NGO Jobs in Nairobi Kenya – MGIC

Introduction: Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation (MGIC) is

an affiliate of University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). 

UMB has a Global Health Program which

is delivered through the Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation (MGIC) and

housed by various institutes among them the Institute of Human Virology

(IHV). 

Since 2004, IHV has partnered with

the governments of Kenya, Guyana, Haiti, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and

Zambia to address each country’s growing HIV and AIDS epidemics. 

The Institute has led efforts to

build National Health Systems in each country via strategic international,

national, and local collaborations through the design and implementation of

unique education, training, and treatment programs addressing each country’s

complex HIV/AIDS epidemics. 

In Kenya, UMB through the Institute

of Human Virology started operations in 2004 under the AIDS Relief Project

consortium funded by Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

through HRSA/CDC. 

This was the beginning of UMB’s work

in Kenya which has seen implementation of 11 grants to-date. 

MGIC is seeking a suitably qualified

person able to fill the position of Bio-safety Technician, under the Boresha

Maabara Grant.

Boresha Maabara Grant: “BORESHA MAABARA” (improve laboratory services)

is a five (5) year project funded through the US Government Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS

Relief (PEPFAR). 

The project seeks to enhance

diagnostic testing for the prevention, surveillance and treatment of infectious

diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis, and other HIV-related opportunistic

infections. 

The project is implemented jointly by

the Ministry of Health, National Public Health Laboratory Services, National

Blood Transfusion Service and the respective County Governments.

Vacancy: Bio-Safety Technician
 

Proposed Start Date: Immediately
 

Position Summary: Under

the supervision of Senior Technical Advisor, Bio-safety Technician will be

responsible for installation and maintenance of biosafety cabinets in the

project designated sites. 

He/she will also offer mentorship and

training on correct use of biosafety cabinets and safety.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform site Installation test for Biological
  
  safety cabinets, commissioning by adjusting, calibrating/certifying and testing
  
  their performances as per the international traceability standards in the
  
  Ministry of Health.


• Perform routine preventive maintenance,
  
  conduct troubleshooting and repairing malfunctions/ part replacements as
  
  per manufacturer’s specifications and standards.


• Perform Biosafety Cabinet and laboratory
  
  decontamination in line with safety requirements of handling
  
  paraformaldehyde gas or its equivalent as outlined in the NSF49 annex G or
  
  EN 12469-2000 standards.


• Provide mentorship to MOH engineering staff on
  
  BSC certification and service.


• Train and retrain new and old users on correct
  
  use of Biological safety Cabinets on site and demonstrate how safety is
  
  achieved.


• Train Laboratory staff on Biosafety
  
  Biosecurity (Trainer of trainers (TOT)) and occasionally perform
  
  laboratory assessment and audits as per ISO 15189.


• Carry out basic field maintenance to
  
  certification instruments and tools and organize for annual calibration by
  
  the specialists.


• Assist in laboratory design and equipment
  
  placement, advice facilities as required, Compile reports and findings.


• Assist other partners and facilities in line
  
  with Biosafety cabinetry work upon request.


• Assist in formulation of quarterly progress
  
  report in relation to the specialty.

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree/Diploma in
  
  Biomedical Engineering from a reputable organization.


• Must have advanced certification certificate
  
  on BSC certification from reputable institutions.


• Must be able to read and interpret data on the
  
  certification equipment/instruments and tools and ability to interpret
  
  printed power and electronic circuit diagrams.


• TOT in Biosafety/ Biosecurity is preferred.

• Ability to work independently, under pressure
  
  while at the same time adhering to strict deadlines.


• Excellent interpersonal and communication
  
  skills


• Excellent analytical skills and problem
  
  solving skills.


• Innovative with a high degree of initiative


• Organizational skills


• Excellent Leadership & Presentation skills

Vacancy: Laboratory Specialist – Haemovigilance
 

Proposed Start Date: Immediately
 

Position Summary: Under the supervision of Senior Technical Advisor,

Laboratory Specialist-Haemovigilance will be responsible for strengthening

haemovigilance related practices and outcomes in the project designated sites.

 He/she will be expected to

ensure that all haemovigilance related practices meet national recognized

policies, guidelines and standards. 

He/She will also support

practice/service development and capacity building in the area of haemovigilance

through mentorship and training to facilitate development of competencies

within the specialty.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitate adoption and uptake of relevant
  
  policies, guidelines and standards on the usage of blood components as
  
  developed by the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Services.


• Promote and facilitate adherence to best
  
  practice in all aspects of transfusion practice including identification
  
  and administration of blood and blood products, and proper identification
  
  of sample.


• Support maintenance and functionality of the
  
  blood cold chain system at the designated sites.


• Support hospital transfusion committees in
  
  investigating all reports of transfusion reactions/incidents and reporting
  
  of adverse blood transfusion reactions.


• Initiate, develop and provide technical
  
  assistance in implementation of haemovigilance quality improvement plans
  
  to strengthen appropriate handling, transportation, utilization and
  
  inventory of blood at designated health facilities.


