Viral Load Specialist (RHDC)

The RHDC CONSULTORIA & SERVIÇOS LDA, is a rightful Mozambican company of consultancy in Human Resources that operates in the areas of Agency Employment, Recruitment and Selection, Training, Team Building, Competence Evaluation and Development, Organizational Development, Temporary Work, and other related areas.

Our Customer is the U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), which deals with International and Governmental Partners to improve the quality and capacity of the clinical laboratory workforce in order to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic, amongst offices in Mozambique. Due to its development, intends to recruit:

Consultant Opportunity: Viral Load Specialist

Department: ASCP Center for Global Health

Reports to: Senior Manager, Center for Global Health (Chicago)

CC: Program Manager, Center for Global Health (Maputo)

Location of Service: Maputo, with up to 50% travel within Mozambique

Duration: 3 months, renewable up to 1 year or longer, subject to availability of funding and programmatic needs

Summary

• The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is the largest membership organization for clinical laboratorians. Through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFPAR), ASCP supports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), international and governmental partners to improve the quality and capacity of the clinical laboratory workforce in order to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. ASCP has worked in Mozambique for 8 years to support laboratory training and quality management system efforts;
• In order to assist Mozambique to meet the ambitious UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals, ASCP is seeking a Viral Load Specialist to provide ongoing technical assistance, mentorship and strategic support to build local capacity for HIV viral load testing in Mozambique;
• This opportunity, funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. CDC, is expected to last 12 months. It seeks motivated laboratory professionals with extensive experience in molecular testing, specifically HIV viral load and genotyping, to support ASCP’s work in Mozambique.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and deliver high-quality in-service training to laboratory staff and key training instructors and local mentors at the national and regional level, in coordination with ASCP program manager in Mozambique and partners at U.S. CDC and the Mozambique Ministry of Health;
• Develop and review training curricula to ensure that laboratory workers receive adequate knowledge and skill to support the HIV viral load scale-up. Identify and develop additional tools and job aids, as appropriate;
• As requested, attend meetings of relevant national technical working groups related to HIV viral load testing and provide strategic consultation;
• Lead a team of viral load mentors who will be seconded at five (5) key reference laboratories; assist in selection of mentors, provide advanced training and regular refresher training, and monitor their work at the laboratories;
• Provide support to expert consultants visiting Mozambique to provide short-term consultation on HIV Viral Load;
• In collaboration with the in-country Program Manager, works closely with CDC staff to plan, develop and deploy pre-training evaluation, training events, and post-training evaluations for all training activities;
• Builds relationships with key stakeholders;
• Supports the Senior Manager and Program Manager by providing written reports and data following in-country sessions, to support the development of annual, quarterly, and semi-annual reports to CDC;
• Works with instrument vendors in Mozambique to coordinate the hands on portion of training events Communicates with vendors in reference to training content, trouble-shooting, and other needs as they arise;
• Work with in-country administrative team (Program Manager and Administrator) to ensure events are managed and planned effectively (including housing, transportation, meals and other logistical support for staff meetings and workshops);
• Support the National Viral Load and Drug Resistance Program in establishing and implementing a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) program.

Qualifications/Requirements

• An advanced degree in biomedical sciences (Master’s or Doctorate), with MT(ASCP) certification preferred;
• Fluent in English and Portuguese (Bilingual English/Spanish speakers will also be considered);
• 5-10 years working in molecular biology lab, preferably with experience on Abbott m2000 and/or Roche COBAS platforms. Experience conducting HIV viral load and genotyping assays is essential;
• Strong analytic and problem solving skills are required;
• Comfortable working in a fast paced environment with ambiguity and rapid shifts in priorities;
• Ability to work effectively whether independently or as a member of a team;
• Must be able to collaborate with staff on all levels of the organization;
• Requires excellent written and oral communication and organizational skills;
• Requires intermediate to expert-level knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Must exhibit cultural sensitivity and respect for country partners;
• Requires a positive and calm perspective in work situations;
• Must have a flexible schedule as occasional early mornings and nights are required;
• Must possess strong organizational and multi-tasking skills;
• Must possess a collaborative work philosophy.

Interested candidates should email their detailed Curriculum Vitae ‘’ in English and Word Format’’ up to 13^th April 2017 to: empregorhdc@gmail.com, stating the post to which they are applying. Only the selected candidates for the interview will be contacted.