Швейцарський інститут тропічного і громадського здоров’я (Swiss TPH) шукає Laboratory Expert based in Ukraine

The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) is recruiting a Laboratory Expert based in Ukraine

1. Aim of the job
- Act as a Laboratory Expert for the Public Health Systems Recovery and Resilience Project in Ukraine, which is led by Pact, funded by USAID and where Swiss TPH is a sub-awarded tasked to implement 2 main project objectives:
- 1) Mitigate COVID-19 outbreaks and secondary impacts on essential health services, 2) Increase the resilience and capacity of the public health services, including as it relates to enhanced surveillance and responding to emergencies.

- Specifically, to contribute to the development and roll-out of plans and activities in the areas of public health laboratories with national partners, and to implement or oversee implementation of project activities in the field of Public Health and Laboratory support.

2. Main Tasks
- Contribute to the planning, coordination and implementation of activities supporting public health laboratories at national and regional level
- Interact with other development partners including WHO in coordination with Pact and USAID
- Contribute on a rolling basis to assess needs and ensure the functionality of laboratories aimed at detecting biological agents
- Collaborate with oblast laboratory staff and plan for procurement of needed equipment and materials according to specific needs and gaps identified
- Provide technical expertise and capacity building/teaching activities to laboratory staff based on needs (bio-safety, bio-security, biological agent detection, use of equipment etc.)
- Support implementation and use of laboratory IT systems for data transmission and communication with Public Health Institutions
- Contribute to developing /updating SOPs and the implementation of laboratory best practices and quality management systems
- Support in implementing laboratory audits, producing fieldwork reports, laboratory assessment and analytical reports with project data
- Assess the laboratory capacity and performance and elaborate a strategy to link laboratory activities with (i) clinical services; (ii) public health; and (iii) academy; including the provision of services, research and training.

3. Minimum requirements for current position
- Graduate in health sciences: Biology, biotechnologies, biomedical sciences with strong laboratory component
- Post-graduate qualifications in biology, biotechnology or post-graduate certifications in laboratory training
- Fluent in Ukrainian and with intermediate level of English

4. Technical Skills
- Solid knowledge of laboratory tests, equipment, techniques for the detection of biological agents
- Solid knowledge of biosafety and biosecurity concepts
- Solid knowledge of the functioning and landscape of the Ukrainian public laboratory network
- Good understanding of data management and data systems for data collection for laboratory data.
- Knowledge of laboratory standards and essential documentation
- Knowledge of laboratory auditing mechanisms

5. Soft Skills
- Capacity to interact with a wide range of stakeholders from laboratory staff to procurement experts to regional and national public health experts
- Capacity to multitask and handle stressful situations
- Capacity to problem solve and adapt to new situations
- Respect to professional, research and ethical codes of conduct, including Swiss TPH guidelines
- Respect to personal and community diversities, of all types.

6. Experience
- At least 5 years’ experience in working in public/private laboratory settings for the detection of biological agents
- Experience in procurement of laboratory material
- Experience in delivering training/teaching to laboratory staff
- Experience with working in the national Public Health context
- Preferably has experience in working within large international projects

Location: Ukraine and preferably Kyiv.

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to [email protected] indicating the position. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.