Catholic Relief Services (CRS) seeks a Technical Officer, Malaria Diagnostics, for the USAID-funded Reaching Every At-risk Community and Household with Malaria Services (PMI REACH Malaria) global project. PMI REACH Malaria aims to provide implementation support services and technical assistance to countries to accelerate progress in the comprehensive delivery of facility and community-based malaria services, including malaria case management, prevention of malaria in pregnancy (MiP), seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC), health systems strengthening, data collection and use for service delivery, and other malaria prevention interventions.

JOB SUMMARY

The Technical Officer, Malaria Diagnostics, will report to the Amref Technical Advisor, Malaria Diagnostics, who will provide technical oversight and programme management for implementation of the scope of work for malaria diagnostics, as outlined in the PMI REACH Malaria Liberia Annual Workplan.

S/he will work in close collaboration with the PMI REACH Malaria Liberia project team, including other Technical Advisors and Technical Officers to contribute to continuity across Programme implementation areas and service delivery, with an emphasis on malaria diagnostics, malaria case management, supportive supervision, quality improvement systems and training and orientation systems.

The Technical Officer, Malaria Diagnostics, will also work closely with the Amref Regional Laboratory technical and Programme staff to ensure comprehensive technical and programmatic support for the PMI REACH Malaria project. S/he will be responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the project’s malaria diagnostics workplan activities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Provide technical assistance in the development and/or revision of national malaria diagnostic policies and guidelines, their dissemination and implementation.
• Provide support to the planning and implementation of national and subnational quality assurance mechanisms, including proficiency testing for malaria blood slides and rapid diagnostic tests (mRDT), slide rechecking and on-site technical support supervision.
• Provide technical support to developing and implementing in-service capacity-building activities in laboratory diagnostics within the country, including refresher training and national and international competence assessments of malaria microscopists (NCAMM and ECAMM).
• Provide technical support to review of relevant pre-service training curricula and requirements for strengthening pre-service training in malaria diagnostics.
• Support in development and implementation of plans to address gaps and challenges identified during supervision, training activities and proficiency testing outcomes.
• Introduce and/or review laboratory diagnostic components in existing MOH supervisory tools to strengthen integrated systems for supervision.
• Ensure alignment of reported malaria diagnostic activities with MOH reporting and M&E frameworks.
• Maintain a database of trained diagnostics personnel and their key competencies.
• Actively liaise with the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) staff to ensure representation on relevant technical working groups, and to provide updates on project diagnostic activities.
• Present programme activities and results to the NMCP and other stakeholders as required.
• Assist the country project team in the preparation of technical reports, work planning, budgets and other documents, as required.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Education and Experience
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences with a minimum of 3 years’ experience OR a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Sciences with a minimum of 5 years’ experience.
• Must be registered and licensed by the Liberia Medical Laboratory Board.
• Minimum of 3-5 years post-qualification experience providing technical assistance and in project management in malaria and/or other public health programmes.
• Experience in providing technical assistance, supervision, mentorship and capacity building in malaria diagnostics, including knowledge of laboratory quality management systems and quality assurance.
• Experience in managing and/or providing technical assistance to the National Malaria Control Programme and county health departments.
• Experience with health information systems including the Liberia Health Information System (HIS) and other relevant country information systems.
• Excellent understanding and management of USAID programmes.
• Certification in the WHO External Competency Assessment of Malaria Microscopists (ECAMM) programme is an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Skills
• Medical laboratory technical skills including internal quality control (QC), external quality assessment (EQA) and management of proficiency testing schemes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Computer literate, and familiar with programs for word-processing, spreadsheets, database management, presentations, and electronic communication

Competences
• Self-motivated and diligent.
• Strong organizational skills, responsible, and reliable.
• Ability to work in multi-cultural teams.
• Ethical conduct, able to maintain confidentiality and work with integrity.
• Able to work within tight deadlines.
• Willing to spend up to 30% of the time out of station assessing progress and taking corrective actions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
• Around 50% of the Job will involve travelling.

HOURS OF WORK
• Normal Working Hours.