The District Laboratory specialist will be responsible for implementing laboratory strengthening activities of the USAID LPHS-TB Activity in Mukono, Wakiso and Kampala. S/he will jointly work with the district/division health leadership to provide technical support for laboratory services at supported health facilities in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health laboratory services structures to ensure delivery of quality TB lab services

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with district structures and leverage counterpart USG-supported project lab technical officers/advisors in the region to design and implement strategies to ensure that project supported sites attain minimum MoH requirements following SLMTA program (at hubs) and establish a frame work for facility specific LQMS at none SLMTA labs.
• Conduct detailed audit of project supported sites, prepare action oriented work plans and design innovative strategies to address the identified gaps to ensure delivery of quality lab services
• Guide facility teams to regularly report on lab activities through regular submission of high quality HMIS reports and activity reports in line with standard Ministry of Health, donor and project timelines
• Plan, coordinate and conduct didactic trainings and mentorship visits to District and facility teams to address TB lab related capacity gaps and build skills for delivery of quality lab services.
• Conduct site mentorship and joint support supervision visits to labs and facilities to ensure effective implementation of LQMS in liaison with national and District technical teams.
• Design and functionalize systems to support District and facility teams to accurately quantify, forecast, orders and manage laboratory supplies and commodities to ensure constant availability.
• Collaborate with other USG and/or non-USG funded project lab technical advisors in Karamoja region to ensure adequate representation of district/facility TB lab teams in hub coordination review meetings for smooth hub operations and effective utilization of available TB and HIV lab related services.
• Work closely with the clinical team to support lab monitoring of diagnosed TB and TB/HIV patients in line with current national standards, timely results return and related follow up interventions.
• Strengthen QA efforts both at the labs and point of care and ensure regular supervision of point-of-care testers and participation in internal and external quality control schemes in line with national guidelines.
• Establish and strengthen lab biosafety practices, good equipment management practices including calibration, monitoring of commercial service contracts for lab equipment, and ensure that there is uninterrupted service delivery as a result of equipment malfunction.
• Support sample referral services to ensure uninterrupted specimen transport network for health care GeneXpert, culture and drug susceptibility testing(DST) and other related TB-HIV tests.
• Supervise project supported sample riders, their movements and adherence to personal safety standards and lab biosafety standards including timely accountability for project equipment and resources.
• Any other duty assigned by management from time to time.

Person Specification

• Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Laboratory Technology/ Sciences
• Full and active registration with The Allied Health Professionals Council.
• Training in laboratory quality management systems and biorisk managementsystems.
• At least 3 years’ experience in laboratory planning, management, and QA/QC
• Up-to-date knowledge of current national TB and TB-HIV management protocols
• Experience in supporting lab systems in a health systems strengthening setting
• Good communication, organization and management skills
• Understands client confidentiality and exhibits a high level of ethical conduct
• Good interpersonal skills and can work in a team
• Has basic computer literacy including word processing, excel, internet and PowerPoint
• Good writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to deliver under minimal supervision