Regional Microbiologist / Laboratory Specialist - AMR (Human Health), The Fleming Fund

Job Description:

The Regional Microbiologist / Laboratory Specialist will play a key role implementing the Fleming Fund’s approach to improving bacteriology in laboratories supported by the Fleming Fund in the West Africa (WA) region. The grants programme seeks to improve national surveillance of antimicrobial resistance by improving laboratory services and engaging clinical staff in the planning, execution and use of diagnostic services.

The Regional Microbiologist / Laboratory Specialist will play a vital role in the Fleming Fund’s approach to improving AMR surveillance. The position holder will lead the Fleming Fund’s oversight of programme laboratory quality in the WA region, covering supported countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone and others that may be added in future. The position holder will provide expert input and coordination in grant management as a member of the Regional Team supporting the end-to-end process of grant management: this includes developing requests for proposals, country visits and site assessments, evaluation of proposals, contributing to programme recommendations, and monitoring of grant implementation. The position holder will additionally guide and support the approach to training, continuing professional development, the Fellowship Scheme and clinical and practitioner engagement.

The position holder is expected to have an excellent working knowledge of medical bacteriology, laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, and laboratory quality management systems. They will work with grantees to ensure a consistently safe and high-quality laboratory improvement programme in line with the grant’s ToRs. They may also be required to provide support to other regions and work in partnership with their counterparts in each of the three other regional hubs. They will join a team which includes a One Health / veterinary specialist, with whom they will work closely to provide complementary technical input. 

The role includes regular travel to countries within the region for on-site verification and partner liaison. The amount and type of travel is carefully considered and undertaken following Mott MacDonald’s rigorous safety and security policies.

The Regional Microbiologist / Laboratory Specialist will report to the Regional Coordinator and work closely with the rest of the regional team, with the Lead Clinical Microbiologist, Laboratory Services Lead, and with members of the Core Technical Team. 

Key responsibilities are:

Technical leadership in the West Africa Region Grants programme:

• Provide technical and strategic input into the rollout and monitoring of the country and Fleming Fellowship grants programme in the region.

• Contribute to the grant development process, including country visits, sites assessments, liaison with key country stakeholders, and conducting site assessments.

• Contribute to the technical review of funding applications and make recommendations for approval.

• Support countries in implementation of Fleming Fund Grants, including liaison with Government, UN agencies and other key stakeholders.

• Define roles for consultants and other technical assistance and assist in management and performance assessment.

• Evaluation of laboratory development, quality management, training and procurement plans

• Assist in interpretation of both AMR and AMU surveillance data

• Assist in monitoring grant performance and reviewing grantee reporting.

• Provide advice to grantees for problem solving and addressing technical challenges to delivery of grants.

• Support Regional Grants by assisting in monitoring the performance for the Fleming Fund’s multi-country Regional Grants being implemented in WA.

• Assisting in procurement planning and central procurement.

NB: The postholder can be a registered and practicing clinician and if so will be encouraged to continue with clinical practice to maintain the relevant licensing / CPD.

Candidate Specification:

Education:

Essential:

• Clinical and/or laboratory scientist with specialism in microbiology including significant experience in bacteriology.

Desirable:

• MSc in Biomedical Science, MSc in Medical Microbiology or related field

• Completion of higher specialist training or scientist training programme in microbiology

• PhD or equivalent qualification an asset.

Training:

Essential:

• Appropriate certification and levels of continual professional development.

Desirable:

• Relevant courses in management and/or technical fields such as epidemiology will be an asset

Experience:

Essential:

• History and track-record of providing technical advice to programmes, organisations or other institutions.

• Experience of quality assurance processes, biosafety and biosecurity standards, and LMIS.

• Significant experience working in low- and middle-income settings.

• Excellent practical laboratory experience in bacteriology, including in low-income settings.

• Demonstrated ability to work within teams in a multi-disciplinary environment.

• Knowledge of different diagnostic techniques for bacterial pathogens.

Desirable:

• Experience in developing surveillance systems

• Research or professional interest in drug resistant bacteria

• Experience in surveillance for antimicrobial use at facility and/or national level.

• Working with a funding agency or similar organisation.

• Experience in monitoring and evaluating programmes.

• Knowledge and networks in the region within the subject area.

• Demonstrated excellence in publications and/or a research track-record.

Key Skills:

Essential:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with demonstrated ability to use evidence-based decision making

• Ability to work collaboratively: communicating, building relationships, and influencing effectively with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders in a LMIC environment.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills.

• Able to multi-task and maintain a critical overview of interrelated tasks, projects, and issues, ensuring delivery according to targets.

• Excellent written and oral English language skills.

Desirable:

• Proven technical writing skills in English.

• Excellent presentational skills, including at high-level conferences and policy fora.

• Ability to work in other language(s) would be considered an asset

• Experience of teaching and training and/or a relevant higher education qualification.

Job Profile:

The Fleming Fund is a UK Government programme managed by the Department of Health and Social Care which is playing a leading global role in addressing the problem of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

The Country, Regional and Fellowship grants portfolio of the Fleming Fund is managed by Mott MacDonald and aims to address critical gaps in surveillance of antibiotic resistant bacteria and use of antibiotics in low- and middle-income countries. It is designed to align with the Global Action Plan on AMR, and this is reflected in the objectives of the Fleming Fund which are to:

• Improve laboratory infrastructure for the diagnosis of drug resistant bacterial infections and surveillance of bacterial AMR

• Strengthen human resource capacity and work force reforms

• Strengthen AMR surveillance systems 

• Align human and animal health surveillance systems using a One Health approach

• Build foundations for AMR surveillance data use

• Promote rational use of antimicrobial medicines in humans, animals and crops

• Provide value for money in grant funding

Funding is delivered through grantees across the portfolio of up to 25 African and Asian countries to improve surveillance and use of data on antibiotic resistance, consumption and use.

The majority of funds are invested in Country Grants which support the implementation of individual country’s National Action Plans for Antimicrobial Resistance to ensure national ownership, alignment of approach with other stakeholders, and sustainability. The Fleming Fund adopts a One Health approach by promoting cross-sectoral approaches to surveillance of resistant organisms and the drivers of resistance development (e.g. use of antibiotics in agriculture, animal health, and in human medicine).

Funding is also available for the Fleming Fellowship Scheme, which provides professional development and improved awareness and advocacy to more than 180 individuals from within national surveillance systems.  The fellowships provide medium term mentoring to cover skills in laboratory methods, epidemiology and surveillance, pharmacy, and in advocacy and policy.

Regional Grants and Strategic Alignment Grants are in place to improve quality assurance, surveillance and the use of data, training and online learning, and for strategic investments in collaboration with other donors.

The Fleming Fund has been operating since 2016 across two phases to date.

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