BIOSAFETY TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Opening: September 19, 2011
Closing: October 6, 2011
Work Hours: Full-time; 40 hour work week
Salary:
Not-Ordinarily Resident: JOB Position Grade: FP-4
Ordinarily Resident: JOB Position Grade: FSN-501-11
(A higher step and salary may be granted based on superior qualifications).
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Nairobi has an opening for the position of a Biosafety
Technical Advisor. The position will be available immediately.
Basic Function:
The incumbent will serve as the Technical Advisor of Biosafety for CDC-Division of HIV/AID in Kenya. She/he
will support CDC, the Ministries of Health and PEPFAR Implementing Partners plan and implement biosafety,
biosecurity and infection prevention control (IPC) measures in Kenya. Under the direction of the CDC Division of
HIV/AIDS Laboratory Branch Chief the incumbent will ensure the integration of biosafety/ Biosecurity and IPC
measures into the national laboratory systems; National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) and all PEPFAR
comprehensive prevention, care and treatment programs.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Technical Advisor for Biosafety/Biosecurity and IPC Initiatives - 45%
• Guide MOH and partners in implementation and monitoring of biosafety/Biosecurity interventions.
• Develop a long-term strategy for specimen archiving and security.
Establish protocols and systems conforming to national and international guidelines for best practice in all aspects of biosafety and IPC that will ensure biosafety, pathogen security and optimal work place safety at DGHA laboratories and all PEPFAR TB/HIV diagnosis and care and treatment sites in over 5000 locations countrywide.
Conduct routine support supervisory visits to Implementing Partners and the national program to ensure that
appropriate safety standards are applied in specimen collection, transportation, laboratory testing and disposal
of biomedical waste.
Provide expert technical assistance in the development and implementation of biosafety and IPC policies,
standards operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines from overseeing writing draft documents and tracking
the national review and approval processes.
Develop plans, in collaboration with the appropriate GoK departments, which outline procedures to handle
accidental chemical/toxic substance spills, contamination, and investigation of laboratory accidents with
proper preventive measures.
Serve as lead person in disaster preparedness activities within the Kenya CDC Division of Global HIV/AIDS,
including the planning and implementation for occupational safety and emergency safety drills.
Develop and implement processes and tools to measure, evaluate and monitor bio-medical transmission of
HIV, other blood borne pathogens and tuberculosis for the national program.
In collaboration with the GoK, provide technical assistance to establish procedures for the design, collection,
analysis and dissemination of safety data, trends and reports on accidents related to specimen collection,
medical procedures and laboratory testing.
Review biosafety/IPC aspects of the national laboratory system and other health facility architectural and
engineering works, providing specifications for ventilation, sanitation, engineering control measures and
infectious waste management.
Advice on selection, installation, maintenance of safety/containment equipment.
Blood Safety and Injection Safety - 30%
Provide technical consultation to the MoH participating in the development of policies, guidelines and standard
operating procedures (SOPs) related to prevention of biomedical transmission of infections including blood
safety, injection safety and medical waste management.
In collaboration with MoH conduct support supervisory site visits to CDC and PEPFAR supported sites with
written reports outlining findings and recommendations for improved performance.
Participate in blood safety and injection safety stakeholders meetings and represent CDC Kenya DGHA in
related meetings.
With the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) design and implement systems for needle stick injury
surveillance, including measures to minimize occurrences within the blood transfusion service.
Support monitoring and evaluation activities for blood safety and injection safety programs in line with national
and international standards as well as CDC and PEPFAR strategies.
Provide technical guidance on safe injection practice and blood banking procedures with particular emphasis
on laboratory aspects of the transfusion services including guidelines, SOPs and quality management systems
to MoH and other national partners.
Under the direction of the MoH support strengthening of service delivery at blood transfusion units within
hospital laboratories across the country.
Contribute to an operational research agenda within the fiscal limits of CDC and Division of Global HIV/AIDS in Kenya.
Training - 15%
In conjunction with the MoH plan, develop and conduct training on biosafety and IPC practices and procedures
including measures to determine competency of systems and personnel.
Assist with the review of national in-service and pre-service biosafety and IPC training curricula.
Identify and coordinate opportunities to share common resources such as consultants, equipments and
targeted training with other PEPFAR programs.
Others - 10%
Act as Technical Activity Manager for assigned Cooperative Agreement partners.
Participate in assigned national, PEPFAR and GHI technical workgroups.
Participate in any other tasks as requested by the Division of Global HIV/AIDS Laboratory Branch Chief or
Director related to planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation as well as delivering reports, summaries,
and papers, oral and written presentations.
Qualifications Required:
NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive
information supporting each item.
• Medical doctor qualification is required (MbChB, MD or equivalent); OR a Masters degree in Medical
Laboratory Sciences or a related field.
• At least five years experience in healthcare settings. Three of these years should have been spent in
service to the public health sector. Specific experience with Infection prevention and/or blood
transfusion services is required.
• Level IV (Fluent) English ability and Level IV (Fluent) Kiswahili ability are required.
• Must be knowledgeable in laboratory practice, occupational health and safety, biosafety and infection
prevention and control (IPC). Must be familiar with Government of Kenya regulations and applicable
standards in environmental and occupational health and safety
To apply, please copy the link below as your web address:
http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/about-us/employment-opportunities.html
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