Laboratory Associate

The Laboratory Associate will lead activities related to supply and management of lab reagents, consumables, and equipment for TB and other infectious diseases, support infection control and quality assurance, and contribute to capacity building and knowledge sharing in collaboration with national and international partners in Turkmenistan.

Responsibilities

• Follow up on proper implementation of diagnostic algorithms in the scope of the project.
• Assist national partners with preparation of the annual needs’ estimation for procurement of lab supplies for detection of TB and other infectious diseases.
• Assist national partners with preparing specifications and quantification for procurement of lab supplies, compare the specifications and quantifications of lab reagents and consumables offered by the suppliers, provide inputs in clarification process.
• Assist national partners with preparing distribution lists for the delivered lab supplies; advise on re-distribution of lab supplies between laboratories as a preventive/corrective measure in case of risk of stockout or expiry of lab supplies at some labs.
• Monitor implementation and quarterly/annual reporting of national targets on testing, laboratory supply and quality control of laboratory services related to TB.
• Assist with preparing quarterly reports on stock of the lab supplies, analyze the reports and warn on potential stock-out or expiring items.
• Verify status of the lab equipment and physical count of inventory items provided by the project to laboratories.
• Participate in regular (quarterly and annual) monitoring visits to TB and other infectious diseases’ facilities across Turkmenistan for routine supervision and verification purposes.
• Identify and monitor the needs in maintenance and calibration of the lab equipment supported by UNDP projects.
• Support implementation of annual maintenance and calibration plans and accompany engineers conducting maintenance or calibration services.
• Assist national partners with implementing the necessary infection control measures.
• Contribute to implementation of the External and Internal Quality Assurance plans.
• Contribute to introduction of innovations for national counterparts, including specialized lab technologies and digital tools.
• Contribute to capacity building activities for the national implementing partners as per identified needs through formal training, on-site training, supervisory visits etc.
• Contribute to preparation of TORs and provide logistical support with organization of missions/trainings etc.
• Follow up recommendations of SNRL, WHO and other experts with regard to strengthening national TB and other infectious diseases’ laboratories.
• Provide sound contributions and support to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.
• Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the health projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree - 4 year(s) experience OR High School certificate- 7 year(s) experience
• Secondary education is required. Or a university degree in Biomedical Science or Medical Laboratory Science, Biology, Chemistry, or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
• Minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in bacteriological or clinical laboratory performing laboratory testing and related functions.
• Working level of usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).
• Experience in lab techniques for detection of TB, HIV, viral hepatitis or STI;
• Experience in procurement of laboratory reagents, consumables and equipment, specifically quantification of annual needs and/or developing quantities and specifications for bacteriological or clinical laboratories.
• Familiarity or experience with software for lab inventory and reporting.
• Fluency in Russian and Turkmen is required.
• Working knowledge of oral and written English is an asset.

Skills

• Laboratory Testing
• Bacteriological Techniques
• Clinical Laboratory Procedures
• TB Detection Techniques
• HIV Detection Techniques
• Viral Hepatitis Detection
• STI Detection Techniques
• Laboratory Reagents Procurement
• Consumables Quantification
• IT Equipment Procurement
• Lab Inventory Software
• Laboratory Reporting Software
• Infection Control
• Quality Assurance
• Capacity Building
• Knowledge Sharing
• MS Word
• Excel

Languages

Russian, Turkmen, English