JOB DESCRIPTION
Team Lead - Lab Strengthening System,
Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) India, Patna, Bihar
1. POSITIONS VACANT: Team Lead - Lab Strengthening System, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) India, Patna, Bihar
2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:
Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) is established in India as an independent, non-profit organization, created under Section 8 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013, with its office in New Delhi. FIND India is the key implementing partner of the Central Tuberculosis (TB) Division, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, for strengthening and expanding TB laboratory diagnostic capacity within the National Elimination Control Program (NTEP), supported by the Global Fund.
FIND India is a subsidiary of FIND, an international non-profit organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization is dedicated to activities that result in:
(1) New diagnostic tools;
(2) Expanded access to these tools, and
(3) Strengthened diagnostic testing capacity for poverty-related diseases in low and middle-income countries.
For more information about the organization and its work in India, please visit http://www.finddx.org/
Project Background:
A responsive, accessible, and pandemic resilient, public health system is critical for early detection, accurate treatment, and continued care management. This is especially true for Bihar, India, with its high proportion of rural population (88.7%) and persons below the multi-dimensional poverty line (51.9% - the highest in the country). Bihar faces many challenges in building public health laboratory diagnostic capacity, adequate for the needs of the state.
Public health laboratories are the cornerstone of a public health system, with availability of high-quality diagnostics, being the first step in accurate disease detection and containment. Recognizing the need for establishing a uniform code providing equitable access to quality diagnostics, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), has developed India’s National Essential Diagnostic List (NEDL), recommending tests for both communicable and non-communicable diseases at each health facility (HF) level, based on utility, demand, infrastructure and personnel availability.
In the absence of suitable capacity, it recommends following a “hub and spoke model” to enable cost-effective test availability. The recently launched Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM ABHIM), along with Guidelines on Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL) by the MoHFW, Government of India, focuses on establishing integrated public health laboratories at district and sub-district levels, providing quality assured diagnostic services aiding clinical management, public health surveillance and supporting outbreak investigations.
The state of Bihar is committed to strengthening and upgrading testing facilities following the “hub and spoke model,” adopting a tiered system designed to provide patient-centric care and minimize patient drop-offs. This project is focused on supporting the Government of Bihar in its endeavor to improve diagnostic services.
Objective and Primary Outcomes:
The main objective of the program is to improve outbreak preparedness in healthcare facilities.
The proposed activities under the project will ensure adoption of IPHL guidelines and follow IPHS-NHM norms at each level of health facility. The project intends to lead to the following outcomes:
(1) Build diagnostic capacity at all levels of the public health system including strengthening in-house lab services as per the Government of Bihar (GoB) strategy and in line with India’s NEDL and IPHL norms supporting the development and implementation of a public-private partnership (PPP) for diagnostic services (in support of GoB’s plan and subject to award of tender by Government of Bihar);
(2) Strengthen quality diagnosis across tiers by building and implementing a quality management system (QMS) with a continued mentoring mechanism;
(3) Build sustainable laboratory capacity enabling disease surveillance (focusing on febrile illnesses), through capacity building.
3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Team Lead- Lab Strengthening System (TL-LSS) will work closely with the Senior Management and the project team at FIND India, as well as state officials and other stakeholders, to lead the implementation of all activities under the project, with responsibility for the following.
Key Responsibilities:
(A) Program Management and Administration:
(1) Develop field level strategies and processes in alignment with overall project objectives and with a view to ensuring operational excellence;
(2) Lead coordination with all health centers of allocated districts of Bihar and other stakeholders for all activities as mentioned under the grant;
(3) Prepare the project work plan, and budget forecast, and manage budget allocation and monitor expenditure as per project activities and guidelines;
(4) Manage, supervise and support the project team and follow-on progress of the project, providing regular updates to key stakeholders, including the donor agency;
(5) Manage project deliverables within stipulated deadlines and monitor engagement activities with the State Health Society of Bihar;
(6) Submit reports and participate in national/ state level reviews periodically, as per project requirement;
(7) Ensure the submission of periodical reports (programmatic and financial), as per organizational requirements and donor specifications;
(8) Ensure confidentiality and security of the program data and information, as relevant;
(9) Support procurement if any under the project, as per FIND India policies and guidelines;
(10) Any other tasks assigned from time to time.
(B) Technical Responsibilities
(1) Liaise with the Ministry of Health, GoB (including the State Health Society of Bihar) for planning and implementation of project/ LSS-related activities;
(2) Plan, implement, and support various site assessments under the project and the development of reports and action plans. The project supports lab system strengthening (LSS) at health facilities, and shall require effort in the planning and execution of this task;
(3) Provide technical guidance and expertise for develop the IPHL and QMS (Quality Management System) training curriculum, capacity building program, and implementation of IPHL guidelines at all health centers;
(4) Support implementation of training of trainers and cascade training for IPHS norms and IPHL guidelines in identified areas/ regions;
(5) Conceptualize the documentation, report writing, and monitoring and evaluation framework for the project;
(6) Support the achievement of project milestones and any other task assigned from time to time.
4. QUALIFICATION, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:
Essential Qualifications and Experience:
(1) Applicants must be MBBS/ BDS with postgraduation in Microbiology/ Pathology/ Lab Medicine/ Public Health/ Epidemiology/ Health Services Management, from reputed Institutes;
(2) Five years or more experience in public health programs in India, including exposure to field implementation and management of teams (preferably TB, HIV/AIDS, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programs, COVID-19, and other public health programs);
(3) Comprehensive knowledge and experience of NEDL and IPHL, Government Health Care System and structures, including familiarity with Ministry of Health policies, program priorities, and regulations.
Preferable Experience:
(1) Candidates with experience of working on projects engaging public sector institutes and/or state health authorities, shall be given preference;
(2) Candidates with experience of working under/ managing projects funded by national/ international donor agencies, shall also be given preference;
(3) State/ National level experience of working with the Government/ Health Department, is desirable;
(4) Experience of managing program/ project budgets, shall be an advantage.
Skills and Competencies
(1) Proven ability to work in a public health setup with decision-makers;
(2) Ability to coordinate with internal and external stakeholders and on-site teams;
(3) Demonstrated ability to coordinate between multiple districts/sites and ensure strict adherence to project targets and mandates;
(4) Should have good communications skills and be proficient in basic computer applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
(5) Have sound knowledge of data analysis, and analytical software, and the ability to make meaningful interpretations for effective supervision;
(6) Ability and willingness to travel extensively (25%), based on the needs of the job;
(7) Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a team.
5. VACANCY DETAILS: One Vacancy
6. COMPENSATION OFFERED:
The gross remuneration budgeted for the position is attractive and shall be commensurate with the qualifications, experience, and salary history, of the selected candidate.
7. LOCATION(s): Patna, Bihar
8. CONTRACT TYPE AND PERIOD:
The selected candidate shall be initially offered a fixed term employment contract till April 24, 2024.
9. REFERENCE: TL-LSS-FIND
10. CONTACT INFORMATION:
Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 4081-9900; 4165 3612
10. APPLICATION PROCESS:
Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply online to https://recruitment.samshrm.com/JOBS/FIND at the earliest.