Malaria Laboratory Advisor At US Agency for International Development

Summary Statement

Credence Management Solutions employs hard-working, passionate individuals who bring innovation, accountability, and a growth mindset to the many missions we support across the US Federal Government. Employee empowerment is part of the fabric of our corporate culture through which we emphasize opportunity, recognition, reward, and retention. At Credence, we follow the principles of servant leadership and believe that serving and supporting others is critical to both our individual and collective achievements. We have only one measure of success. Yours.

We are hiring for positions under the Global Health Training, Advisory, Support Contract (GHTASC) in support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Global Health (GH). These roles deliver institutional support services in a wide range of technical areas at the junior, mid-, senior, and expert levels.

We are a diverse, enthusiastic family of subject matter experts, business professionals, and practitioners who all share a common goal of providing excellent services to our government customers. If you want to work in a dynamic and fast-growing environment with highly motivated colleagues, then Credence is the right place for you!

Credence Management Solutions is seeking a Malaria Laboratory Advisor with expertise in laboratory assays for infectious disease surveillance, diagnostic testing, and/or laboratory capacity strengthening in low- and middle-income settings to contribute to the USAID, Bureau for Global Health’s Malaria Division and the Bureau’s overall efforts. See below for more information on this exciting opportunity and apply to join Credence today!

Position Summary

The Malaria Laboratory Advisor will primarily support the USAID, Bureau for Global Health, Malaria Division of the Office of Infectious Disease as a Credence Institutional Support Contractor (ISC).

The Malaria Division of the Office of Infectious Disease of the Bureau for Global Health is charged with the technical leadership for, and management of, USAID’s malaria portfolio, including the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). PMI is the US Government’s (USG) flagship global malaria initiative and is led by USAID and co-implemented with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As described in End Malaria Faster: U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Strategy 2021-2026, the goals of PMI are to reduce malaria mortality, reduce malaria morbidity, and accelerate progress toward national or sub-national elimination in PMI partner countries. PMI’s strategic approach includes reaching the unreached, strengthening community health systems, keeping malaria services resilient, investing locally, and innovating and leading. PMI supports the implementation of evidence-based interventions at-scale, including malaria diagnosis with microscopy and malaria diagnostic tests; malaria treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy; vector control with insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying; chemoprevention, such as intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy and seasonal malaria chemoprevention; surveillance; supply chain strengthening; and social and behavioral change (SBC). The Initiative is results-based, focused, and exhibits a high level of financial and programmatic accountability.

The Malaria Laboratory Advisor will liaise with PMI colleagues at USAID and CDC headquarters as well as with USAID missions, implementing partners, African scientists, and multilateral stakeholders to advance efforts in malaria parasite and entomological surveillance for drug and insecticide resistance monitoring. These efforts will also focus on strengthening the capacity of African national and regional laboratories to lead in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of molecular data and to support neighboring laboratories to do the same. The Advisor will be required to possess hard skills in molecular laboratory science and genetics and low and middle income country laboratory strengthening as well as soft skills which include but are not limited to organizational and interpersonal skills, effective communication, technology skills, and time-management. It is necessary for a Laboratory Advisor to be up to date on the latest scientific literature in malaria molecular surveillance, to be a critical thinker and develop creative solutions, and to work collaboratively and effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

Responsibilities

The Malaria Laboratory Advisor will be an integral member of the Case Management Team and work closely with the Vector Monitoring and Control, Chemoprevention, Malaria in Pregnancy, Surveillance and Informatics, and Supply Chain teams. The incumbent will be responsible for providing support to the Malaria Initiative and to Missions. This position will support the Bureau’s efforts to reduce the burden of malaria, detect and respond to emerging threats, and strengthen health and surveillance systems to improve health security.

• The incumbent will be expected to perform the following tasks in significant collaboration with Washington and Atlanta-based staff:
  • Coordinate across PMI headquarters and country teams to oversee high quality, timely monitoring of drug and insecticide resistance and other malaria molecular surveillance of public health importance.
  • Serve as the primary PMI USAID point of contact for molecular surveillance of parasites and mosquito vectors with CDC, USAID missions, and relevant multilateral/global initiatives.
  • Liaise with supply chain partners and other implementing partners including local and regional research institutions to ensure availability of laboratory supplies, training for and quality assurance of laboratory work, and capacity strengthening to conduct molecular surveillance for malaria.
  • Support USAID in meetings with USG interagency, global partners and other donors on related activities.
  • Lead technical discussion on emerging priorities in, and strategies for, malaria molecular surveillance and laboratory capacity strengthening with technical agencies/partners.
  • Contribute technical content, briefers and other documents for timely communication for GH, Agency and interagency leadership.
  • Contribute to technical content and guidance on malaria molecular laboratory capacity building in Africa.
• Serves as a member of the Case Management Team as the expert on diagnostics and/or antimalarial drug resistance monitoring, and on the Vector Monitoring and Control Laboratory Teamlet as the expert on molecular entomology needs.
• Provides technical leadership in laboratory capacity strengthening and malaria molecular surveillance including PMI support for country systems for sample collection and storage; diagnostic testing; genomic sequencing; and data tracking and interpretation.
• Supports the development of technical guidance and provides technical assistance to Missions to strengthen country capacity for molecular laboratory strengthening and quality assurance/quality control programs.
• Serves as an activity manager for and evaluates centrally administered projects for laboratory strengthening and molecular surveillance.
• Coordinates with the Supply Chain Team on procurement of commodities and reagents for therapeutic efficacy studies and molecular studies.
• Engages regularly with Mission staff on in-country project activities, coordinates with A/CORs and Advisors within the Division, and liaises within Global Health including teams working on Global Health Security and other Bureaus to garner best practices and leverage investments towards the Agency’s development mandate.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 6 years of relevant experience, bachelor’s degree with 8 years of relevant experience, Associate’s degree and 10 years of relevant experience, OR High School graduate and 12 years of relevant relevant experience in disease surveillance, infectious diseases, vector biology, molecular laboratory methods, or medical/health sciences.
• Experience working in molecular or genetics laboratories including in assay development and troubleshooting, training, and laboratory set up or maintenance in a medical or public health setting. At least two years of experience working in international development settings on malaria parasites or mosquito vectors strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a broad range of US government personnel and partners in a multicultural, inclusive team setting
• Ability to take initiative, prioritize, and complete projects in a fast-paced environment
• Strong oral and written communications skills, including the ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely about highly technical concepts, and a proven ability to read, analyze, and interpret public health and malaria technical reports and data
• Knowledge of public health development programs, procedures, and systems and USAID rules, regulations, procedures, and systems, including financial systems, strongly preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google suite
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25% of the time
• Verbal and written French proficiency preferred
• US citizenship or US permanent residency with the ability to obtain and maintain a facility access clearance required.

Competencies/Performance Criterion

• Innovation: Employee takes initiative to propose new ideas/approaches, and demonstrates ability to find new and better ways to accomplish work.
• Customer Service: Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers, follows procedure to solve customer problems, understands company products and services, maintains pleasant and professional image.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of work responsibilities and holds high standards. Keeps commitments and takes appropriate actions to ensure obligations are met. Pursues efficiency and effectiveness and adheres to Organization policies and procedures.
• Interpersonal Skills: Employee demonstrates ability to work in cooperation with others and communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisors, subordinates, clients and other outside contacts.
• Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues professional development that is aligned with organizational role, contribution, and goals. Proactively shares knowledge with others to foster learning across the Organization.

Full salary range for this position is $92,300 to $145,617.00 per year, with the starting salary determined based on candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability