Laboratory & Diagnostic Flying Implemeter

Join MSF OCG as a Laboratory & Diagnostic Flying Implemeter !

We are looking for passionate candidates ready to contribute to our humanitarian mission.

Below, you will find the job details and the qualifications we are looking for.

This is a field-based position with visits to the headquarters in Amman, Jordan

Inclusivity and Diversity at MSF

Do your qualifications and experience not exactly match all requirements of the job?

At MSF OCG, we are committed to an inclusive culture that supports and amplifies the diverse voices of our staff members. We strive to create workplaces where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together to advance MSF’s social mission and create better outcomes for our patients and the communities we work with.

We understand that some people may hesitate to apply for employment if they don’t meet all listed job requirements. Research shows that this is especially true for women. If you believe your profile is a good match for this position, we invite you to apply even if you don’t fulfil every listed qualification.

We encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will undergo reference checks.

Context & mission

Médecins Sans Frontières is an independent, international medical and humanitarian organization that provides care to people in need, people affected by natural or man-made disasters, and victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and without regard to race, religion, creed or political affiliation (MSF Charter).

The Middle East Support Office (MESO) is the HQ office of OCG in Amman, Jordan. Its purpose is to support MSF programs in the face of the growing complexity of intervention contexts and new challenges in the Middle East and beyond. MESO joins other MSF structures already present in the region, including OCBA, OCP and OCA in Jordan. Together, we aim to generate a strong dynamic in the Middle East, to better understand its challenges and problems, and gain a clearer picture of the medical and humanitarian issues that MSF needs to address, in addition to the support providing beyond Middle East as per the concerned strategies of each OC.

The primary objective of the Laboratory & Diagnostic Flying Implementor is to assist MSF OCG portfolio countries in design, induction, and implementation of Lab and Diagnostic activities in accordance with MSF policy.

This includes the Lab and Diagnostic activities in microbiology and general laboratories inside a laboratory as well as the activities that are carried out outside the laboratory such as in the hospital wards, mobile clinic/outreach and outbreak/EPREP scenarios.

Secondarily, the Lab & Diagnostic Flying implementer also will contribute in ensuring best laboratory practices in MSF OCG Portfolio countries through provision of technical assistance to the lab teams in the form of ad hoc hands-on support, remote support, on-the-job training, and gap filing of Lab manager/supervisor position if requested by the portfolio mission countries.

She/he assures that the existing Quality Management system as per applicable standard (Country specific SOPs, MSF, WHO) is applied and reliable results are provided to assure quality of care for the patients.

Furthermore, the Lab & Diagnostic Flying implementer supports OCG missions with recruitment, onboarding, training, and coaching for new staff as well as the implementation of new Diagnostic and medical laboratory equipment.

She/he will participate in the laboratory targeted training activities planned and organized by the L&D unit, including the review of training materials.

Tasks and responsibilities

Direct technical support to OCG missions

• Implement new diagnostic test / medical laboratory equipment in OCG projects
• Implement new conventional microbiology laboratories or minilabs in the projects
• Perform internal laboratory assessment for Lab and Diagnostic activities in OCG missions in general and microbiology laboratories, and develop improvement plan according to the findings
• Assess whether MSF Diagnostic package is applied within OCG missions
• Assure compliance to existing Quality Management system (country specific, MSF, WHO) wherever diagnostic is carried out in order to provide correct results and assure quality of care for the patients

Assure correct and efficient Laboratory and Diagnostic management in OCG missions

HR:

• During field visits, support projects in the recruitment process of laboratory staff (lab manager/supervisor technicians) and support their onboarding and training. Mentor and coach first missioner Lab Manager /Lab Supervisor working in OCG portfolio mission countries
• Providing gap fillings for critical gaps and/or emergencies for a max of 3 to 4 weeks for lab /manager supervisor as per need/specific request within OCG missions

Supply /Pharma:

• Support the existing and future general and microbiology laboratories on general stock management and local and international orders.

Data collection:

• Ensure correct collection and recording for Lab and Diagnostic activities using the existing tools such as WHONET, DHIS2

Communication:

• Collaborate well within the medical team in coordination and project, as well with relevant counterparts such as Operations, Supply/Pharmacy, Logistic, Biomed

Medical equipment:

• Assure correct management of medical laboratory equipment in OCG missions as per manufacture recommendations
• Collaborate well with Log/Biomed to assure correct monitoring and performance of maintenance as well as troubleshooting and repair of medical laboratory equipment in OCG missions

EPREP/Outbreak and surveillance

• Collaborate well with the epidemiological surveillance team to ensure the quality of samples taken for epidemic investigations (sample collection, Storage and transport conditions, Identification of (and agreements with) the appropriate reference laboratories)
• Ensure that the materials required for epidemic investigations are ordered and available as part of the MSF OCG EPREP (emergency preparedness).
• Ensure that all staff involved in Lab & Diagnostic activities as part of outbreak scenario/EPREP are well trained on diagnostic performance and medical laboratory equipment use and management and assure that all relevant documents, guidelines, SOPs are known, understood and accessible for the users.

Capacity building

• While in the field, assess and identify the learning needs of Laboratory team and, when pertinent, provide on-the-job training

Collaboration with external partner

• Perform external laboratory assessments for general lab and microbiology lab, and provide clear report with recommendation to Laboratory advisor/Microbiology advisor in order to validate laboratories for referral of MSF samples

Miscellaneous

• Provide field visit reports according to the TOR and observations with clear actionable recommendations for the projects and a planned follow up and share it timely with mission and the Lab Advisor / Microbiology
• Participate regularly in the MESO Bi-weekly meeting and medical team meeting.
• Assist to Laboratory Advisor and Microbiology Advisor with the annual medical activity report

Your profile

Education & Experience

• Laboratory technician recognized qualification is essential (qualified)
• Experience in medical laboratories (3 years)
• Experience in medical bacteriology (3 years)
• Relevant experience within MSF (at least 2 years)
• Experience in laboratory supervision (team management, planning, coordination of routine activities), ideally in a hospital, is an asset
• Management experience is an asset
• MiniLab experience is an asset

Languages

• English and French- essential (spoken and written)
• Arabic is an asset

Personal Abilities & Skills

• Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Critical reading and writing
• Familiar with data tools
• Mentoring and capacity to deliver trainings
• Excellent ability to work in a multicultural environment successfully and to demonstrate commitment and support for diversity, gender-responsive, inclusive, and non-discriminatory behavior and attitudes
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Commitment to MSF’s Principles
• Cross-cultural Awareness
• Analytical Thinking
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Initiative and Innovation
• Teamwork and Cooperation
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to identify needs, design training sessions, Strong drive to promote learning and knowledge sharing

Terms of employment

• Fixed-term contract, 12 months
• Full-time, 100% (40h/week)
• Working place : Field-based position with visits to the headquarters in Amman, Jordan
• Practical working conditions in the field are in accordance with the MSF OCG volunteer manual.
• Ideal start date: March 1st, 2025
• Gross monthly salary: CHF 5’500.- based on 100%
• Benefits: Health insurance and living expenses in the countries of intervention and at headquarters, paid according to internal regulations.