sectoral teams.

Academic Qualifications:

• BSc Biomedical Sciences or equivalent with at least 2 years work experience or
• Diploma in Biomedical Sciences with at least 3 years’ experience