• Support strengthening and maintenance of good
  
  interdisciplinary working relationships between laboratory and clinical
  
  staff.


• Enhance capacity and functionality of Hospital
  
  Transfusion Committees.


• Supports strengthening of Quality Management
  
  Systems (QMS) in designated sites ensuring QA/QC/EQC systems are
  
  functional.


• Support utilization of data for enhanced
  
  service coverage through supporting implementation of a data demand and
  
  information use framework.


• Provide mentorship/ coaching on improving
  
  functionality of manual and electronic management information systems such
  
  as Blood Established Computerized system (BECs) to enhance utility of data
  
  in decision making.


• Support strengthening of biosafety, infection
  
  control, occupational health and safety and medical waste management in
  
  the speciality.


• Represent the project at local, regional and
  
  national and meetings as required.


• Assist in formulation of quarterly progress
  
  report in relation to the speciality.

• Relevant Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in
  
  biomedical and or health sciences.


• Individuals with a diploma in medical
  
  laboratory coupled with significant work experience in the specialty may
  
  be considered.


• Must demonstrate depth and breadth of
  
  experience in Blood Transfusion Services.


• Awareness of current and emerging haemovigilance
  
  strategies and policies in relation to the Blood Transfusion Practice


• At least five (5) years’ experience in
  
  supporting strengthening of haemovigilance practice.


• Ability to work independently, under pressure
  
  and to adhere to set deadlines.


• Demonstrated ability to work with various
  
  government institutions, counties and local partners.


• Excellent communication, interpersonal and
  
  report writing skills.

• Ability to work independently, under pressure
  
  while at the same time adhering to strict deadlines.


• Excellent interpersonal and communication
  
  skills


• Excellent analytical skills and problem
  
  solving skills.


• Innovative with a high degree of initiative


• Organizational skills


• Excellent Leadership & Presentation skills

Vacancy: Laboratory Specialist – Molecular
 

Proposed Start Date: Immediately
 

Position Summary: Under the supervision of Senior Technical Advisor,

Laboratory Specialist-molecular will be responsible for providing technical

leadership, training and mentorship on laboratory service delivery and quality

management system for the National Public Health Laboratory reference

labs. 

He/she will be expected to ensure

effective service delivery on key HIV related tests such as viral load and

early infant diagnosis in addition to facilitating attainment and or

maintenance of accreditation status (ISO15189 and ISO17043) for the reference

labs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in performing PCR
  
  testing for various pathogens, including; Viral, Bacterial, protozoa,
  
  parasitic and other infectious agents.


• Support laboratory management for samples
  
  including specimen logging, procurement, equipment management, inventory
  
  management and sample transportation.


• Support in formulation/review of standard
  
  operating protocols and sample handling protocols as may be required.


• Initiate and support tracking of laboratory
  
  quality indicators for sample management and compile reports for
  
  intervention


• Support strengthening of sample
  
  repository/archiving systems for the national reference labs


• Facilitate ISO 15189 accreditation for the
  
  National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL)


• Facilitate accreditation (ISO 17043) for
  
  National HIV Reference Laboratory (NHRL) Rapid HIV Test Proficiency
  
  Testing


• Support maintenance of accreditation status
  
  for the National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL) and National HIV Reference
  
  Laboratory (NHRL)


• Facilitate the national reference laboratories
  
  enhance performance of EQA specific standards.


• Support integration initiatives of EQA tests
  
  (framework, networks, notification, information)


• Working closely with the national office,
  
  support coordination of equipment maintenance and calibration with the
  
  regions.


• Support strengthening of biosafety, infection
  
  control, occupational health and safety and medical waste management
  
  practices in the reference labs.


• Support utilization of data for enhanced
  
  service coverage and quality improvement.

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Medical
  
  Laboratory sciences or Biomedical Sciences or other relevant field from a
  
  recognized University.


• Individuals with a masters and or PHD in
  
  Molecular biology/genetics will have an added advantage


• Must have clear understanding of molecular
  
  testing in relation to HIV viral load, early infant diagnosis.


• Must have hand-on experience with conventional
  
  and real-time PCR techniques.


• Demonstrated experience with Laboratory
  
  Information Systems and Laboratory Quality Management Systems.


• Experience of contribution to QMS in an ISO
  
  15189 accredited Laboratory is an added advantage

• Ability to work independently, under pressure
  
  while at the same time adhering to strict deadlines.


• Excellent interpersonal and communication
  
  skills


• Excellent analytical skills and problem
  
  solving skills.


• Innovative with a high degree of initiative


• Organizational skills


• Excellent Leadership & Presentation skills

If you meet the above qualifications,

you are requested to send your application and CV to hr@mgickenya.org by

January 27, 2016. 

Candidates are required to quote the

title of the position being applied on the subject line of the email. 

Only shortlisted candidate will be

contacted.

Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation is an equal opportunity employer.