Laboratory consultant (WHO Health Emergencies Programme) (Short Term Consultant, for initial period of 6 months)

The World Health Organization has a vacancy for the position of:

Laboratory consultant (WHO Health Emergencies Programme)

 (Short Term Consultant, for initial period of 6 months)

Purpose of the Post:

 The consultant will be based at the National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), Vientiane, Lao PDR and provide technical assistance in strengthen biosafety and Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS) at the selected province and district laboratories.

Description of Duties:

      The consultant will report to and be guided by the WHO Country Office. In collaboration with the National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), Ministry of Health (MoH) of Lao PDR, the WHO Representative, and the WHO Health Emergency (WHE) and Health System Development teams, the consultant will conduct the following activities and submit regular reports for each activity, including proposed next steps:  

1. Support National Laboratory Biosafety Authority (NLBA) members in conducting trainings to certify biosafety officers. 
2. Support NLBA to visit target laboratories in monitoring of biological selected agents and toxins (BSAT) in laboratories and compile them to the national inventory.
3.  Support National Laboratory Quality Authority (NLQA) members in conducting sub-national trainings on national laboratory quality standards.
4. Support NLBA and NLQA members in conducting of on-site mentoring of biosafety and Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS) at the selected provincial laboratories.
5. Support NLBA and NLQA members in conducting laboratory assessment by using Laboratory Quality Stepwise Implementation (LQSI) tool in selected district laboratories.
6. Assist laboratory unit in NCLE to update inventory of lab reagents and supplies in a timely manner.
7. Assist NCLE in updating all virological databases in a timely manner.
8. Translate and interpret as needed.

Knowledge & skills:           

• Skills in planning, training, program implementation and monitoring and evaluation of interventions are essential.
• Familiar with laboratory quality standard and biosafety.
• Ability to interact effectively with health professionals at various levels and to work with national counterparts, non-governmental organizations and international agencies.
• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in standard MS Office applications including MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint are essential.

Individual applicants only

Education:

Essential: The consultant should have bachelor level degree in clinical microbiology or related degree with the focus on laboratory diagnostics for infectious diseases including virology diagnostic and molecular biology.

Experience:

Essential: The consultant should have at least three years’ substantial work experience in Real time RT-PCR testing, implementing and managing laboratory biosafety and quality management systems and in providing laboratory trainings. The consultants must be familiar with the ISO: 15189 laboratory quality standards, WHO Laboratory Quality Stepwise Implementation (LQSI) tool and the WHO laboratory Biosafety manual.

Languages:  At least intermediate English level (speaking, reading and writing) is essential.

Other skills (e.g. IT):  Proficiency in standard MS Office applications including MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint are essential.

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit applications and curriculum vitae in the English language with a subject "Short Term Consultant: Laboratory consultant to the following email address:  wplaohr@who.int by 11 October 2021 at 17:00.