Regional Microbiologists

JOB DESCRIPTION

Regional Microbiologists, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), India

1. POSITIONS VACANT: Regional Microbiologists (RM), Multiple vacancies, based at different laboratories being strengthened by FIND India.

2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), is a respected, not-for-profit foundation, recognized by the Swiss government as an “other international organization.”

Headquartered in Geneva and represented in India through a Liaison Office at Delhi, FIND facilitates the development and implementation of diagnostic tools for poverty-ridden diseases. The foundation is presently engaged in the development of new diagnostic techniques for TB, Malaria and Sleeping Sickness (HAT), across the world and specifically for MDR-TB, in India.

FIND has progressed diagnostic approaches that have been proven in principle and transformed them into effective products for identifying TB in partnership with academia, public and private research institutes and industry.

FIND recently received a grant from The Global Fund (TGF) Round 9 as a sub-recipient of the Central Tuberculosis Division (CTD), for strengthening selected laboratories engaged in the detection of MDR-TB in India, with Human Resources and their Payroll Management. A total of 43 laboratories spread over 26 States/ Union Territories are to be strengthened in a phased manner as per the schedule agreed with TGF and CTD, comprising 27 laboratories in Year 1, 12 laboratories in Year 2 and 4 laboratories in Year 3.

For more information about FIND, please visit, http://www.finddiagnostics.org

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

The RM will report administratively to the Director and Head of the concerned TB Lab and shall functionally be under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager, Technical Officer and Medical Officers of FIND India.

The RM shall assist the technical team in the implementation of WHO approved newer diagnostics for TB drug resistance. S/he will coordinate with the Director and Head of RNTCP TB Laboratory for Culture & Drug Susceptibility Testing (C& DST), concerned national reference laboratories and FIND India’s technical and administrative staff, to ensure the smooth implementation of Rapid TB Diagnostics at the designated TB Lab.

Key Responsibilities:

(1) Providing technical support to assist the C& DST lab in expansion of the full range of newer TB diagnostic activities for rapid diagnosis of TB including drug resistant TB;

(2) Supporting the Director/ Head of TB Laboratory in planning and scaling-up of quality assured line probe assay (LPA) and liquid culture (LC) with rapid speciation (RS) using lateral flow immune chromatographic assay for MDR-TB diagnosis;

(3) Providing supervisory support to allocated laboratories and hand-holding for rolling out newer diagnostics across the RNTCP network of C & DST labs;

(4) Acquiring expertise in approved newer diagnostics tests such as LPA, LC and RS through National Trainers trained by FIND for WHO;

(5) Conducting on-site training in the newer TB diagnostics at the allotted and/or any other site indicated by FIND India’s technical team;

(6) Introducing and implementing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for TB Laboratories, in consultation with FIND India, including SOPs for specific aspects of LPA, LC and RS including specifications for equipment, infection control, etc., for ensuring Good Laboratory Practices (GLP);

(7) Ensuring proficiency in the identified newer TB diagnostics at the allotted site before they are applied for patient care under RNTCP. Also maintenance of ongoing proficiency in these diagnostics, ensuring accuracy of results being communicated to the TB patient;

(8) Ensuring testing of patient specimens at the lab and the subsequent communication of results to concerned officials and service providers, in a timely manner;

(9) Providing technical support to state authorities, in consultation with FIND India’s Technical team for strategic planning, relating to laboratory activities in the state, including workable rapid specimen transportation systems;

(10) Providing technical support to the Director and Head of TB Laboratory in Annual National/ Zonal National Laboratory Network Meetings and the implementation of their recommendations;

(11) Managing clinical and laboratory aspects of the lab and ensuring the collection, recording and reporting of clean, quality data;

(12) Liaising and facilitating with concerned agencies/ officials for regular bio-safety verification of the lab, regular MIS functioning, maintenance of all lab equipments including AMCs, logistics of various lab consumables, etc, in close coordination with FIND India;

(13) Supervising and supporting lab technical staff in day to day activities connected with newer TB diagnostics, ensuring appropriate quality control;

(14) Providing monthly / quarterly and annual reports and an end-of-assignment report in the prescribed formats on activities, achievements, challenges and recommendations;

(15) Urgently reporting all adverse events in laboratory functioning to the Director/ Head of TB Laboratory and the FIND India technical team;

(16) Liaising and facilitating with the FIND India technical team on all technical matters relating to laboratory functioning;

(17) Undertaking any other job assigned by state authorities and the FIND India technical team, as per project need.

4. QUALIFICATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Qualifications and Experience:

Applicants must meet the following qualification requirements:

(1) MBBS with MD (Microbiology), with two years experience in TB diagnostics or

(2) Ph.D. in Microbiology, with minimum three years experience in TB diagnostics, or

(3) M.Sc. with specialization in Microbiology/ Medical Microbiology/ Applied Microbiology/ Clinical Microbiology/ Biotechnology/ Medical Biotechnology, with minimum five years of work experience;

(4) Experience of newer TB diagnostics shall be an advantage.

Skills and Attitude:

(1) Good oral and written communication skills;

(2) Strong team orientation;

(3) Ability to work independently, with minimum handholding and supervision;

(4) Energetic, resilient and passionate;

(5) Professional, mature and confident.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

Gross compensation budgeted for the position on a cost to organization (CTO) basis is Rs.9.60 lacs per annum. Please note that gross compensation is fully taxable.

(Note: Candidates shall be working on the payroll of SAMS, a leading HR Agency for the health and development sectors in India).

6. NATURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The selected candidate shall be initially offered a one year consultancy contract, renewable annually, based on satisfactory performance.

7. LOCATION:

Vacancies for RMs exist at multiple locations, details of which are available at www.sams.co.in

8. REFERENCE:

RM-FIND

9. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senior Consultant

Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.

B 372 New Friends Colony

New Delhi 110 025

Email: rm-find@sams.co.in

10. LAST DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to courier or email their applications to the above address or email id before May 2, 2012. Applicants are urged to fill the ‘online’ application form provided at http://www.sams.co.in/forms/onlineapplicationfind.htm . Candidates who are unable to fill the ‘online’ form may alternately download the standard form available at http://sams.co.in/JAF-FIND-LabStaff.doc and mail it to the email id mentioned above, on completion.