Continuous Quality Improvement Officers

POSITION AVAILABLE

TITLE:  Continuous Quality Improvement Officers (CQIO)

REPORTS TO: Laboratory Quality Control Management Advisor

LOCATION: Lusaka

ASSIGNMENT LENTH: 6 Months with a possibility of extension depending on funding

BACKGROUND

The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in collaboration with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Zambia and the Ministry of Health, Zambia, will be providing support for the rollout of a recent infection testing algorithm (RITA) for detection of recent infection and estimation of HIV incidence. The Project is called the Zambia HIV Recent Infection Surveillance (HIV Recency Project: Z-HRP).

This activity will expand on a recent pilot HIV recency study among pregnant adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in the DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe women) program (Working Together for an AIDS-free Future for Girls and Women). A sample of blood from individuals (men and women) who newly test HIV positive at HTS sites in 2 districts will be requested and tested using a RITA that will include a rapid test for recent infection (RTRI) and a viral load (VL) test. Routinely collected demographic data from study participants will be abstracted onto a surveillance data collection form.

The Population Council will provide technical, logistic and administrative on-the-ground support for the preparation and, implementation of this project, such as support for trainings, hiring personnel, supporting travel and movement of those staff to sites for supervision, and dissemination of findings. To support the implementation of this project, the Population Council seeks applications for the position of Continuous Quality Improvement Officer. The purpose of this project is to provide important surveillance information on new infections with an aim of guiding HIV prevention efforts in Zambia.

The Continuous Quality Improvement Officer, as a staff member of Population Council, will work closely with the UCSF HIV Recency Program Managers, the Ministry of Health, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Zambia. Duties will include: conducting supervision visits to facilities to ensure that the recency tests are being administered properly, informed consent is obtained, community results are available and returned, and that all documentation is completed correctly. The incumbent will need to have a thorough understanding of the study protocol, related manuals and study tests, and project Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

He/She will report to the Laboratory Quality Control Management Advisor while working closely with the Ministry of Health and other study group members.

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure correct and appropriate guidelines and SOPs are in place for specimen and laboratory data collection from all assigned study sites and clinical records.
• Participate in the development and continuous updating of quality improvement, control and training materials and related activities.
• Assist with training on the study protocol and operations and provide administrative and logistical support for field work and data collection, including ensuring that all targets are met in a timely manner.
• Work closely with the Ministry of Health point of contact and health providers to ensure successful implementation of the project.
• Provide hands-on support for both face-to-face training sessions and on-site quality improvement
• Assist, supervise, and verify data collection in health facilities.
• Conduct daily visits to study facilities for supportive supervision and quality monitoring, quality improvement coaching and mentoring
• Work closely with facilities in charge and DHO to ensure that staff at each study site adhere to approved ethical procedures in protocol related informed consent, data collection, storage, security, and backup, and biological specimen collection, storage, transportation, and safety
• Review documentation at facility to identify any concerns with the procedures and adverse situations
• Liaise with data manager to ensure accurate data entry of morbidity information
• Be open to new tasks throughout the project period and available to respond to unexpected logistical and other needs that may arise

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Graduate degree in biomedical/laboratory sciences or public health or nursing,
• Minimum experience of 3 years (after graduation) in the health care field
• Prior experience in training, mentoring and supervision of field staff
• Prior experience in conducting quality improvement monitoring and mentoring
• Prior experience working in a clinical research or research laboratory an added advantage
• Communication skills and good interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Availability for duration of the survey

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