Clinical Laboratory Manager

It is a challenging and exciting role and you would be responsible for some or all of the following:

• ​Training local staff as lab technicians
• Managing a laboratory for all departments in a field hospital
• Providing support in outreach clinics, testing for neglected tropical diseases
• Carrying out surveys

In addition to general clinical laboratories, MSF is in the process of establishing more and microbiology laboratories, as well as to increase access to advanced TB diagnostics (by setting up independent laboratories, in collaboration with national organizations, or by using validated external facilities). For this purpose, we are specifically looking for candidates with advanced experience in microbiology (bacteriological culture, including by manual methods) and/or Tuberculosis (culture, drug sensitivity testing, molecular methods).

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major public health threats worldwide. In order to ensure the best treatment for infected patients that MSF receives in our facility but also in order to rationalize the use of antibiotics to decrease the selection pressure, MSF tries to implement microbiology laboratory for vulnerable population most affected by bacterial infections: this includes war wounded patients, malnourished children, and HIV patients.

The access to a microbiology laboratory is a part of the multidisciplinary approach that is currently implemented including the implementation of antibiotic stewardship program but also the reinforcement of infection prevention control (IPC).

In order to access to microbiology diagnostic tests, different strategies are possible:

• Implementation from scratch of 100% MSF microbiology laboratory, using mainly manual methods
• Implementation of the MSF “Mini-Lab” which is a complete kit to set up blood culture from scratch
• Identification in countries local laboratories that needs support in term of supply or training or quality insurance and provides the support

Education

• A degree or diploma in clinical/medical laboratory science or in microbiology with applied medical parasitology and bacteriology.
• Alternatively, if you have held a position as a medical laboratory scientist, laboratory technologist or medical laboratory analyst, you may qualify as a biomedical and laboratory scientist within MSF

Experience

• Experience in training, coaching and supervision
• A minimum of 2 years relevant post-qualification work experience
• Experience in sample collection and analysis (e.g. blood, stool, sputum)
• Experience in supply management
• For the microbiology or tuberculosis-specialized positions, demonstrated experience in these areas, at the level of being able to set up laboratories from scratch if need be
• Knowledge of all basic laboratory techniques and quality control systems
• Work or travel experience in developing countries

Languages

• A good command of the English language (B1)

Availability

• At least 9 to 12 months

Skills

• Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload
• Ability to work in an international team
• Willingness to work in an unstable and insecure environment

• Practical clinical laboratory experience; a knowledge of the epidemiology of, and diagnostic methods for, malaria, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS; an interest in tropical diseases
• Experience in working with data analysis software packages and in carrying out surveys and similar fieldwork
• Experience with a similar non-governmental organization abroad
• A good command of the French, Russian or Arabic language

Interested in working with Médecins Sans Frontières, but still have a lot of questions you need answered? Join one of our information meetings or webinars!

What's it like working with MSF?

In most projects you'll be living and working in stressful conditions without many of the things you may take for granted at home.

Read more about work and life in the field.

Your safety and security

When working for us you might experience dangerous situations, such as confrontations with armed men, looting and theft, or violent clashes between armed groups. We take safety and security seriously. Read more about our safety precautions.