Background
Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) is an indigenous NGO established under non-governmental organization act No 24 of 2002 in 2011. THPS works in partnership with the Government of Tanzania (GOT) through Ministries of Health (MOH) in Mainland and Zanzibar; Ministry of Gender, Youth, elderly and special groups; Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG), and the Ministry of Home Affairs with a goal of ensuring accessible high-quality health care services to Tanzanians; through the strengthening of health and community systems.
In FY24 year the GOT under the leadership of the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups and Ministry of Community Development and Gender in Zanzibar; in collaboration with stakeholders through funding from the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)/US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will conduct the second national Violence against Children and Youth Survey (VACS 24). The 2024 Tanzania Violence Against Children and Youth Survey is based on the broader work that has been done through the Together for Girls (TfG) partnership and through funding from the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFARJ/US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Through data, nationally led action, and advocacy, the survey aims to raise awareness, promote evidence-based solutions, and galvanize coordinated action across sectors to end violence against boys and girls, with a special focus on sexual violence against girls. VACS data are intended to inform a comprehensive, national multi-sector policy and programmatic response to the issue of violence against girls and boys.
VACS 2024 will be conducted with support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and technical assistance through the U.S. CDC, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) – the led implementing partner. Data collection will be done by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Office of Chief Government Statistician (OCGS) in Zanzibar, and Survey will be implemented in collaboration with multisectoral partners including, the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), the Zanzibar Institute of Health Research (ZAHRI), and ministries of health through national Public Health Laboratories, the National AIDS Control Program (NACP), and the Zanzibar Integrated HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program (ZIHHTLP).
THPS is looking for skilled, enthusiastic, creative, energetic individuals to fill the following vacant positions for the Violence Against Children Survey 2024.
Position Title : Tanzania Violence Against Children Survey (VACS) Laboratory Technical Advisor (1 position)
Reports to VACS Project Director
Supervises : Regional/satellite laboratory technical assistants
Job Location Dares Salaam
Travel Up to 70% in intervention districts outside of job location
Main duties and responsibilities:
Reporting to the VACS Project Director, the VACS Laboratory Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the laboratory component of the VACS which is a national population-level violence against children Survey (VACS) in Tanzania that will include HIV testing services. The Laboratory Coordinator will also work closely with the national public health laboratory, laboratory partners, UNICEF, CDC, ministries of health, NBS and OCGS, and survey teams to ensure that laboratory samples are correctly collected, processed, and transported and that results are returned in a timely manner.
The incumbent, under the supervision of the VACS Project Director, will develop the Survey laboratory related standard operating procedures (SOPs). She/he will support the training of field staff on the survey laboratory procedures, policies, and relevant regulations. The VACS laboratory technical advisor, together with the VACS laboratory subcommittee and other THPS technical staff, will conduct a laboratory assessment for retesting and design a sample transport structure.
Specific Responsibilities and Duties:
- Support implementation of all laboratory-related aspects of the VACS project
- Hire, train and supervise a team of laboratory staff, as needed
- Collaborate with the Senior VACS TA and Survey Coordinator to develop a plan for the opening and closing satellite laboratories according to the deployment plan of the field teams
- Participate actively in the field monitoring by conducting regular visits of the field teams and satellite labs during the data collection
- Prepare a weekly report of the performance of the satellite laboratories during the data collection
- Provide support to the adaptation of the laboratory, guidelines, training materials and standard operating procedures(SOPs)
- In coordination with the Senior VACS Technical Advisor, coordinate the laboratory training sessions, ensuring timeline is being followed and operational and logistics aspects are in place for the training sessions
- Ensure discrepant results are being resolved as per SOP
- Ensure laboratory incidents are documented and reported timely
- Review weekly laboratory reports provided by the laboratory partner, and assist the VACS Project Director with preparing regular progress reports
- Review the development and implementation of QA/QC procedures for point of care testing including HIV rapid and any other tests as defined in the protocol and conducted by the laboratory subcontractor in the survey
- Review the development and implementation of QA/QC procedures for the collection, processing, and storage of other survey-related laboratory specimens by the laboratory partner in the survey as specified in the protocol
- Ensure laboratory specimen data are correctly captured in the survey database and assist with routine data analysis
- Assist with the interpretation of laboratory results from the VACS project and provide feedback on ways to improve/streamline laboratory procedures and systems
- Develop and manage strategies to ensure timely return of results to survey participants
- Represent THPS in discussions with the government and national stakeholders and assess ways in which national capacity to process samples can be developed and strengthened
- Liaise with laboratory technical team in THPS, UNICEF and CDC
- Perform any other tasks assigned by the supervisor
Qualifications, Knowledge, and Skills:
- Required Education:
o Master’s degree or doctoral level qualification in laboratory sciences OR
o equivalent. Bachelor’s level degree in Applied Biology (Microbiology), or Medical Laboratory Technology is required
- Required Technical Experience: Minimum 5 years’ work experience providing laboratory technical expertise in HIV surveys, research, evaluations, or programs
- Required Managerial Experience: Minimum 3 years’ supervising laboratory teams in
- Extensive knowledge and experience in design, implementation, and management of laboratory services in HIV programs
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with fluency in English and Kiswahili
- Strong computer skills (MS Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint at minimum) with proficiency with laboratory related data management systems
- Experience with laboratory quality management systems (quality assurance, control, and improvement)
- Extensive knowledge in Tanzania national laboratory system, and related stakeholders
- Ability to provide high quality technical assistance and lead and work with a diverse team
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and strong problem-solving skills
- Ability to work under pressure, demonstrate creativity and adaptability in developing new ideas to solve problems
- Flexibility to work after normal working hours and on weekends with significant travel outside of duty station
How to apply:
Interested applicants should send an email [email protected] attaching their application cover letter one page maximum and CV four pages maximum with a position title as a subject line.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Please do not attach any certificates when submitting online.
THPS is an equal opportunity employer; women, people living with HIV/AIDS and people living with disability are encouraged to apply.
The deadline for submitting the application is 21 July 2023.
