JOB DESCRIPTION
Technical Specialist – Microbiology,
Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) India, Patna, Bihar

1. POSITIONS VACANT: Technical Specialist – Microbiology, 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 Technical Specialist - Microbiology (TS-MB) will work closely with the Project Team Lead, Team Lead- Microbiologist, Project Manager, and the project team at FIND India, as well as state officials and other stakeholders and shall be responsible for the following.

Key Responsibilities:
(1) Provide support to the Project Lead and Team Lead- Microbiologist in the implementation of all technical assistance activities of laboratories, including the creation/ review of documents for situational analysis of existing testing capacities;
(2) Provide support to the Project Lead/ Team Lead in the preparation of an easy-to-use, laboratory setup tool kit. The kit shall include lab set-up checklist, standard operating procedures (SOP’s), QMS and training content. The training content for laboratories shall address testing, data management, lab quality assurance, lab biosafety, biomedical waste management and other areas, as defined under the project;
(3) Provide support to the Project Manager/ Team Lead (MB) for the preparation of specific training content, relating to the implementation of IPHL and NEDL guidelines, QMS, infectious disease testing, specimen collection testing, handling, transportation, and biosafety;
(4) Provide technical support across the LSS Project District/ testing sites, as and when required including site visits/ handholding/ technical support for testing methodologies, QA, biosafety, and biomedical waste management;
(5) Coordinate with identified labs/ hubs and identified participants, for online courses, webinars, and onsite/ assisted training;
(6) Ensure that project activities are conducted as per the work plan;
(7) Support the conduct and of microbiology lab testing, and equipment, based on requirement;
(8) Actively contribute and support the Team Lead (MB) in improving existing training materials and in developing new AV material on lab related training, including equipment handling and maintenance;
(9) Contribute as a lab/ site level facilitator, for various lab related training sessions, as necessary;
(10) Support or provide assistance to the team in laboratory assessment visits;
(11) Identify gaps or challenges in the technical functioning, or operations of labs, and liaise with concerned lab/ site staff, to resolve them;
(12) Provide timely feedback to FIND/ Donors/ District Officials/ Stakeholders, on the performance of laboratories under identified parameters;
(13) Compile and analyse data relating to various project activities and support the preparation of periodic reports;
(14) Support external experts and the Team Lead (MB) in the publication of achievements of the project;
(15) Any other task, as assigned from time to time.
 

4. QUALIFICATION, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:
     
Essential Qualifications and Experience:

(1) Applicants must be MBBS and MD/ M.Sc. Microbiology/ Medical Microbiology) with a minimum of two years of experience in laboratory, especially in microbiology;

Or

M.Sc. Microbiology and Ph.D in Microbiology with minimum two years of experience in laboratory, especially in microbiology ;

Or

Postgraduates (M.Sc.) in Microbiology with a minimum of five years of experience in laboratory, especially in Microbiology;

(2) Experience of conducting lab assessments, developing training contents and conducting training;
(3) Experience of working in health programs at the national and state-level (including IDSP, NTEP, NACP and, others);

Skills and Competencies

(1) Strong scientific background in microbiology, and microbiology related lab testing;
(2) Well familiar with microbiology lab techniques, equipment, and data analysis etc;
(3) Good coordination skills;
(4) Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills;
(5) Strong team orientation;
(6) Ability to work independently, with minimum handholding and supervision;
(7) Energetic, resilient, and passionate;
(8) Good computer knowledge (MS Office suite particularly MS Excel and MS Word);
(9) Willing to travel if required and at short notice.

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: TS-MB-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 by or before October 31, 2022.