Biomedical scientist / laboratory manager

Biomedical scientist / laboratory manager

Caption Emmanuel, MSF Scientist, at the MSF hospital in Bentiu internal displacement camp, South Sudan. © Isaac Buay/MSF

It is a fascinating job being a biomedical scientist / laboratory manager with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

You will plan, organise and carry out laboratory activities and supervise staff to support the MSF medical team in diagnosing and monitoring patients’ diseases.

Whether managing a hospital laboratory to screen for tuberculosis, or training local staff to test people for sleeping sickness in temporary outdoor clinics, the team often cannot function without the expertise of the biomedical scientist / laboratory manager.

Responsibilities

Our biomedical scientists / laboratory managers are the lifeblood of MSF’s work, aiding clinicians in their essential diagnoses. Biomedical scientists / laboratory managers mostly work in a supervisory and training capacity in our projects. They play an important role in running our laboratories and monitoring the impact of our response to outbreaks of disease.

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

• Supervising, training, guiding and recruiting laboratory staff
• Ensuring the quality of the laboratory tests and complying with MSF hygiene standards, security measures, and safety protocols
• Performing laboratory tests, including: carrying out sample collection (serology, haematology, biochemistry, bacteriology, parasitology, etc.) in accordance with prescriptions;informing the doctor of the tests’ results;maintaining records of the analyses and patient data
• Managing a laboratory for all departments in a field hospital
• Providing support in outreach clinics, testing for neglected tropical diseases

Role requirements

• Diploma in Laboratory Technology or a degree in Microbiology with applied medical parasitology and bacteriology, or a Biomedical Sciences degree
• Minimum of two years relevant laboratory professional experience
• Experience in blood bank management and transfusion services
• Proven knowledge of STDs, virology, Tuberculosis, blood bank, Malaria, HIV/AIDS
• Knowledge and ability required in the techniques of sample taking (blood, stool, sputum)
• Experience in using laboratory software packages and carrying out surveys
• Knowledge of laboratory testing quality control methods
• Experience in managing, supervising and training others
• Able to work well as a part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team
• Willing to work in unstable areas and ability to cope in a difficult and unpredictable environment
• Available for a minimum of three months
• Minimum of three months’ work, volunteering or travelling experience in low- and middle-income countries
• Fluency in English

Languages

We're currently prioritising for biomedical scientists / laboratory managers with good French (B1) or Arabic skills.

If you can speak French or Arabic you're much more likely to be accepted onto our register.

Your language level may be tested during the recruitment process.