Laboratory Manager - TB Diagnostics

About the role

IOM, a UN-related organization working on migration, is recruiting a Laboratory Manager in Harare, Zimbabwe. Reporting to the Chief Migration Health Officer, the post provides technical support to laboratory services for Migration Health Assessments (HAP) and other programmes of the IOM Migration Health Division. Applications are made through the IOM e-recruitment system; offers depend on funding confirmation.

Key responsibilities

• Organize laboratory services and its structure to deliver efficient service, adapted to local conditions, expertise and available technology.
• Certify that facilities and biosafety measures meet international standards and country requirements, taking part in planning and upgrading them.
• Keep Standard Operating Procedures up to date and ensure internal quality control and external quality assessment.
• Verify optimum staffing levels, recruit, train, supervise and assess laboratory staff, and plan annual HAP activities and budgets.
• Ensure equipment and consumables are sufficient, and manage procurement, delivery, installation, servicing and operation of laboratory equipment.
• Maintain a record-keeping and information-management system for timely results, data collection, analysis and reporting.
• Liaise with national laboratories, IOM units, national entities and international partners, and run a service-improvement plan covering assessment, facilities, safety, process control, information management and customer service.

Required profile

• University degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Medical Microbiology or a related field, or a Master's degree with two years' experience.
• Four years of laboratory experience in TB diagnostics (smear microscopy, mycobacterial culture, DST, molecular testing) and at least two years of supervisory or laboratory management experience.
• Expertise in sputum processing, liquid and solid culture, first- and second-line drug susceptibility testing and molecular TB diagnostics, plus knowledge of TB biosafety, quality assurance and quality management.
• Fluency in English and Shona (oral and written).

Required skills

• Technical expertise in mycobacteriology and TB diagnostics.
• Leadership, people management, quality and biosafety management, and resource management.
• Computer literacy, including data collection and analysis for monitoring and improvement.