Senior Technical Advisor to National TB Reference Laboratory Botswana (NTRL)

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is looking for a

Senior Technical Advisor to National TB Reference Laboratory Botswana (NTRL) (fulltime)

Duty station: National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL), Gaborone, Botswana

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis (TB), still the second most deadly infectious disease in the world. KNCV is an international center of expertise for TB control that promotes effective, efficient, innovative and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national and international context.

We are an organization of passionate TB professionals, including doctors, researchers, training experts, nurses and epidemiologists. We aim to stop the spread of the worldwide epidemic of TB and to prevent the further spread of drug-resistant TB. Over the past century we have built up a wealth of knowledge and expertise, initially by successfully controlling TB in the Netherlands. Since the 1970s, we have also shared our knowledge and expertise with the rest of the world. We operate from a central office in The Hague in the Netherlands, a regional office in Central Asia and country offices worldwide. KNCV raises funds from private, institutional, corporate, and government donors. KNCV is the lead partner and sole implementer of Challenge TB project in Botswana.

Challenge TB

KNCV is the lead partner in Challenge TB (CTB), the new USAID-funded 5-year global program to decrease TB mortality and morbidity in high burdened countries. We lead an international consortium with eight partner organizations: American Thoracic Society (ATS), Family Health International (FHI 360), Interactive Research & Development (IRD), Japanese Anti Tuberculosis Foundation (JATA), Management Sciences for Health (MSH), Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), and the World Health Organization. The overarching strategic objectives of Challenge TB are to improve access to quality patient centered care for TB, TB/HIV, and MDR-TB services; to prevent transmission and disease progression; and to strengthen TB platforms.

Purpose of the position

The purpose of the position is to serve as the technical advisor to the NTRL, in supporting the development of effective laboratory services for the diagnosis and management of TB, and the implementation and maintenance of routine surveillance and periodical surveys of DR-TB. S/he will also advice on the implementation of the rapid diagnostic techniques for diagnosis of TB. In this function s/he is based in the National TB Reference Laboratory, coordinates and works closely together with the National TB program, CDC professional staff and other stakeholders to successfully implement the Challenge TB country project.

Profile

As Senior Technical Advisor to National TB Reference Laboratory you will:

• Advise and support Head of NTRL on all matters relevant to TB microbiology
• Organization of the NTRL according to work flow and biosafety considerations according to international standards
• Sputum-smear microscopy
• Culture on solid and liquid media and identification of mycobacteria
• Drug susceptibility testing for first-and second-line tuberculosis drugs
• Rapid diagnostic techniques for diagnosis of TB
• Development and implementation of a national External Quality Assurance program for AFB examination and C/DST
• Coordinate with other USG/PEPFAR funded laboratory activities on TB;
• Provide technical advice to the BNTP and NTRL on all matters pertaining to TB diagnosis and management, and surveillance of DR-TB;
• Provide technical advice and expertise on the implementation of the new TB laboratory diagnostic tools;
• Advise and assist BNTP and NTRL staff in planning and implementation of TB laboratory program activities;
• Continuously support transfer of skills and knowledge on TB bacteriology and laboratory technologists and any other laboratory staff as relevant;
• Coordinate and collaborate with the National Quality Officer in MOH on the ongoing implementation of the TB National Laboratory Plan;
• Provide advice and support to the development of the satellite TB culture (and DST) facility in Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital laboratory in Francistown.
• Develop transition plan from ISO 15189:2007 – ISO 15189:2012

Specific Activities

• Advise and assist the laboratory manager and laboratory staff in introduction and adherence to international biosafety standards including proper autoclaving status and assuring safe disposal of bio-hazardous waste;
• Advise and assist in building capacity of NTRL staff in the use of an appropriate TB laboratory information system – streamlining processes, assuring integrity and accessibility of information and protecting patient privacy, and preventing corruption or loss of data.
• Advise and support the development of a quarterly NTRL performance report, presenting data on essential performance indicators of NTRL functions, and the sputum-smear microscopy network;
• Advise and assist in the development of an effective patient-based laboratory notification system of X/MDR-TB, allowing BNTP to immediately track any diagnosed X/MDR-TB case for proper case management;
• Advise and assist BNTP and NTRL in evaluation of the diagnostic tools, e.g.:
• MGIT960 for TB culture and drug susceptibility testing;
• PCR testing for rapid diagnosis of MDR-TB;
• Line Probe Assay
• GeneXpert
• Advise and support development and adherence to SOPs for DST of first-line anti-TB drugs and all other laboratory tests;
• Advise and support the development of second line DST at NTRL when considered opportune by BNTP and NHL;
• Advise and assist NTRL and BNTP on operational research for improving TB bacteriological diagnosis;
• Advise and support the strengthening of the quality control system at NTRL and Nyangabgwe referral hospital laboratory;
• Advise and support the laboratory quality officers at NTRL, the district and primary hospitals to:
• Put in place a AQ system for microscopy, culture and drug sensitivity;
• Develop a random blind checking on the quality of sputum-smears;
• Improve the QA monitoring system.
• Participate in maintaining the accreditation status of the NTRL with the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) and the selected SNRL.
• In Quality Assurance areas,
• Developing transition plan from ISO 15189:2007 – ISO 15189:2012
• Monitoring and implementation of the transition plan
• Development of action plan for extension of scope of accreditation (addition, LPA TESTS, MGIT DST)
• Support on transition from SANAS to SADCAS
• Support on creation of work flow for the quality office
• Strengthen management of the lab in Quality Management System related issues.
• Revision of EQA unit procedures and policies.
• Strengthen EQA unit QMS

Who are we looking for?

Necessary

• Master degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences or equivalent (but a PhD will be a plus)

Behavioral competencies and skills

• Must have worked in a medical diagnostic laboratory as manager for a period of at least six years, specifically in TB diagnostic and culture laboratory.
• Should have experience using [ ] medium and MGIT960 for TB culture and DST;
• Should have experience in mycobacterial typing using different techniques (e.g. Niacin, Geneprobe);
• Has demonstrated experience and understanding of the public health and clinical functions of a National TB Reference Lab;
• Knowledge in Laboratory Quality Control Assurance, and strong experience of instituting good lab practice;
• Ability to effectively monitor and manage all aspects of QC within the laboratory;
• Experience with automated equipment in particular: MGIT960;
• A knowledge in MOTT species will be an added advantage
• Experience with laboratory information systems is an important advantage;
• Operational research experience is an advantage;
• Supervisory, training, management and monitoring skills of other lab staff;
• Good interpersonal communication and management skills;
• Extensive experience in the general management of a laboratory;
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English
• Demonstrated intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office applications

What does KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation offer?

• A fixed-term contract for a year, with the intention to extend the contract;
• An informal work atmosphere in an international environment where initiative is appreciated;
• A highly-motivated team of experienced, self-driven colleagues;
• The salary is dependent upon education and relevant working experience;
• KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation has its own Employment Conditions Scheme;
• Full-time employment consists of 38 hours per week.

HOW TO APPLY:

Application and information

Your application (with curriculum vitae, motivation letter in English and 3 professional references) should be sent before 15th April 2015 to:

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, PO Box 146, 2501 CC The Hague, the Netherlands for the attention of: Ms. Larissa Lutmers. E-mail: recruit@kncvtbc.org under subject ‘Senior Technical Advisor to National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL) Botswana”.

For more information please contact us: phone (070) 416 72 22. For further information on KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, please see www.kncvtbc.org.

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled.