GRADE: 5
LOCATION:  National Tuberculosis Center, Bhaktapur
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Global Fund 
    
Child Safeguarding Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

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 programmes in Health, Nutrition, Education, Protection and Child Rights and Governance, Livelihood, HIV and AIDS,  TB and Malaria and Humanitarian crises.

Under the direct supervision of Microbiologist – NTC, the Medical Technologist will be responsible to  ensure that NTC provides regular technical assistance and supervision to maintain high standard of laboratory services which support TB treatment services throughout the country.
 
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• To prioritise the needs and plan involvement in Basic Health Services (BHS) and other laboratories in conjunction with Project Managers and NTC Director;
• Liaise between BHS laboratories and National Tuberculosis Centre  regarding quality assessment, trainings and supplies of laboratory supplies;
• To deliver tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS diagnosis reference services; 
• Responsible for quality assurance of microscopy network within NTP;
• Promote quality control, laboratory safety and good laboratory practices in laboratory network and organize refresher training for microscopes at various level;  
• Development of a programme of technical support and updating for NTP and relevant SR staff on Quality Control activities;
• Develop the QC technical guidelines and related information system adopted to country conditions and priorities, is also responsible for developing the training materials;
• On regular basis check of quality control of slides collected during the supervision with written feedback provided to the laboratory technicians;
• Taking care and maintenance of record of laboratory equipment and other non-consumable items;
• Responsible for the work on quality assurance on sputum smear microscopy, culture, drug susceptibility testing, tuberculosis drug surveillance;
• Participate in the planning and development of a laboratory responsible for coordinating, implementing and conducting research programs on tuberculosis related activities;
• Liaise with government, private sector  and NGOs in order to develop an effective network of microscopy services;
• Make ensure that satisfactory standards are maintained in government and private labs, including running an internal quality assurance system;
• Accountable for updating and maintaining quality control related data;
• Responsible for laboratory related activities like workshop, seminar training and research; 
• Regular update own knowledge of TB management and control and quality control  through professional reading, online support [through internet website searches and joining appropriate technical and programmatic lists] and attending technical meetings with the approval of the Project Manager;
• Demonstrated capacity for procurement of laboratories supplies, knowledge and respect of international standards for lab supply procurement;
• Technical capacity and legitimacy to provide training and supervision of laboratories services;
• Organize on the spot supervision from peripheral labs in collaboration with the concerned expertise;
• Perform other duties as requested by Project Manager/NTC Director

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Education

• Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT) or equivalent from recognised institution with 3 years’ experience in managing laboratory (culture, DST and GenXpert) quality assurance programmes, in particular quality assurance of sputum smear microscopy, culture and drug susceptibility of mycobacterium;
• Master Degree in Laboratory Technology preferred.

Skills

• Registered with Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC);
• Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Excellent written and spoken English and Nepali.
• Excellent knowledge of laboratory regulations and quality control systems;
• Experienced report writing in English and Nepali