Netherlands: Technical Officer Laboratory Services

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis (TB), the most deadly infectious disease in the world. KNCV is an international center of expertise for TB control that promotes effective, efficient, innovative and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national and international context. We are an organization of passionate TB professionals, including doctors, researchers, training experts, nurses and epidemiologists. We aim to stop the worldwide epidemic of TB and to prevent the further spread of drug-resistant TB.

Over the past century we have built a wealth of knowledge and expertise, initially by successfully controlling TB in the Netherlands. Since the 1970s, we have also shared our knowledge and expertise with the rest of the world. We operate from a central office in The Hague, the Netherlands, a regional office in Central Asia and country offices worldwide. KNCV raises funds from private, institutional, corporate and government donors.

Challenge TB

KNCV is the lead partner in Challenge TB, the USAID-funded 5-year global program to decrease TB mortality and morbidity in high burdened countries. We lead an international consortium with eight partner organizations. The overarching strategic objectives of Challenge TB are to improve access to quality patient centered care for TB, TB/HIV, and drug-resistant TB services; to prevent transmission and disease progression; and to strengthen TB platforms.

Purpose of this position

One of the essential factors in halting the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic is ensuring access to laboratories with quality-assured diagnostic tests for TB. It is estimated that 3 million people are missed every year - either not diagnosed or not treated for TB. To be able to identify all persons with TB disease in need of treatment, laboratory facilities urgently need to be upgraded and expanded in many countries. KNCV is embarking on an ambitious expansion and upgrade of laboratory services. KNCV provides broad technical assistance to strengthen laboratories and laboratory networks, together with local and international partners. The Technical Officer for Laboratory Services is responsible for strengthening of laboratory services and contributes to achieving KNCV targets at global, regional and country level. KNCV’s consultants contribute to laboratory strengthening with expertise that is both technically specialized and holistic-programmatic in approach. Our consultants create linkages between the multiple players and disciplines in the TB diagnostic process.

Organizational position
The KNCV laboratory services technical officer reports to the Technical Coordinator of Team Laboratory Services, based within the KNCV Technical Division. Our main aim as a Team is to secure guaranteed access to quality-assured bacteriological diagnosis of TB, including drug resistant TB, to improve case-detection in high burden countries.

As a KNCV laboratory services consultant you will fulfill:

• Support multiple countries to build quality TB laboratory services;
• Contribute to, within a team of KNCV TB laboratory experts, global policy, guidelines and training materials;
• Contribute to targeted diagnostic strengthening in line with the KNCV Strategic Plan to significantly accelerate diagnosis of bacteriologically-confirmed TB in high burden TB countries;
• Work closely with the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) team to regularly review M&E framework and performance indicators on TB laboratory network development and performance;
• Write technical reports.

You are expected to travel outside of The Netherlands to countries in development or transition frequently (25-30% of the time).

Who we are looking for?

Education:

• A Master’s Degree in Health Sciences or Public Health or higher.

Knowledge/experience:

• At least 6-8 years of relevant work experience (capacity building on TB laboratory network strengthening, quality control and conventional culture/drug susceptibility testing);
• Working experience in countries in development or transition;
• At least 2 years working experience with rolling-out GeneXpert MTB/RIF testing technology and/or other WHO-endorsed molecular testing in a developing country context;

• English proficiency (both orally and in writing);
  Experience (explicitly demonstrated in your CV and cover letter) in at least 6 attributes listed below in countries in development or transition:

• Setting up new laboratories;
  Introducing new (novel) laboratory technologies in existing laboratories;
  Supporting laboratory quality management systems and accreditation;

• Working in TB laboratory network mapping and strengthening in low-middle income countries;

• Strengthening laboratory management information systems or introducing digital health solutions for laboratories;

• Supporting development of TB-specific national laboratory strategic plans;

• Proven expertise in establishing and/or monitoring laboratory bio-safety in a BSL3 containment laboratory;

• Introducing routine maintenance schemes into country laboratory networks for laboratory equipment;

• Monitoring and evaluation;

• Implementation research;

• Training and mentoring;

• Fluency in other languages representing high burden TB countries.

Behavioral competencies and skills:

• Ability to work as part of a team and independently;
• Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload;
• Ability to work in an international team;
• Ability to analyze and provide accurate recommendations.

What does KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation offer?

• A fixed-term contract for a year, with the intention to extend depending on funding and performance;
• An informal work atmosphere in an international environment where initiative is appreciated;
• A highly-motivated team of experienced, self-driven colleagues;
• The salary is dependent upon education and relevant working experience;
• KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation has its own Employment Conditions Scheme;
• Full-time employment consists of 38 hours per week.

You can apply for this position via www.kncvtbc.org/nl1608 before 5 June 2016. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our HRM Team in The Netherlands: +31(0)70-4167228 or recruit@kncvtbc.org.
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled person.