Quality Assurance Officer – STAR Project
Society for Family Health (SFH) is a leading Local Zambian Organisation with programmes targeting malaria, child survival, HIV and reproductive health. SFH work ranges from on the ground implementation of health services, and community programs to distribution of health care products and services to the most vulnerable populations, provides life-saving products, clinical services and behavior change communications that empower the most vulnerable populations to lead healthier lives.
The Quality Assurance Officer will be responsible for managing HIV self testing (HIVST) STAR Project quality assurance by providing technical support to regional and HQ project teams in all the implementing districts. She/he will ensure quality of care that meets acceptable International and national quality standards for the project and will ensure that services are being delivered effectively and that errors or substandard procedures are detected and corrected to avoid adverse outcomes.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop a Quality Assurance/ Control (QA/QC) plan for the STAR Project
- To coordinate HIVST quality assurance program to ensure standardized implementation and compliance of quality standards in service delivery programs.
- To plan and ensure availability of resources for implementation of quality assurance and training programs as well as facilitate sourcing of consultancy services for specialized trainings.
- Forecast quality assurance/control needs for the STAR project
- To work with the National QA TWG to develop/adapt protocols/guidelines for HIVST and training curriculums to ensure compliance with GRZ policies/guidelines and acceptable standards.
- To facilitate periodic internal quality audits /competency evaluations in the sites to affirm compliance to quality of care based on SFH and MoH set standards.
- To compile /document achievements in quality assurance program implementation in order to provide feedback for internal and external reports.
- Ensure that all relevant personnel undertaking HIVST are qualified for assigned duties; this includes training of relevant staff
- Conduct or assign QA tasks in specific settings, including external control processes, test kit storage, control unit storage.
- Provide for test kit distribution and inventory processes and ensure that there is initial review of QA documentation
- Oversee testing processes and resolve technical problems
- To ensure feedback/study results from end user are incorporated in quality improvement strategies aimed at improving quality of HIVST.
- Prepare and submit internal and external reports documenting QA/QC achievements and challenges in order to provide feedback on the progress of the program implementation.
- To represent SFH in QA and HIVST meetings with the Ministry of Health, donors, accreditation bodies and other collaborating partners.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
- Degree in Biomedical Sciences or Public Health
- Certification in Laboratory Quality Assurance and or laboratory management will be an added advantage
- 5 years experience in HIV programming
- 3 years experience in provision of Quality Assurance/improvement systems and clinical laboratory, mentoring and training
- In-depth knowledge of the MOH central, provincial and district level public health environment required
Skills Specifications:
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to work within cross-functional teams and work cooperatively and comfortably with all levels of contacts
- Excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness of information
- Strong organizational, oral and written skills with excellent knowledge of MS Office, including Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook
- Ability to meet all deadlines including reporting deadlines
- Strong report writing, editing and facilitation skills to support meetings with a variety of stakeholders
- Should possess strong listening, enhanced communication, facilitation, analytical problem-solving , and negotiating skills
- Able to collaborate effectively across departments
- Highly motivated, organized and able to work independently with minimum guidance
- Results oriented
- High level of integrity
- Willingness to travel to field platforms on a frequent basis
How to Apply:
PLEASE EMAIL APPLICATION AND CV TO: HumanResource@sfh.org.zm or send to The Head – Human Resources, Society for Family Health, Plot No. 549, Ituna Road, P.O Box 50770, Lusaka.
Clearly indicate “QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICER –STAR Project”
Closing Date : 14 September 2015.
