JOB DESCRIPTION

Senior Microbiologist - Lab Strengthening System,

Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) India, Patna, Bihar

1. POSITIONS VACANT: Senior Microbiologist - Lab Strengthening System (SMB-LSS), 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 the rural population (88.7%) and persons below the multi-dimensional poverty line (51.9%- highest in the country). Bihar faces many challenges in building an adequate public health laboratory diagnostic capacity to meet its demand.

Public health laboratories are cornerstones of a public health system with the availability of high-quality diagnostics, the first step towards accurate disease detection and containment. Recognizing the need to establish a uniform code for equitable access to quality diagnostics, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the aegis of the 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 & personnel availability.

In the absence of suitable capacity, it recommends following a “hub and spoke model” to drive 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 along a “hub and spoke model” - a tiered system designed to provide patient-centric care and minimize patient drop-off. 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 of the healthcare facilities, the proposed activities under the project will ensure the adoption of IPHL guidelines and follow IPHS-NHM norms at each level of health facilities. The project intends to lead to the following outcomes:

(1) Building 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 Government of Bihar plan and subject to award of tender by Government of Bihar);

(2) Strengthening quality diagnosis across tiers by building and implementing a quality management system (QMS) with the continued mentoring mechanism;

(3) Building sustainable laboratory capacity towards disease surveillance (focusing on febrile illnesses) through capacity building

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Senior Microbiologist (Team Lead-MB) will work closely with the senior management, Team Lead, Project Manager, and project team at FIND, as well as the State officials and other stakeholders and shall be responsible for the following.

Key Responsibilities:

(1) Support the project manager in the implementation of all laboratory technical assistance activities including the creation/ review of documents for situational analysis of existing testing capacities;

(2) Support the project manager in the preparation of an easy-to-use laboratory setup tool kit. The kit would include a lab set-up checklist, standard operating procedures (SOPs), QMS (quality management systems) and training content. The training content for the laboratories would include testing, data management, lab quality assurance, lab biosafety, biomedical waste management and other areas as defined under the project;

(3) Support the project manager/ lead the team in the preparation of specific training content related to specimen collection testing, handling, transportation, and biosafety;

(4) Provide technical support across 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) Coordination with identified labs/hubs an identified participants and /or master trainer for the online course, webinars, and onsite/assisted training;

(6) Ensuring that the project activities are conducted as per the work plan;

(7) Contribute actively towards improvising existing training materials and developing new AV material on lab-related training including on equipment handling and maintenance;

(8) Contribute as a district/ state level facilitator for various lab-related training as required;

(9) Support or provide assistance to the team in laboratories assessment visits;

(10) Identify gaps or challenges in the technical functioning or operation of the lab activities and liaison with concerned district/ sites health officials’ on resolving;

(11) Provide timely feedback to FIND/ donors/ district officials/ stakeholders on the performance of laboratories under identified guidelines;

(12) Compilation and analysis of data related to various project activities and support the preparation of the periodic reports;

(13) Support external experts in publication achievements of the project;

(14) Any other task assigned from time to time;
 

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

(1) Applicants must be MD/Ph.D. in Microbiology with a minimum of seven years of experience in the laboratory, especially in microbiology;

(2) Experience in conducting lab assessments, developing training contents and conducting training;

(3) Experience working in health programs at the national and state level (including IDSP, NTEP, NACP and others);

(4) Strong scientific background in microbiology, epidemiology, etc.

Skills and Competencies

(1) Well-familiar with microbiology lab techniques, equipment, and data analysis, etc;

(2) Good coordination skills;

(3) Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills;

(4) Strong team orientation;

(5) Ability to work independently, with minimum handholding and supervision;

(6) Energetic, resilient, and passionate;

(7) Good computer knowledge (MS Office – Excel and Word);

(8) Willingness 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 on a fixed-term employment contract. The initial offer will be until 24 April 2024

9. REFERENCE: SMB-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 by or before December 13, 2022.