View Vacancy - Senior Technical Lead – Laboratory Strengthening G6 (01/23 ABJ) - Internal only campaign

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Health

Main purpose of job:

The post holder will support the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) UKAID funded International Health Regulations (IHR) Strengthening Project in Nigeria. The IHR Strengthening Project (IHR-SP) aims to improve global health security through increasing compliance with the IHR in selected countries and regions in Africa and Asia, taking an all-hazards approach.

Laboratory capacity building is a flagship area of UKHSA’s IHR Strengthening project in Nigeria and an area of strategic importance to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) development. Accountable to the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Country Lead and the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the post holder will strategically lead UKHSAs collaborations with NCDC in the field of diagnostic laboratory capacity strengthening. The post holder will ensure organisational effectiveness and efficiency by providing strategic and operational oversight and technical support to the management of the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) in Gaduwa, Abuja, the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) in Lagos, as well as the NCDC network of laboratories.

The post will also lead the development of the evolving laboratory programme of support to the West African Health Organisation (WAHO)

Diplomatic skills and cultural awareness are critical, as engaging with a range of stakeholders, such as senior leadership, ministers, senior government officials and other technical, donor or development agency representatives will be critical to the role. We are seeking individuals with both substantial technical knowledge and demonstrable international relations capability, able to demonstrate both UKHSA and NCDCs values and ways of working.  Key to this is the ability to influence and negotiate to manage key relationships with local, national and other international stakeholders.

This senior post offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience of working in a fast paced and innovative environment and is an ideal chance for someone looking to advance their career in Public Health and laboratory leadership. The ideal candidate must have a flexible approach to meet the needs of the service, be able to work to tight deadlines and manage multiple workstreams and priorities at the same time. This post will be based in Abuja with regular travel to Lagos and other areas of Nigeria as required. Occasional international travel (e.g., to other countries in Africa, or to the UK) may be required.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Lead UKHSA’s collaborations with NCDC in respect of the further development and management of the NRL and CPHL, ensuring excellence in practice, service delivery and appropriate scientific and technical performance at all times.
  • Lead UKHSA’s collaboration with WAHO in terms of developing a programme of laboratory support for identified laboratories in the ECOWAS region.
  • Strategically advise the NCDC Director General and Directors on issues pertaining to diagnostics, quality management, laboratory capacity building and laboratory resilience.
  • Strategically lead a programme of work to strengthen the quality management systems of NRL and CPHL towards international accreditation and improved quality ratings.
  • Design and deliver a strategy to support the development and capacity strengthening of Nigeria’s diagnostic laboratory network external to NRL and CPHL.
  • Strategically advise on laboratory strategies and implementation plans to enable the laboratories to maintain and develop as a centre of excellence in Public Health laboratory services.
  • Support the development of management processes such as supply chain monitoring for the laboratories.
  • Provide strategic vision and theoretical and practical programme management input to ensure the overall outputs of NRL and CPHL are of a high quality, appropriate, relevant, consistent and reliable.
  • Resolve complex and urgent problems within the laboratory and lead in resolving complicated problems involving other NCDC departments and wider service users.
  • Horizon scan for emerging needs and issues and develop/implement robust plans to address these.
  • Represent the UKHSA IHR Strengthening Project in high level meetings with senior government officials, bilateral and multilateral stakeholders.
  • Support the development of policies and strategies that ensure effective and efficient day-to-day operational work of NRL and CPHL.
  • Engage widely with NCDC laboratory service users to seek input into setting strategic objectives and identifying new ideas and improved ways of working.
  • Deputise for the UKHSA Country Lead at relevant meetings and engagements at national and international level.
  • Represent UKHSA in relevant NCDC/Laboratory committees, working groups and other expert groups as required.
  • Develop, implement and promote high standards of quality customer care to both internal and external customers.
  • Support the development and delivery of innovative services and alternative ways of working to ensure continuous improvements in service delivery.
  • Carrying out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the DG of NCDC and UKHSA.
  • You may be required to provide laboratory or other cover in times of operational difficulty.
  • The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organization.

Resources managed:

Staff Line Management

  • Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject.
  • Additional qualification or relevant experience in public health or other relevant field or equivalent experience.
  • Good knowledge of laboratory management.
  • Member of relevant professional body.
  • Extensive experience of working/training in a laboratory environment in a low resource setting.
  • In depth understanding of relevant laboratory policies, standards and guidelines, including those relevant to quality control/assurance and accreditation processes.
  • Demonstrable experience of strategically advising senior government officials and leaders on matters pertaining to laboratory capacity building and/or public health.
  • Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills with the confidence and ability to build relationships across and beyond the UKHSA and NCDC, including with senior leaders and political figures.
  • Strong knowledge of the NCDC and the wider Nigerian public health sector and laboratory networks.
  • A detailed understanding of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the role laboratories play in IHR implementation.
  • Extensive experience of partnership working - linking with staff across varied organisational functions to address inter-dependencies and ensure alignment.
  • Demonstrable experience of systematically assessing laboratories and developing quality improvement plans towards accreditation and independent review.
  • Extensive experience of leading change management in a laboratory setting.
  • Strong communication skills (verbal and written) and the ability to nurture relationships/networks and work in effective partnerships with complex stakeholders.
  • Strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage a large number of priorities at the same time - ensuring conflicting pressures from various stakeholders are expertly managed.
  • Demonstrated ability to solve a wide range of operational, scientific and technical problems.
  • Strong diplomacy skills. Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change, and challenge/debate on issues of importance to NCDC and UKHSA.
  • A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace.
  • Fluent spoken and written English.
  • A strong track record of academic research and peer reviewed publications. Demonstrable academic writing and presentation skills
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
10 February 2023
Grade 6 (G6)
Fixed Term
35
24 months
Africa
Nigeria
Abuja
British High Commission
1
USD 7,510.33
1 March 2023
  • Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with the DG of NCDC and UKHSA Country Lead through the appraisals process and/or attending internal / external training events.
  • Participate in all mandatory training as required.

Working patterns:

Full time (WTE)

  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Abuja are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Nigeria.
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
  1. Obtain the relevant permit
  2. Pay fees for the permit
  3. Make arrangements to relocate
  4. Meet the costs to relocation
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.  
  • Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
  • Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  • Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.