Laboratory Quality Management Systems Specialist at Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ)

Reports to Lab Manager. The incumbent works closely with Ministry of Health (MoH) and Clinical, Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) lead laboratory activities that seek to strengthen national laboratory capacity to increase the quality of laboratory services through quality assured diagnostic services and laboratory accreditation. Works with the MoH and the project consortium and the Laboratory Health Systems Strengthening Manager and lead technical support to establish, coordinate, and monitor laboratory quality management system in the project support laboratories.

Main duties

• Provides on-site technical and management support for the CIDRZ LIFE project regarding laboratory quality improvement in all the target provinces.
• Works with CLSI and MoH to provide technical assistance to the national laboratories to systematically scale up quality assured laboratory services, in the viral load (VL) testing laboratories.
• Supports MoH and CSLI to implement an innovative mentoring program for laboratory staff in all the VL sentinel laboratories and Hubs.
• Supports the MoH and CLSI to lead the CIDRZ LIFE in conducting and overseeing mentorship activities within the scope of work and providing support to the identified laboratories in Zambia as assigned.
• Leads the conduct of Gap Analysis in nominated sentinel laboratories and lead the process of audit results analysis to assist with development of corrective action panning to international accreditation standards.
• Tracks action items arising from gap analysis, review visits, and quarterly sentinel laboratory visit reports.
• Works with the CSLI and MoH to develop and implement training requirements for Quality Management System (QMS) in accordance with internationally accepted standards of practice.
• Works closely with the project technical team and partners to regularly assess implementation progress against targets.
• Compiles and submits all the required M&E reports for project team, consortium members and other partners, accurately and in a timely manner.
• Provides supervisory oversite to all laboratory mentors.
• Works with MoH and CLSI to identify QMS training needs during the mentorship visit at sentinel staff for the selected and make recommendations.

Qualifications

• Degree in Biomedical Sciences or a Diploma Biomedical Technology with at least 7 years’ experience
• At least 5 years’ experience as Biomedical Scientist with at least 3 years working in a medical laboratory with a competent QMS programs
• Knowledge and implementation of ISO 15189 standard is required. Knowledge of other standards e.g. CAP, ISO 17025 also applies
• Prior knowledge mentorship implementation in a government laboratory is required.
• Valid practicing license
• Experience with internal and proven records of external auditing in Medical Laboratories and Master of Science Biomedical sciences will be an added advantage.
• Ability to communicate and coordinate activities with government, stakeholders and IPs.
• Strong coordination, communication, and interpersonal aptitudes
• Analytical and analytical skills
• Organization and planning skills
• Excellent computer skills

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