Foundation KNCV Tuberculosis ,Senior Technical Advisor to National TB Reference Laboratory Botswana (NTRL)

on

• Advise
  and support Head of NTRL on all matters relevant to TB microbiology
• Organization
  of the NTRL according to work flow and biosafety considerations according
  to international standards
• Sputum-smear
  microscopy
• Culture
  on solid and liquid media and identification of mycobacteria
• Drug
  susceptibility testing for first-and second-line tuberculosis drugs
• Rapid
  diagnostic techniques for diagnosis of TB
• Development
  and implementation of a national External Quality Assurance program for
  AFB examination and C/DST
• Coordinate
  with other USG/PEPFAR funded laboratory activities on TB;
• Provide
  technical advice to the BNTP and NTRL on all matters pertaining to TB
  diagnosis and management, and surveillance of DR-TB;
• Provide
  technical advice and expertise on the implementation of the new TB
  laboratory diagnostic tools;
• Advise
  and assist BNTP and NTRL staff in planning and implementation of TB
  laboratory program activities;
• Continuously
  support transfer of skills and knowledge on TB bacteriology and laboratory
  technologists and any other laboratory staff as relevant;
• Coordinate
  and collaborate with the National Quality Officer in MOH on the ongoing
  implementation of the TB National Laboratory Plan;
• Provide
  advice and support to the development of the satellite TB culture (and
  DST) facility in Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital laboratory in Francistown.
• Develop
  transition plan from ISO 15189:2007 – ISO 15189:2012

• Advise
  and assist the laboratory manager and laboratory staff in introduction and
  adherence to international biosafety standards including proper
  autoclaving status and assuring safe disposal of bio-hazardous waste;
• Advise
  and assist in building capacity of NTRL staff in the use of an appropriate
  TB laboratory information system – streamlining processes, assuring
  integrity and accessibility of information and protecting patient privacy,
  and preventing corruption or loss of data.
• Advise
  and support the development of a quarterly NTRL performance report,
  presenting data on essential performance indicators of NTRL functions, and
  the sputum-smear microscopy network;
• Advise
  and assist in the development of an effective patient-based laboratory
  notification system of X/MDR-TB, allowing BNTP to immediately track any
  diagnosed X/MDR-TB case for proper case management;
• Advise
  and assist BNTP and NTRL in evaluation of the diagnostic tools, e.g.:
• MGIT960
  for TB culture and drug susceptibility testing;
• PCR
  testing for rapid diagnosis of MDR-TB;
• Line
  Probe Assay
• GeneXpert
• Advise
  and support development and adherence to SOPs for DST of first-line
  anti-TB drugs and all other laboratory tests;
• Advise
  and support the development of second line DST at NTRL when considered
  opportune by BNTP and NHL;
• Advise
  and assist NTRL and BNTP on operational research for improving TB
  bacteriological diagnosis;
• Advise
  and support the strengthening of the quality control system at NTRL and
  Nyangabgwe referral hospital laboratory;
• Advise
  and support the laboratory quality officers at NTRL, the district and
  primary hospitals to:
• Put
  in place a AQ system for microscopy, culture and drug sensitivity;
• Develop
  a random blind checking on the quality of sputum-smears;
• Improve
  the QA monitoring system.
• Participate
  in maintaining the accreditation status of the NTRL with the South African
  National Accreditation System (SANAS) and the selected SNRL.
• In
  Quality Assurance areas,
• Developing
  transition plan from ISO 15189:2007 – ISO 15189:2012
• Monitoring
  and implementation of the transition plan
• Development
  of action plan for extension of scope of accreditation (addition, LPA
  TESTS, MGIT DST)
• Support
  on transition from SANAS to SADCAS
• Support
  on creation of work flow for the quality office
• Strengthen
  management of the lab in Quality Management System related issues.
• Revision
  of EQA unit procedures and policies.
• Strengthen
  EQA unit QMS

• Master
  degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences or equivalent (but a PhD will be a
  plus)

• Must
  have worked in a medical diagnostic laboratory as manager for a period of
  at least six years, specifically in TB diagnostic and culture laboratory.
• Should
  have experience using [ ] medium and MGIT960 for TB culture and DST;
• Should
  have experience in mycobacterial typing using different techniques (e.g.
  Niacin, Geneprobe);
• Has
  demonstrated experience and understanding of the public health and
  clinical functions of a National TB Reference Lab;
• Knowledge
  in Laboratory Quality Control Assurance, and strong experience of
  instituting good lab practice;
• Ability
  to effectively monitor and manage all aspects of QC within the laboratory;
• Experience
  with automated equipment in particular: MGIT960;
• A
  knowledge in MOTT species will be an added advantage
• Experience
  with laboratory information systems is an important advantage;
• Operational
  research experience is an advantage;
• Supervisory,
  training, management and monitoring skills of other lab staff;
• Good
  interpersonal communication and management skills;
• Extensive
  experience in the general management of a laboratory;
• Excellent
  verbal and written skills in English
• Demonstrated
  intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office applications

• A
  fixed-term contract for a year, with the intention to extend the contract;
• An
  informal work atmosphere in an international environment where initiative
  is appreciated;
• A
  highly-motivated team of experienced, self-driven colleagues;
• The
  salary is dependent upon education and relevant working experience;
• KNCV
  Tuberculosis Foundation has its own Employment Conditions Scheme;
• Full-time
  employment consists of 38 hours per week.