GRADE: 6

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Global Fund

LOCATION: National Tuberculosis Center, Bhaktapur

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Fixed Term Contract

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3 - the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children. We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential. We work together, with our partners from civil societies and government, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. We reached approximately two million populations and invested over 29 million US dollars in 2012 to reach more children than ever before, through programs in Health, Nutrition, Education, Protection and Child Rights and Governance, Livelihood, HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria and Humanitarian crises.

Case notification of all forms of TB has remained stagnant for last 10 years in Nepal. There are no significant changes in CNR even analyzed by region or by eco-terrain. Despite the implementation of various activities for case finding there is no significant changes in CNR. So NTC has planned national TB prevalence survey to know the actual prevalence of TB in Nepal. Understanding the real situation of Tuberculosis by conducting National TB prevalence survey will be very useful for developing policy/plan and strategy of effective NTP in Nepal. For this purpose National TB Prevalence Survey is going to be held under the leadership of NTC Director (Principal Investigator). Global Fund/Save The Children Nepal is one of the major supporting partners in implementing national TB prevalence survey in Nepal.

Under the direct supervision of Prevalence Survey Specialist (PSS) and close guidance of Prevalence Survey Coordinator, Medical Micro-biologist will provide technical support in planning and maintaining the quality of laboratory functions of national prevalence survey. Medical Micro-biologist is the technical lead person of the laboratory function in national TB prevalence survey. The medical Micro-biologist will be responsible for overall technical supervision, monitoring and support in management of laboratory function of national TB prevalence survey and work with close coordination with different relevant national and international stakeholders involved in the NTPS.

The incumbent functions as a laboratory team lead of the NTPS and will support in reviewing the SOPs of field laboratory unit and central laboratory of NTPS, reviewing training documents related to laboratory training prepared by the training coordinator and will support in training conduction. The incumbent will regularly supervise and monitor all the field laboratory staff as well as the central laboratories (3) involve in PS and assure the quality of laboratory function of National TB Prevalence Survey.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Overall responsible for leading and managing three Laboratory Units of PS; from collection of sputum in the field, to receive of sputum in different labs, processing as per protocol and data management of related lab. 
  
• Focal point to liaise, coordinate and supervise all central labs involved in PS.
  
• Overall responsible for the maintaining quality of laboratory work from field up to the central level.
  
• Support in the development of all Laboratory related documents for PS. 
  
• Support in training for all Laboratory related HR and procedures for PS. 
  
• Function as a member of central clinical panel of PS to suggest and evaluate for TB by interpreting laboratory findings for further treatment and referral management. 
  
• Ensure all laboratories related logistic management is timely in coordination with logistic unit and reference labs. 
  
• Prepare technical reports and recommendations for laboratory issues as needed.
  
• Report to PSS on regular basis
  
• Prepare regular monitoring reports for the PI and SC and liaise with them on regular basis. 
  
• Prepare and provide overall status report to the SC and PI on regular basis. 
  
• Any other technical tasks as assigned by Survey Coordinator and PI. 
  
• For administration issue concern to PR (as a funding agent) report to Project Manager - TB.  

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (SCI Values in Practice) 

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modeling Save the Children values
  
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
  

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
  
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
  
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.
  

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
  
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
  
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk and share ideas
  

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
  
• Willing to take disciplined risks
  

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency
  

QUALIFICATIONS 

• MSc in Medical Microbiology or Master of Medical Laboratory Technology (MMLT) with specialty in Microbiology. 
  
• Preferable: MD in Microbiology 

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• At least 3 years of experience in Culture DST, GenXpert and molecular processing in Tuberculosis laboratory. 
  
• Expertise in leading laboratory management and diagnostic processing of Tuberculosis is desirable. 
  

ATTRIBUTES

• Strong interpersonal communication skill
  
• Team Building skills
  

ESSENTIAL

• Experience in conducting TB diagnostic tests.
  
• Proven experience in leading Lab. technical teams. 
  
• Experience in conducting trainings. 
  

DESIRABLE

• Experiences in diagnostic processing of Tuberculosis are desirable.
  
• Experience in working in a large scale research setting.