Microbiologist at Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ)

Microbiologist Ref No. MB/FF/29/10/19

Reports to Lab Director. The incumbent provides technical support in the design, implementation, and monitoring of the antimicrobial resistance surveillance in human and animal health sectors. She/he will be the technical lead in supporting the government through AMR coordinating committee (AMRCC), consortium, and other relevant stakeholders in the development and review of the relevant protocols, alignment of the existing national, and international guidelines and protocols to the projects need. The microbiologist will also work closely with the AMR secretariat to prove technical support to selected human and animal health laboratories. He/she will support training and development of an effective microbiology laboratory methods for diagnosis and management of AMR/AMU surveillance.

Main duties

• Supports the design, implementation, review, and monitoring of laboratory quality management systems (QMS) in sentinel laboratories.
• Serves as technical advisor for all microbiology technical collaboration within CIDRZ and the consortium.
• Provides support and expertise to train personnel in best practice for sample collection, processing, accessioning, and transport.
• Provides technical support in mapping/investigating/assessing antibiotic distribution and use in human and animal populations.
• Supports surveillance sentinel laboratories in preparation of solutions, microbiological media, reagents; equipment, apparatus and accessories and other supplies needed.
• Supports surveillance of sentinel laboratories to conduct periodic inventory of reagents, solutions, and other supplies and equipment essential to laboratory operation.
• Supports and participates in the process of writing, reviewing/updating all existing policies, standard operating procedures and logs and ensure only current policies, procedures and logs are available and in use in microbiology laboratories.
• Supports training needs reviews, preparation of training materials and participate in conducting trainings for new and existing employees in microbiological procedures and WHO recommended AMR/AMU procedures, data collection tools, and LIS.
• Provides technical assistance with data collection, analysis and visualisation of AMR data patterns in clinical specimens.
• Supports sentinel sites to review and enter all culture results in WHONET, share data with national AMR programs.
• Supports staff at sentinel sites to prepare and maintain technical reports on results of analyses conducted.
• Supports the team lead, the consortium and the AMR national secretariat in the process of preparing and submitting AMR/AMU-related data and reports per the national, regional, and global standards and requirements

Qualifications

• BSc Biomedical Sciences or Microbiology or related qualifications with at least 5 years of working experience in a microbiology laboratory with well-established QMS. At least 3 years of the 5 years must be at management level.  MSc or higher qualification in microbiology is preferred.
• Experience in laboratory diagnosis of AMR, AMR/AMU surveillance, management of a microbiology laboratory is desired
• Must be registered with Health Professions Council of Zambia and in Possession of a Valid Practicing License
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required.
• Data handling proficiency using computers and windows software.
• Detail oriented, highly organised, self-motivated and have the ability to handle multiple tasks and changing priorities.

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