Analyst, Diagnostics

Position: Analyst, Diagnostics

Reports to: Program Manager, Diagnostics

Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries, while strengthening the capabilities of governments and the private sector in those countries to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance

Project Overview

With the establishment of the ambitious 2020 “90-90-90” treatment targets, there is a renewed focus on initiating HIV-infected people on ART as soon as possible, and ensuring they remain on effective treatment to achieve viral suppression – both of which require better access to Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) and Viral Load (VL) testing. Most patients do not have access to testing where they receive care, instead they must rely on transportation of their samples to and from centralized laboratories, and have to wait for their test results. Although these centralized laboratory-based technologies have formed the backbone for national testing programs, and have provided testing to many patients, implementation has been hampered by system challenges such as establishing sample transportation systems, optimizing the existing diagnostics network, timely result return to patients, result utilization,  clinical decision making, and supply chain.CHAI DRC has been supporting the Ministry of Health (MOH) since 2018 to improve access to EID and VL testing through the introduction and scale-up of point-of-care (POC). The POC project in DRC aims to shorten the time needed for informed clinical decision-making by reducing test turn-around time: a) to the same patient visit using POC/near POC technologies; and b) to a minimum acceptable time-to-result for conventional testing. CHAI DRC is further providing technical assistance to the national Covid19 response Labs sub-committee, led by the INRB, to strengthen Covid19 diagnostics capacity across the country. The Covid19 project in DRC aims to expand national testing capacity for Covid19 through (a) building HW capacity on sample collection and diagnostics, (b) strengthening supply chain for Covid19 lab commodities; and (c) procuring critical Covid19 lab commodities to enable Covid19 testing.

Position Overview

CHAI is seeking a talented, highly motivated, and flexible Analyst to support the development, expansion, and improvement of laboratory systems for point of care testing for EID and viral load in DRC. The Analyst, based in Kinshasa, will report to the Program Manager, Diagnostics and work closely with the HIV Laboratory Scientistto implement a set of critical activities within the POC and the Covid19 diagnosticsprojects. The Analyst will be an individual with strong analytical ability. They will be comfortable with uncertainty, while also coming up with innovative new ways of addressing problems and pushing initiatives forward. This position will work with government officials and partners, and must have excellent relationship building and communication skills. They must be able to function independently with minimal oversight, and have a strong commitment to excellence with a keen eye for detail.

This position is based in Kinshasa and has a duration of 6 months.

Responsibilities:

• Work with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), reference labs and other partners to review, evaluate and improve DRC’s laboratory network ensuring that sample transport routes are optimized and defined, and that result reporting systems and quality control mechanisms are put in place;
• Support the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and partners to put in place a laboratory information management system (LIMS)to strengthen EID/VL data management in POC sites;
• Provide technical and logistical assistance to implement logistics information management system (LMIS) in Covid19 testing sites to enable stock management of Covid19 lab commodities;
• Provide technical support to strengthen POC site data collection for improved program management (EID, VL testing)
• Organize logistics and prepare for field missions including working with the MoH to develop the TORs, budget, tools, presentations and other supporting documents
• Work with the MoPH to ensure the country POC and Covid19 diagnostics milestones are met
• Other tasks assigned by the Supervisor

Qualifications:

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Laboratory sciences and/or Information systems or related fields with a minimum of 3 years of experience or a Master’s degree with a minimum of 1 year of experience in a demanding and fast-paced environment;
• Highly motivated, entrepreneurial, with outstanding problem-solving  and analytical capabilities;
• Strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills, and ability to build strong professional relationships with a range of stakeholders in a challenging environment;
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills, including the ability to prepare compelling presentations and to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively;
• Ability to set priorities and work well under pressure with minimal supervision;
• High-level of proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Power Point and Word;
• Fluency in French and English required.
• Experience working with governments and international partners

Advantages:

• Experience working in laboratories in DRC or in West Africa.
• Familiarity with workflow related to EID, CD4, Viral Load and POC.
• Global health, HIV, and/or infectious diseases related experience, either in a programmatic or clinical setting
• Previous work experience in resource-limited settings

Please apply via: https://careers-chai.icims.com/jobs/10563/analyst%2c-diagnostics%2c-drc/job?mode=view