Job Summary

Position: Biomedical Engineer (1 post) 

Reports to: Project PI

Work station: Dar es salaam

Apply by: August 14, 2020

Institute overview 

Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) is a leading research organization in Africa with a strong track record in developing, testing and validating innovations for health. Driven by a core strategic mandate for research, training and services, the Institute’s work now spans a wide spectrum, covering biomedical and ecological sciences, intervention studies, health-systems research and policy translation. 

Position Summary 

IHI is looking for a Biomedical Engineer to support the Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST) program which aims at implementing comprehensive newborn care through innovative lifesaving technologies, the provision of both technical and clinical capacity-building, implementation of clinical and technical educational programs and the building of a sustainable distribution network. The Biomedical engineer will be responsible for leading all engineering maintenance and coordination initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Management of equipment installation and maintenance (with local distributor, if pertinent)
   • Assist in identification of a maintenance point person at each installation site
   • Assist in acquiring a maintenance space/workshop at each site
   • Communicate routinely with distributor & installation sites to ensure implementation is taking place
   • With support from the RICE NEST Biomed Tech Training Director, lead all engineering maintenance & coordination initiatives, including:
     • Coordination of installation & user training for NEST equipment in programme-supported sites
     • Tracking installed equipment and status, including maintenance & repair history and analysis
     • Development and monitoring of preventive and corrective maintenance, tool management and requisition and supply and equipment inventory systems
     • Coordination and conduction of user and technician trainings and installations at all sites o Coordination of repair and maintenance of all installed equipment as necessary
   • Develop recommendation plan for preventive maintenance on team, user and installation site responsibility levels
   • Perform Quality improvement/periodic field visits to ensure the quality of equipment care and monitor progress
   • Brainstorm needs within nursery and training institution installation sites, including but not limited to: equipment design, nursery infrastructure and layout and renewable energy
   • Participate in manufacturer-led trainings in service and repair when necessary; may require travel
2. Management of equipment installation and maintenance (with local distributor, if pertinent)
   • Assist in identification of a maintenance point person at each installation site
   • Assist in acquiring a maintenance space/workshop at each site
   • Communicate routinely with distributor & installation sites to ensure implementation is taking place
   • With support from the RICE NEST Biomed Tech Training Director, lead all engineering maintenance & coordination initiatives, including:
     • Coordination of installation & user training for NEST equipment in programme-supported sites
     • Tracking installed equipment and status, including maintenance & repair history and analysis
     • Development and monitoring of preventive and corrective maintenance, tool management and requisition and supply and equipment inventory systems
     • Coordination and conduction of user and technician trainings and installations at all sites o Coordination of repair and maintenance of all installed equipment as necessary
   • Develop recommendation plan for preventive maintenance on team, user and installation site responsibility levels
   • Perform Quality improvement/periodic field visits to ensure the quality of equipment care and monitor progress
   • Brainstorm needs within nursery and training institution installation sites, including but not limited to: equipment design, nursery infrastructure and layout and renewable energy
   • Participate in manufacturer-led trainings in service and repair when necessary; may require travel

3. Ministry of Health engagement and facilitation
   • Assist in development of job aids, videos & training curriculum for MOH technical and clinical staff
   • Support in development and implementation of a maintenance supportive supervision program and coordination of program activities
   • Develop strategies to increase maintenance staff uptake of equipment repair

4. Communication and Reporting
   • Immediately provide feedback to project leadership following installations, user trainings or maintenance visits with pertinent information (e.g. numbers of users and technicians trained, maintenance, design and repair issues)
   • Provide support in compiling and reviewing high quality reports to donors and program management in a timely fashion
   • Keep abreast of developments in grant/program changes and progress in order to advise and recommend tools and strategies to increase program performances and results
   • Review and analyse field reports to identify the causes of potential bottlenecks in program implementation and use data for decision making and action
   • Serve as a liaison between the NEST program and Ministry of Health (particularly within the equipment maintenance and/or procurement units), engineering accreditation bodies and training institutions for the communication of program plans, activities, data and progress
   • Ensure that donor, partners and senior management engineering and maintenance queries are addressed in an accurate and timely manner
   • Participate/advice on data analysis, report writing and publications
   • Undertake any other duties as requested by the Principle Investigator

Qualification and Experience

• Degree in engineering or other related disciplines. Post-graduate levels are highly encouraged to apply. 2-4 years of experience in engineering in the health or development field.

Skills and Competencies

• Proven skills in engineering, including experience with multi-site programs, and hospital-related maintenance particularly with regards to neonatal equipment
• Strong skills in engineering and design software, including Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Labview, Solidworks, AutoCad, Matlab, Ansys, etc. will be an added advantage
• Basic knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data collection, management and analysis using packages such as Tableau, SPSS, STATA, Excel, RedCap, etc.
• Ability on data interpretation, report-writing and presentation skills
• Ability to work in a team environment, including ability to coordinate effectively with diverse individuals and stakeholders to achieve results
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Ability to travel extensively in-country and out of country as necessary

Remuneration 

An attractive and competitive remuneration package will be offered to successful candidates as per IHI salary scales.

Equal Opportunity

IHI is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit intentional biases or discrimination and harassment of any kind at the work place and during recruitment. All employment decisions are based solely on job requirements and individual qualifications, and our recruitment process is governed by the labour laws of Tanzania.

Mode of Application

All candidates who meet the above job requirements should send their application letters together with their detailed curriculum vitae (CVs) showing contact addresses including email, telephone/cell phone numbers and copies of academic and professional certificates to the address below. The deadline for this application is 1700hrs, 14^th August 2020.

All e-mail application subject lines should read ‘BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER – NEST’ Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview. 

Human Resources Manager, 

Ifakara Health Institute,  Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni, 

P.O. Box 78373, Dar es Salaam

Email: recruitment@ihi.or.tz