Public Health Institute, Tuberculosis Laboratory Technical Advisor

SUSTAINING TECHNICAL AND ANALYTIC RESOURCES

FELLOWSHIP TITLE: Tuberculosis Laboratory Technical Advisor

HOST ORGANIZATION: National Tuberculosis Program, Ministry of Health
LOCATION: Lusaka, Zambia

POSITION LEVEL: Mid-Career Advisor

STAR-P1-046

TRAVEL: 25% estimated travel

STAR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI) supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Health (GH) Bureau. Its purpose is twofold: (1) Through individual fellowships, STAR will help strengthen the capacity of diverse American and low-and-middle-income country (LMIC) health professionals at all levels to make innovative contributions to global health (GH); and (2) STAR will create ground-breaking opportunities for both US and LMIC GH academic institutions and other groups, including professional associations, to create systems for open-access knowledge sharing, resulting in effective partnerships. STAR’s individual and institutional participants are contributing to the development of self-sustaining systems and tools that will produce global citizens with the full spectrum of relevant health competencies. STAR is managed by the Public Health Institute and implemented in partnership with Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH).

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
The STAR Fellowship is a two-year global health and learning opportunity with:
• Individualized, tailored support to enhance the fellow’s achievement personal and professional goals
• Personalized learning plans and access to learning resources (courses, conferences, mentoring) based on fellow’s learning style and preferences.
• Access to broad professional networks to enhance peer learning and knowledge sharing.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION
Background:
USAID is a leader in the global fight against tuberculosis (TB) and supports anti-TB efforts in high burden TB countries. STAR Fellowship is a key component of the USAID Administrator's TB Accelerator initiative that aims to reach the UN General Assembly TB Declaration targets as well as to build the capacity and commitment of the host governments to ensure TB self-reliance through evidence-based TB programs.

Introduction:
The TB Laboratory Technical Advisor (Advisor) shall provide state-of-the-art technical expertise to support the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) in implementing their National TB Strategic Plans (NSPs). S/he will support the NTP in strengthening the diagnostic network with the goal of moving more accurately and efficiently to detect and monitor TB and Drug Resistant TB (DR-TB).

Reporting structure:
The Advisor will work in close collaboration with the USAID/Zambia and USAID/Washington TB Team and will receive technical direction from the NTP Manager, who will serve as his/her Onsite Manager.

Essential Duties and Outcomes:
Build capacity of the NTP to provide lab technical assistance:
● Develop and implement the National TB Lab strategic plan.
● Strengthen the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) National Reference Laboratories (NRL) to provide quality assurance and quality control for TB diagnostics across the laboratory network.
● Support the capacity building of National, Provincial Health Office and District Health Office in management of laboratory services, laboratory data management, quality assurance and diagnostics.
● In coordination with NTP, conduct technical supervisory visits to provincial level.
● Support and strengthen NTP for an effective specimen transportation system.

Improved nationwide coordination of diagnostic network activities:
● Strengthen the NTP’s relationship with Directorate of Clinical Services and establish a formal platform for dialogue, data sharing, and addressing key laboratory issues.
● Support further expansion of diagnostic techniques including GeneXpert MTB/Rif technology, digital chest X-ray, data connectivity, and culture/ DST.

Improved timely identification of technical assistance needs and coordination of responses among stakeholders:
● Identify TB lab technical assistance needs and work with USAID and other partners to address those needs.
● Explore opportunities for improvement across multiple issues in TB diagnostic network, such as Xpert expansion planning, connectivity, specimen transport, quality assessment and improvement processes including lab accreditation, and supervision processes.
● Together with the NTP, facilitate the coordination of TB and TB/HIV lab strengthening activities with other partners.
● Participate in Lab technical working group and the Global Fund’s implementation meetings.
● Provide technical assistance to the NTP in the area of TB laboratory commodity forecasting and quantification.
● Provide regular updates on lab and diagnostic progress to NTP and USAID, including developing and submitting technical monthly progress report and bi-annual monitoring and evaluation report to USAID staff.
● Collaborate with partners for implementation of operational research on laboratory strengthening.

Anticipated learning outcomes: * Required 10% time
• Demonstrate proficiency across the core global health competencies defined as development practice, cross cultural awareness, communication, capacity strengthening, ethics of public health, health equity, gender equality and global burden of disease that is necessary for persons practicing in global health.
• Apply diagnostic network and TB knowledge to strengthen program

• Apply and distinguish international standards within TB and lab strengthening area to support programming.
• Cultivate leadership skills based on the STAR GH mentorship curriculum to effectively facilitate capacity building and knowledge sharing activities amongst staff and peers.
• Expand access to knowledge and resources through networking and collaborative practice within global health.

FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Required:
• Minimum 7 years of relevant technical experience with master's degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences or a minimum 9 years of relevant technical experience with bachelor's degree
• Minimum 5 years of TB laboratory and TB control experience, preferably at the national level.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and management experience in managing public health programs in general.
• Specific experience in strengthening diagnostic networks is added advantage.
• Knowledge of mycobacteriology laboratory works in Zambia, solid and liquid culture and/or other TB diagnostics.
• Experience in conducting trainings and capacity building activities.
• Experience working with the key stakeholders in TB program, preferably the national stakeholders and international donors.

TO APPLY:
All applicants are required to apply for this position through STAR’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghstar.org/, which allows you to store your CV/resume and separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All online applications must be submitted by August 28, 2019 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.

Who We Are
Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a five-year project of the Public Health Institute, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). STAR’s overall goal is to strengthen the capacity of global health professionals and organizations, so they can implement stronger programs, achieve better results, and make a bigger impact in the global health field.

STAR has three key components:

A Fellowship and Internship program with tailored individual learning and growth opportunities
Capacity-building for Fellowship/Internship host organizations
Academic partnerships between U.S. and low- and middle-income country institutions
Through a continuous focus on individual and institutional learning, STAR is amplifying the impact that professionals and organizations can make on global health practice.

Individual Learning: Each participant has a dedicated team of Learning and Performance Management specialists who help ensure a successful, productive experience. They help Fellows and Interns to develop individualized learning and career plans based on their job responsibilities, their passions, and their long-term aspirations in global health.
Institutional Learning: STAR pairs academic institutions from different countries in knowledge-sharing experiments. They collaborate towards solutions to global health challenges and generate new knowledge, translating it into learning resources that are accessible to practitioners around the world.