Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health center and to referral hospitals.

Position OverviewThe main purpose of the position is to provide technical and training/mentorship support for Koidu Government Hospital (KGH) Microbiology Laboratory (ML) to ensure reliable results on time for management of patients with Infectious diseases with targeted treatment rather than empirical treatment by WHO standards. Additionally, enhance the role of the Microbiology Laboratory in the antimicrobial stewardship.

• Support the KGH Microbiology Lab team to be operational based on the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) or European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) to process cultures and antibiogram for patients’ samples.
• Support the activities and be the link between PIHSL and KGH Microbiology Laboratory team.
• Ensure competency of all Lab personnel and adherence to PIH/MOHS Quality Management System.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:The Clinical microbiologist will be responsible to oversee all aspects of KGH Microbiology Laboratory in close collaboration with the PIH Lab Laboratory Manager and the MoH Lab Lead, mainly in the following areas:

Diagnostics:

• Ensure to provide timely, reliable, and reproducible identification of microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility results.

Training and mentorship:

• Train PIH/Ministry of Health (MoH) laboratory technicians on microbiology techniques, SOP and quality assurance protocols (QA) for essential laboratory services in accordance with PIH/MOHS and international standards.
• Ensure good collaboration between PIH and the MoH laboratory team.
• Perform competency testing of laboratory technicians in the performance of key microbiological processes and tests.

Quality control:

• Ensure the implementation of an Internal and external quality control and safety system in the Microbiology Laboratory in collaboration with Lab Manager and the Lab Quality Manager.
• Adapt the existing WHO Standard Operation Procedures for microbiology and other tools in accordance with MoH guidelines.

Reporting:

• Ensuring proper registration and records of all microbiology lab-related activities, including, but not limited to eHealth records, laboratory documentation and reporting of AMS and AMR activities.
• Implementing the correct use of the surveillance program WHONET to have proper records of laboratory results.
• Provide monthly reports based on extracted data from surveillance program WHONET.
• Collaborate with the M&E team in the development of data tools collection, reporting and development of quality projects based on results.

Logistics and supply chain:

• Oversee consumption of supplies and requests.
• Plan and supervise, in close coordination with the Lab Manager and supply chain team the local and international orders for consumables and equipment needed for the microbiology laboratory. Monitor laboratory stock ensuring that stock cards are updated to calculate proper Average Monthly Consumptions of commodities to avoid stock ruptures.
• Responsible for ordering and supply chain management of reagents and materials for micro lab and point of care testing in collaboration with procurement and Pharmacy Manager, in line with the approved laboratory budget.
• Work closely with PIHSL and Lab cross-site team and procurement teams to ensure timely order processing and adherence with the national guidelines.

Maintenance of equipment:

• Oversee maintenance and troubleshooting of lab equipment. Ensure all equipment in the Lab is functional and report faults timely to the PIH Biomed and other reporting lines.

Antimicrobial resistance stewardship:

• Compile, analyze and report microbiology lab activities and results to the medical staff providing relevant information for AMR surveillance.
• Actively participate and help to coordinate with the Clinical leadership the antimicrobial stewardship committee.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and HarassmentAt Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partners In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.Education and Work Experience Requirements

• University degree, with advanced training in Clinical Microbiology (Biologist with specialization in clinical microbiology, Clinical microbiologist (MD) or Laboratory scientist with training and experience in clinical microbiology)

Experience:

• Previous working experience with local or international NGOs will be considered as a strong advantage
• 5 years of relevant professional experience in bacteriology or microbiology services preferably in a second or tertiary level hospital
• Strong competencies in performing antibiogram analysis and identification of resistance mechanism (AMR).
• Experience in both manual and automated methods of bacterial identification.

Skills & Qualities

• Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to teamwork and humanitarian principles. High professional ethics
• Flexible, enthusiastic and willing to learn from others
• Ability to multitask and cope with competing demands under tight deadlines
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment. Experience in team management, training and mentorship.
• Strong organizational and time management skills and flexibility to learn and take on new tasks
• Strong ability to meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate professionally with culturally diverse colleagues and constituencies.
• Strong verbal and written English skills
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Social JusticeWe are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.

Method of applicationInterested candidates are required to apply through our website: www.pih.org/employment. In your application, please ensure to include names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three (3)referees not later than 5:00pm GMT (Midnight) on Friday 12th July 2024