Laboratory Coordinator
Target Start Date
ImmediatelyDuration
The contract is for a period of 16 months (May 2010 to August 2011) with the possibility of an extension contingent on funding subject to mutual agreement and satisfactory performance.Location
Islamabad, PakistanDescription
Project Introduction:The Canada-Pakistan HIV/AIDS project is a bilateral cooperation project between the Government of Pakistan (GOP) and the Government of Canada. The project is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and is being implemented by a Canadian executing agency, Agriteam Canada, in close collaboration with the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) and Provincial AIDS Control Programs (PACPs). The goal of the project is to establish an effective national system for HIV/AIDS surveillance that incorporates both behavioral and biological data. It is currently in an 18 month extension from May 2010 to October 2011.
Scope of Work
The Laboratory Coordinator is a full-time position, reports to the Field Manager, and will be located in the Islamabad project office. The position will involve working in a self-directed manner, under the guidance of the Senior Technical Advisor (Pakistan-based), Canadian Technical Team, specifically Dr. Paul Sandstrom, and Canadian Project Director as well as working as part of a team including both Pakistanis and Canadians within a participatory and iterative project framework. The Laboratory Coordinator will work actively to support HASP, NACP and the National HIV Reference Laboratory (NRL) in the overall management of a quality assurance program for the project and our partner laboratories.
General Responsibilities
- Assist the Field Manager and/or the relevant technical coordinator(s) in promoting the objectives of HASP
- Contribute to the development of HASP project plans by providing necessary laboratory support
- Establish and maintain a comfortable, professional and apolitical atmosphere at the HASP workplace, both national and provincial, permanent and/or temporary, consistent with Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd. and CIDA administrative policies, requirements and guidelines
- Contribute to and assist the HASP senior management team to:
- ensure program cohesion and synergy
- determine strategic program directions and analyze program performance
- participate in annual assessments, progress reporting and work planning
- To ensure, individually and as part of the HASP team, overall effectiveness and efficiency of project implementation by supporting the work of coordinators, consultants and counterparts and facilitating the discharge of responsibilities of other staff of the project
- Ensure that HASP human, physical and financial resources are utilized effectively and efficiently so that they contribute to the achievement of project objectives and add value to the quality of outputs produced
- Perform other responsibilities as directed by the Project Director and/or Field Manager
- Manage the laboratory quality assurance program for DBS testing
- Develop a National specimen repository in collaboration with the National HIV Reference Laboratory
- Develop and manage a specimen tracking system for HASP
- Coordinate specimen distribution to testing laboratories in a way which maximizes the generation of laboratory data
- Trouble shoot specimen testing problems including the validation of changes to the testing algorithms and the performance of HIV test kits
- Manage the quality of DBS collection and shipment from the field
- Identify and validate additional testing laboratories as required
- Develop molecular epidemiology capacity within HASP
- Work to build quality molecular and serologic diagnostic capacity within the National HIV Reference Laboratory in collaboration with the Laboratory Manager
The ideal person will have the following education, skills and experience:
- Doctorate in microbiology, immunology, biochemistry or molecular biology from a recognized university
- Knowledge of various disciplines such as virology, genetics, immunology, biochemistry, particularly in association with HIV/AIDS
- Knowledge of molecular biology and methods involved in serology with specific reference to HIV diagnostic and characterization applications
- Knowledge of the techniques of developing test procedure modifications using new or revised technologies and equipment
- Knowledge of national infectious disease surveillance systems
- Knowledge of HIV testing methodologies utilizing dried blood spots
- Ability to develop and perform assays for the detection and characterization of retroviruses
- Ability to coordinate research with extramural investigators
- Ability to create standards and quality systems to ensure the proper use and efficacy of a variety of HIV testing methodologies
- Excellent interpersonal skills and human relations capacity
- Excellent command of written and spoken English