Amref Health Africa in Tanzania is a non-profit public health organization supporting the Government of Tanzania to address public health issues including maternal and child health, HIV, TB, Malaria, and Nutrition since 1987. Amref Health Africa in Tanzania is funded by The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through CDC Tanzania to execute a robust HIV care and treatment clinical cascade project aiming to accelerate the achievement of the current 95-95-95 goals and HIV epidemic control in Tanzania. Branded as Afya Thabiti, the project is implemented in the regions of Mara and Simiyu, as well as the islands of Zanzibar from October 2023, covering facility and community-based HIV prevention (including VMMC), care, and treatment services. Afya Thabiti works in collaboration and with guidance from the Tanzania Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, and President’s Office Regions Authority and Local Government (PORALG). That said, Amref Health Africa - Tanzania is announcing the following vacancies to be filled soon:

Position: Laboratory and Supply Chain Management Officer (1)
Work Station: Zanzibar
Reports to: Zanzibar Program Manager

Job Summary

The Laboratory and Supply Chain Management Officer’s key role is to strengthen Laboratory Quality Services and support Supply Chain Management at all supported sites in Zanzibar. S/he will provide technical support on the implementation of laboratory services, improve the quality of HIV diagnosis and Viral Load Monitoring to attain the current 95-95-95 of the HIV clinical cascade, and ensure the Supply Chain and Logistic support of all HIV/TB-related commodity and medicine availability and distribution across the supported program sites is met to evade potential interruption of services due to shortage.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the MOHZ and facilities through an evidence-based CQI approach to implement a comprehensive laboratory and supply chain quality management system.
• Strengthen External Quality Assurance (EQA)/PT programs for EID, HVL, HRT, TB, and OI tests.
• Support laboratory quality management systems for CQI in VL, laboratory sample transportation/results transmission, and other HIV-related testing.
• Ensure initial TB, HIV Viral Load, and DBS samples are processed and stored to the required temperatures before transportation to the referral testing laboratory.
• Support implementation of the laboratory quality management systems and SLMTA.
• Collaborate with the MOHZ to increase coverage of lab participation in SLMTA and ensure graduation with at least 2 stars.
• Expand the use of laboratory information systems to all supported laboratories.
• Ensure proper documentation of TB, HIV Viral Load, and DBS samples into Lab registers, process and provide data that can be used to monitor quality as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of the sample Referral System (Recording samples rejected vs. recollected for VL, DBS, and TB).
• Responsible for ensuring the completeness and validity of client information and data entry in the electronic sample referral and results feedback system. (Tracking of rejected samples into the system).
• Prepare and submit regular reports of sample referrals to relevant authorities (CHMT, IP) every month.
• Support implementation of supply chain and logistics management to ensure reliable commodity availability at all times.
• Ensure project-supported sites meet national standards for HIV/AIDS ARV and related commodity supply chain management by reinforcing the national guidelines on pharmacy supplies.
• Ensure validated drug management tools (paper tools and electronic) are available and properly used at all project-supported pharmacies.
• Ensure uninterrupted supply of HIV-related commodities at all project-supported sites by bimonthly and annual forecasting and budgeting of needs in HIV-related commodities, including lab commodities for each single site/district.
• Keep track of drug flow between stores and Project-supported sites and continuously update and educate site staff on developments and issues related to new drug formulations, national and zonal ARV, and OI drugs stock update.
• Ensure the presence of relevant supply chain management SOPs and Job Aids at sites and support their usage.
• Collaborate with the DHMTs to identify training needs for providers and peer groups, and organize basic and refresher training using currently recommended national curriculums.
• Carry out any other responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications, Experience & Skills Required

• Minimum Education: A Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Laboratory Science, with experience in Supply Chain Management.
• At least 3 years of “hands-on laboratory and supply chain management experience” in facility or community-based HIV programs.
• Experience in operating laboratory equipment.
• Experience in operating pharmacy modules and other supply chain management tools.
• Working knowledge of MS Office (especially Excel) and database systems.
• Ability to work autonomously and under pressure.
• Valid laboratory technician license.

HOW TO APPLY:

If you meet the criteria given above and are interested in the vacancies, please send an application letter and CV combined as one document indicating your present employer and position, daytime telephone contact, and names and addresses of three referees. To be considered, your application must be received by 16.30 HOURS on August 17, 2024. The subject line of your job application email should mention the job position that you are applying for as it appears in this advertisement. Failure to do that may result in your application not being retrieved. All correspondences and applications should be emailed to: jobs.tanzania@amref.org.

Amref Health Africa is an equal opportunity employer and has a non-smoking environment policy.

“Amref Health Africa is committed to the principles of safeguarding in the workplace and will not tolerate any form of abuse, wherever it occurs or whoever is responsible.”

Any Applicant attempting or communicating with the Amref Health Africa Management or Staff through phone calls, SMS, text emails, and other means will automatically be disqualified from this opportunity. All communications should be channeled to the provided official correspondence email above.