Position Title: THIS Field Lab Supervisors (multiple positions)
Reports to: THIS Lab Advisor
Supervises: THIS Satellite Lab Team Leads
Employment Type: Full-time
Job Location: Dar es Salaam
Travel: Up to 80% in intervention districts outside of job location
About THIS 2022-2023:
The Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (THIS) is a national population-level HIV impact assessment (PHIA) conducted with support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and technical assistance through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ICAP at Columbia University. THIS is being led by the Government of Tanzania (GoT) through Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) and Zanzibar AIDS Commission (ZAC), and the Ministries of Health (MoH) of Mainland and Zanzibar, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Office of Chief Government Statistician (OCGS), and the President's Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG). The survey will be implemented by NBS, OCGS, and ICAP in collaboration with local partners, including the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), the Zanzibar Institute of Health Research (ZAHRI), Public Health Laboratories, the National AIDS Control Program (NACP), and the Zanzibar Integrated HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program (ZIHHTLP).
Overall Job Function:
The THIS Field Lab Supervisors will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of field biomarker activities. Through supervision and spot checks, the THIS Field Lab Supervisors will ensure that samples are correctly collected, processed, and transported in line with SOPs as well as QA/QC procedures for point of care HIV rapid testing. In addition, the THIS Field Lab Supervisors will be responsible for overseeing the smooth operations of the satellite/mobile labs as well as be responsible for dealing and resolving all non-conforming events (NCEs) relating to the biomarker component of the survey.
Specific Responsibilities and Duties:
- Monitor and supervise field teams on blood collection, HIV rapid testing, specimen handling and transportation.
- Ensure all field biomarker activities are in accordance with SOPs.
- Oversee ground-level supply chain including submitting timely requests, recording receipts, and ensuring correct storage of all necessary survey implementation materials.
- Collaborate with Survey Coordinator and Field Supervisors to set work schedules for Field Teams and coordinate with the supplies team to ensure all necessary materials
- are available when needed for ground level survey implementation activities.
- Ensure smooth transitioning of field teams and satellite/mobile labs from one region to the next.
- Manage documentation of weekly field implementation activities.
- Ensure timely submission of field reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly & project) as requested.
- Coordinate the administration of Bi-weekly QC and periodic PT Panels and execute corrective action where necessary.
- Coordinate return of results and household revisits for discrepant cases.
- Monitor the performance HIV rapid tests from all survey testing.
- Ensure proper filling of sample tracking forms and labelling of blood samples for field teams.
- Mentor field teams on proper waste disposal.
- Responsible for all NCEs arising from biomarker activities.
- Responsible for retraining testers on all biomarker activities.
- Ensure adherence of proper pre and post-test procedures and safety of the participant.
- Ensure quality transportation of samples from the field to the satellite/mobile laboratory.
- Submit weekly reports on field lab activities to the THIS Lab Advisor.
- Perform any other tasks assigned by the supervisor
Qualifications, Knowledge, and Skills:
- Required Education: Degree in biomedical or laboratory sciences
- Required Technical Experience: Minimum 2 years working experience in a busy medical laboratory.
- . Preferred: Experience in HIV serology
- Required Managerial Experience: Minimum 1 years supervising staff in a laboratory setting
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with fluency in English and Kiswahili required.
- Strong computer skills (MS Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint at minimum; preferred proficiency with statistical Software such as SAS and SPSS).
- Attention to detail and high accuracy.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times
- Ability to lead and work with a diverse team
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and strong problem-solving skills.
- Flexible to work after normal working hours and on weekends with significant travel outside of duty station.
- Familiar with Tanzanian context; fluency in Kiswahili preferred