Background

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies incident management system, at the country level, the incumbent will coordinate and implement technical activities directed towards laboratory management of outbreaks and health emergencies. Laboratory is the key component of the response to COVID-19, adequate laboratory infrastructure for timely diagnosis and confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 must be available. The incumbent will also ensure that the country is able to able to test all suspected cases and contacts in order to respond to this pandemic adequately.

In the region of assignment, reporting to the Team Lead, and based on priorities set by the Incident Manager and the WHO Representative of Country Office, and working closely with counterparts at the respective laboratory. The incumbent will act as the technical expert for the laboratory management. S/he will provide technical oversight in laboratory management, operations, supervision, and training, particularly related to all response activities of COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in relation to laboratory. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with relevant technical officers at the laboratory.

Scope and Methodology

Under the general guidance and supervision of the IM and general guidance of the WHE NPO, the incumbent will perform the following:

Summary of Assigned Duties:

1. Conduct refresher training for laboratory scientists on biosafety and biosecurity and COVID-19 molecular testing in collaboration NHLQATC
2. Co-ordinate and manage sample collection and transportation to the testing laboratories
3. Work closely with the Director and laboratory manager of NHLQATC to document laboratory response activities of the COVID-19 pandemic within the context emergencies programme at the country level.
4. Provide technical support of the validation of various COVID-19 assays, technologies and trouble-shooting of laboratory procedures and methodologies
5. Monitor the performance of all COVID-19 testing laboratories using AFRO-regional performance monitoring tool and support corrective action(s) in collaboration with NHLQATC
6. Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor

Objectives of the Review

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinator international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

Specific Requirements

LANGUAGE:

LANGUAGE:

Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN language is an added advantage.

EDUCATION:

Essential: First level university degree in health-related profession, laboratory, medicine or nursing from an accredited/recognized institute

Desirable: A master’s degree in FELTP, Molecular Biology, microbiology, virology or any of the areas related to the functions of the position, from a recognized university.

Experience:

Essential: At least five years’ related experience working with laboratory program addressing infectious diseases both emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, outbreak investigation and response in humanitarian settings.

Desirable: Prior humanitarian working experience at field level with WHO, other UN agencies, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organi­zations or with an international nongovernmental organization with expertise in disaster and outbreak response.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory as related to emergency response relief operations, complemented by skills in the field of laboratory epidemiological, assessment, analysis and the evaluation and monitoring in a public health context.

WHO COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

1. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
2. Producing results
3. Ensuring the effective use of resources
4. Teamwork
5. Communication

Other Skills (e.g. IT):

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Working knowledge on Microsoft excel and word would be an asset

PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT

The Laboratory officer will be stationed in any of the three regions Dares salaam, Dodoma or Zanzibar, Tanzania.

TIMELINE AND REPORTING

Duration

• The contract will be for six (06) months

Salary

• Grade: NOB-01

Interested and qualified applicants should send cover letter and comprehensive resume to the WHO Country Representative via the following email addresses [email protected]; [email protected] or use the following link to apply online https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl

Deadline for submission of applications is Friday 8^th May 2020