Job Summary
Position: Fabrication Lab Coordinator (1 post)
Reports To: Ifakara Innovation Hub Director
Work Station: Ifakara

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, service delivery and policy translation. 

Position Summary 

Ifakara Health Institute is seeking a Fabrication Lab Coordinator to join the Ifakara Innovation Hub (IIH) team. The FabLab Coordinator should have experience and knowledge on the health and/or innovation and entrepreneurial landscape of Tanzania, to provide synchronization for the Ifakara Innovation Hub fabrication programs.

The FabLab Coordinator will be responsible to support innovators and startups with product design and fabrication of product prototypes using various digital fabrication tools and techniques such as 3D printing and laser cutting; will work on projects dealing with interactive design and engage internal and external stakeholders including Product Development Partnership (PDP) consortium.

IIH is an initiative that is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Tanzania and Fondation Botnar. The vision of this initiative is to have a sustainable legal entity by the end of 2024 that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship in Kilombero Valley and Tanzania in general.

IIH is currently strongly emphasizing solutions based on modern digital technologies, artificial intelligence and med-tech to improve health care and livelihood. The ultimate goal is to create and stimulate a coherent continuum of activities from research and technology development, through entrepreneurial implementation, industrialization & scaling up capabilities. Prototyping and local manufacturing capacity will be developed, in particular, in these sectors to create a sustainable pipeline of new technologies, successful entrepreneurs and start-up companies that includes close technical and commercial links with relevant to national and international entities.

Apart from having a physical innovation space for the community in Ifakara Town, the program has established a PDP, which aims to support the development of innovative products in the health sector, specifically medical devices based on needs and opportunities identified from ideation to commercialization. The PDP includes Villgro Africa, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) from Switzerland, Bongo -TECH & Research Lab, Robotech Labs, Ifakara Health Institute and the Ifakara Innovation Hub.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to establishing and improving a pipeline of innovation projects and startups based on a bottom-up and need-based including the ongoing projects at IIH and the partners.
• Manage and maintain all aspects, supports spaces and equipment resources, including hardware and software from IIH’s design studio and PDP consortium.
• Maintain and update all fabrication lab infrastructure, equipment, and software configurations installed at IIH’s design studio.
• Ensure availability, applicability and safety of equipment, parts, and materials to support the development of innovations and startup products.
• Develop fabrication lab activities, scheduling spaces and curriculum content to respond to the vision and direction of IIH.
• Troubleshoot, repair, maintain, calibrate, inspect and test all equipment from IIH’s design studio and PDP consortium.
• Support and participate in the designing and development of all related innovation solutions materials and different stages of establishment.
• Advice on the management of service contracts for specific equipment from IIH’s fabrication lab.
• Train users in equipment operation including students and innovators that are currently using the IIH.
• Promote and advocate the IIH and organize various events, workshops and other activities that foster creativity in fabrication and innovation.
• Maintain contact with the local and international Fab Lab community to remain up-to-date on the latest innovations in digital fabrication.
• Identify unmet priority health needs, especially in Kilombero Valley and Dar es salaam regions, which may be addressed via technological innovation.
• Perform any other duty assigned by his/ her supervisor.

Qualification and Experience

• University/College degree (BSc or B.Eng.) in Computer Sciences, Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical Engineering, or other fields relevant to technical, science, engineering and liberal arts and design backgrounds.
• Experience and knowledge in Digital Fabrication or different types of interactive projects with open-source technologies such as wood fabrication, 3-D printing, and CNC machinery is essential.

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrate ability to creatively design and deploy innovative initiatives, programs or solutions that are effective and generate results.
• Experience with 3D CAD design, designing and manufacturing electronic devices, carpentry, metalworking, sewing, print-making, vacuum forming, sign-making, and other basic fabrication skills.
• Proven communication and presentation skills and ability to promote IIH to a wider range of audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal and public relations skills, pleasant personality, team-oriented with demonstrated ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment.
• Strong analytical skills with a desire to learn and undertake new challenges and must also be a creative problem-solver; willing to work hard and pays attention to quality, excellence and efficiency of work.
• Must show commitment to the program’s integrity and personal conduct including diplomacy and sensitivity to diversity with flexibility and adaptability.
• Encourage teamwork, initiative and direction to build trust and confidence, resilience, and patience.
• Adhere to IHI core values i.e., Transparency, Responsibility, Integrity, Respect, and Initiative.

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 email address below.

The deadline for this application is 17:00hrs on Thursday, December 15^th 2022. All e-mail application subject lines should include: FABLAB COORDINATOR – IFAKARA INNOVATION HUB. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. 

Human Resources Manager
IFAKARA HEALTH INSTITUTE
#5 Ifakara Street Plot 463 Mikocheni
P.O. Box 78,373
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Email: recruitment@ihi.or.tz

Apply By: December 15th 2022