Laboratory Technical Officer

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Laboratory Technical Officer
Location: Coxs Bazar
Country: Bangladesh
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO has a mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of more than 7,000 employees. WHO's primary goal is to ensure that all people can attain the highest possible level of health, focusing on health systems strengthening, disease prevention, and response to health emergencies.

Job Overview:
The Laboratory Technical Officer will provide essential technical assistance and support at the WHO Emergency Sub Office in Cox’s Bazar, focusing on laboratory activities at the IEDCR Field Lab and other laboratories in camp settings. The role involves monitoring laboratory activities to ensure diagnostic capacity for diseases with epidemic potential, including vaccine-preventable diseases, while adhering to WHO recommendations for biosafety and laboratory containment. The officer will work under the health operations lead to enhance laboratory diagnosis capabilities for emerging diseases, ensuring compliance with national and WHO laboratory standards. The position requires meticulous planning and timely procurement of reagents and consumables to maintain uninterrupted testing services, as well as the development of standard guidelines and operational procedures to adapt to emerging laboratory needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of the Laboratory Technical Officer include:

• Expanding and sustaining laboratory diagnosis capacities for emerging diseases in compliance with national and WHO standards.
• Ensuring good laboratory practices for all tests and procedures at the IEDCR Field Lab.
• Strengthening the laboratory quality management system for daily operations.
• Planning and procuring necessary reagents and consumables to ensure uninterrupted testing services.
• Reviewing technical specifications for lab equipment and troubleshooting laboratory issues.
• Producing quality assurance reports post-procurement and installation of equipment.
• Maintaining inventories and managing supply gaps for health facilities in camp settings.
• Establishing integrated reporting mechanisms for laboratory performance indicators.
• Developing and updating standard operating procedures as needed. 1
• Promoting collaboration with various stakeholders to enhance laboratory standards. 1
• Providing technical assistance for blood transfusion setups in refugee settings. 1
• Engaging the community through awareness campaigns for voluntary blood donation. 1
• Collaborating with government and stakeholders on research activities. 1
• Assessing and monitoring laboratory capacities in emergency units and healthcare facilities. 1
• Evaluating and enhancing laboratory activities across different tiers. 1
• Building capacity among medical technologists and lab personnel on quality management and biosafety. 1
• Completing any other related tasks as assigned by the supervisor. 1
• Submitting an end-of-assignment report.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Laboratory Technical Officer position include:

• A first-level university degree in Medical Laboratory Technology is essential.
• A postgraduate degree in Laboratory Technology with a specialization in infectious diseases or related fields is desirable.
• Demonstrable training and experience in molecular techniques, routine clinical laboratory techniques, and immune diagnostics are advantageous.
• Strong collaboration skills with various institutions and organizations, including government and NGOs.
• Ability to work independently and creatively, with a willingness to travel and work in a cross-cultural environment.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a first-level university degree in Medical Laboratory Technology. A postgraduate degree in Laboratory Technology with a specialization in infectious diseases or related laboratory fields is preferred. Training and experience in molecular techniques and clinical laboratory practices are also beneficial.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 1 year of work experience in clinical laboratories, including protocol preparation and laboratory maintenance in low-resource settings. Experience in emergency health response is essential, while experience with UN agencies or international organizations is considered an advantage.

Languages:
Essential language skills include expert knowledge of English and Bangla. Proficiency in additional languages may be beneficial but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a National Professional Officer role, meaning only applications from nationals of Bangladesh will be accepted. The remuneration package includes an annual base salary starting at BDT 3,634,083, subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance. The position offers 30 days of annual leave. The WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and individuals from underrepresented member states. Candidates may be required to undergo a written test or video assessment as part of the screening process. WHO has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, and all candidates must adhere to the highest ethical standards.