Malaria Laboratory Technical Lead

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Introduction

PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges.

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Position Summary

PATH seeks a Malaria Laboratory Technical Lead for the United States Government (USG)-funded Reaching every at-risk community and household with malaria services (REACH Malaria) global project. REACH aims to provide implementation support services and technical assistance to countries to accelerate progress in comprehensive delivery of life-saving facility and community-based malaria services including malaria case management, prevention of malaria in pregnancy (MiP), seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC), maternal and child health services including immunization and nutrition, data collection and use for service delivery, and other malaria prevention interventions.

The Malaria Laboratory Technical Lead will report to the Chief of Party and will provide technical expertise, coordination, planning, integration, and supervision of all REACH Malaria laboratory related activities at the focus districts, health centers, hospitals and health posts as well as private health facilities. S/he will be responsible for providing technical leadership assisting and supervising the work of regional malaria laboratory officers and ensuring the implementation of standard malaria diagnosis and treatment practices at supported health facilities per the national malaria guidelines.

The Malaria Laboratory Technical Lead will serve as a technical resource and provide comprehensive support on malaria laboratory services including strengthening malaria external quality assessment (EQA) program and all the necessary support to ensure the successful implementation of project activities, technical support to Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) activities including improving the quality of malaria laboratory diagnosis which is a critical lifesaving support at health facility level. S/he will support the PATH team in strengthening integration of the project activities at the national, regional, zonal, district and health facility level, and liaises and provide direct support to MOH and EPHI and the four regions, working closely with the regional, zonal and district malaria and laboratory focal persons (MFPs) in the implementation of the REACH Malaria project.

The implementation of the activities will result in strengthened malaria laboratory diagnosis at facility level and maximum coverage of malaria community case management services.

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Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Support

• Provide technical support and guidance to regional laboratory officers to facilitate project implementation and planned activities, and to ensure adherence to national guidelines for standard malaria diagnosis and treatment at supported health facilities.
• Work in close collaboration with MOH, EPHI, RRLs and RHBs in harmonizing project activities with the nationally set goals and standards and support in strengthening malaria laboratory EQA program.
• Provide technical support to the development and review of national manuals, training materials, etc.
• Provide technical support for the development/revision of tools such as job aids, malaria laboratory diagnosis and quality assurance SOPs, quality improvement tools, supervision and mentorship tools, etc.
• Lead and coordinate regular supportive supervision and mentorship to facility staff on malaria laboratory diagnosis and monitoring at hospitals, health centers and health posts.
• Assist/assess the capacity and skill gaps among HCWs and develop gap filling strategies that regional laboratory officers utilize during mentorship programs.
• Lead regular review of clinical domain, collecting feedback and identifying actionable steps for continued progress.
• Lead the execution of ECAMM and pre-ECAMM refresher training.
• Coordinate with EPHI and facilitate the provision of standard malaria blood films for regional level trainings and competency assessments.
• Participate in the regular meetings of national and regional laboratory technical working groups.
• Analyze the malaria laboratory practices of health facilities across regions, document best practices and scale up to other project supported regions, communities and areas.
• Develop a plan for conducting laboratory training, supervisory visits and EQA implementation.
• Assist in the operational studies/TES undertakings.

Reporting and Planning

• Summarize and compile reports on the achievements in malaria laboratory diagnosis quality assurance programs of the project.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual plans and activity reports.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.

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Required Skills and Experience

• MSc in laboratory science or MPH with laboratory science background with a minimum of five years of experience, or minimum of BSc in laboratory sciences with work experience of at least ten years.
• Proven experience working with the MoH with strong knowledge of health systems and programs and demonstrated leadership and technical support for national-level malaria laboratory programs.
• Demonstrated experience in development and review of guidelines, manuals, training materials, different tools, etc.
• Experience in malaria laboratory diagnosis and monitoring program management and bench works.
• Experience in conducting trainings, supervisions, and mentorship.
• Experience in development and review of documents related to laboratory services.
• Experience in developing assessment protocols and writing reports.
• Ability to work in team with good team spirit.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, associates, other colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and good team spirit.
• Willingness to travel 30-40% of his/her time.

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