Laboratory Technical Officer-Surveillance and Information System

BACKGROUND

On 31 December 2019, WHO was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. The pathogen was subsequently identified as a SARS CoV-2 and the disease as Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with cases detected worldwide. On 31 January 2020, WHO declared the event as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and COVID-19 was subsequently characterized as a pandemic by the WHO Director-General. As cases continue to be reported globally as well as locally, enhanced preparedness and response efforts are required. The COVID-19 response operations in Papua New Guinea are expected to continue for several months. The purpose of this emergency deployment is to support effective country response operations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a technical focus on Laboratory Surveillance & Information System, as part of the Incident Management Team (IMT) of the WHO Country Office in Papua New Guinea

Purpose of the Special Service Agreement

The Laboratory Technical Officer-Surveillance and Information System (SSA) is being recruited to provide technical assistance for laboratory activities to the ongoing COVID-19 response under the Incident Management System (IMT) in Papua New Guinea.

Planned timelines

May 2022 - 30 December 2022

WORK TO BE PERFORMED AND DELIVERABLES

The signatory will be assigned to work closely under the supervision of the WHO Team Coordinator (Outbreaks and Health Emergencies) and the Manager of the Disease Control and Surveillance Branch, National Department of Health (NDoH), National Control Centre (NCC), and Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), with overall guidance of the WHO Laboratory Pillar Lead, WHO Incident Manager and WHO Representative.

The Technical Officer (SSA) in Health Emergency Laboratory Surveillance and Information System will carry out specific duties related to the laboratory for COVID-19 response as below:

1. To support the development of laboratory surveillance and information system strategy in line with surveillance strategy, integration plan, recovery plan as well as National Laboratory Strategic Plan, as part of the action plan for public health security

2. To support establishment and sustaining of lab data management system

• • Support CPHL to establish lab test results database of the outbreak-prone diseases with test information from the network labs and shared among members of the network
• • Support CPHL, PNGIMR, laboratories and surveillance team to implement laboratory data management system
• • Support surveillance with quality lab data for epidemiological data analysis purposes

3. To establish/sustain formally established laboratory system (network) in line with Laboratory Technical Working Group for outbreak prone and zoonotic diseases (CPHL, PNGIMR, NAQIA, etc) through consultation, regular network review and inspection activities and joint activities in external quality assurance, biosafety and biosecurity, and quality management as a whole

4. To enhance the specimen collection and referral system for surveillance purposes through

• • Establish specimen collection and referral pathway
• • Develop training materials and conduct of regular trainings/refreshers on specimen collection and storage techniques to laboratories in the lab network
• • Coordinate the regular Infectious Substance Shipper Training/Refresher
• • Establish/renew mechanism or agreement of WHOINDOH and TNT, DHL, EMS and others; monitoring payment for services of TNT etc in WHO Country Office
• • Establishing/maintaining a database for the trained and certified specimen collectors and infectious substance shippers
• • Work with operation and logistics to ensure system are in place to procure and monitor the stock to ensure uninterrupted supply for specimen collection, packaging and shipping

5. To ensure seamless procurement, storage and supply of lab commodities and specimen collection, storage and transportation tools/kits at national, provincial and surveillance sites through

• • Proper planning and procurement by well-established estimate /forecasting of needs
• • Maintaining a reasonable storage of the tools at national for emergency deployment
• • Establishment of a real-time database of the tools of supply, utilization and balance
• • Coordinate with NDoH, partners and logistic team to ensure central coordination mechanism for supply stock and pipeline tracking

6. Work with system and quality officers to ensure the lab surveillance and information system is in line with and integrated to the national testing strategy, algorithm and quality assurance protocol

7. To support the National Influenza Center in terms of the needs in coordination, technical and operational support

8. To support the implementation of Fleming Fund supported antimicrobial resistance surveillance project as required

9. To perform any other tasks assigned by supervisors

Technical Supervision

• Responsible Officer: Dr Anup Gurung, a/WHE Coordinator
• Manager: Dr Sevil Huseynova, WHO Representative

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• • Proven skills and experiences in diagnostic methodology and techniques for COVID-19 laboratories.
• • Sound knowledge in biosafety standards, quality manuals, lab quality management system including lab information management system.

Education

• • Essential: University degree (Bachelor’s level or above) in medical laboratory or laboratory medicine from an accredited/recognized institute. Certified training or qualification in molecular biology, bacteriology, infectious diseases, and/or epidemiology and laboratory techniques will be added value.
• • Desirable: Bachelor’s level degree in medical laboratory or laboratory medicine.

Experience

• • Required: At least five years of practical and operational application of laboratory diagnosis and data analysis of communicable diseases at the national levels. Some related experience in outbreaks and/or health emergency response of international impact will be an added value.
• • Desired:
  • Experience in laboratory molecular and or microbiology diagnostics (infectious diseases, especially influenza, and AMR) and laboratory quality management system
  • Experience in developing the training curriculum/materials, planning and implementing of the trainings at national and regional levels.
  • Experience in working in Influenza or COVID-19 laboratory will be added value
  • Previous experience in UN organizations/agencies, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations, international institutions, or nongovernmental organizations.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge

• • Sound knowledge of national laboratory system
• • Effective communication skills
• • Proficient analytical, planning and organizational skills
• • Ability work within the team with minimal supervision
• • Ability to work under pressure
• • Good computer skills in Microsoft office, use of spreadsheets and basic analytic skills

Language requirements

• • Proficient in written and spoken English

Competencies

• • Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• • Moving forward in a changing environment
• • Ensuring the effective use of resources
• • Teamwork
• • Effective communication

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Place of assignment

WHO Country Office for Papua New Guinea, National Department of Health, National Control Center, and Central Public Health Laboratory (the duty stations are flexible and may change based on the technical requirements of the emergency assignment).

Medical clearance

The selected officer will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

The officer is expected to travel according to the need to perform the work as assigned by the supervisors

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Officer without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this special service agreement, the officer will receive subsistence allowance.

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by date

• • Curriculum Vitae
• • Expression of Interest (cover letter). The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 173035 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

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