Epicentre is an organisation created by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in 1986. We conduct field epidemiology, training, and research activities for MSF interventions. Our activities for populations in precarious situations are led from Uganda, Niger, and France, and through the programs of MSF and others. They mainly concern infectious diseases and undernutrition.

The Ugandan Research Center conducts research activities on public health issues relevant to Africa, according to GCPs (Good Clinical Practices) quality standards, in close collaboration with MSF, Mbarara University of Science & Technologies, and other stakeholders in health sector. Current projects, include clinical and vaccinal trials, focus on TB, HIV, central nervous system infections, and yellow fever.

You are looking for a meaningful professional experience?

Epicentre is looking for a main laboratory analytical project manager, responsible for the overall conduct and reporting of the analyses being performed by the laboratory in its Mbarara Research center.

Epicentre has established collaboration with the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), and set up a full-time experienced research team to conduct high standard clinical research focusing on critical public health burdens in Uganda and Africa. In 2006-2007, Epicentre built a 3 floors building in the compound of the University. The laboratory is currently running automated biochemistry and hematology, BSL2 Bacteriology laboratory, malaria smear microscopy and PCR. The laboratory also contains BSL3 room which has recently been equipped for tuberculosis activities (smear microscopy, culture and drug susceptibility testing).

Reporting directly to the Laboratory Coordinator, this position aims to supervise activities of the main laboratory team, and all daily bacteriology laboratory activities: smear microscopy, culture, AST, media preparation, haematology, biochemistry, molecular biology and others as applicable.  

What you will bring

Skills to perform your main activities:

You will be in charge of study preparation and implementation by ensuring that procedures specified in the analytical plan are followed, and that authorisation for any modification is obtained and documented together with the reasons for change. You will ensure that all results of the analyses are fully documented and accurately reported, sign and date the analytical report, if issued, to indicate acceptance of responsibility for the validity of the results. When analytical results are issued, the analytical project manager ensure that these results are only issued under the dated signature of an authorized signatory.

After completion of the analyses, you will ensure the analytical plan, the analytical report and/or analytical results, raw data and any supporting study documentation are archived and retained.

You will be involved in research protocol development in collaboration with MUST collaborators and Epicentre epidemiologists in Uganda and Paris: write and validate the SOP related to main/bacteriology lab activities ; design registers, forms, charts, bench aids, lab form completion manual related to main/bacteriology lab activities ; development and optimization of the techniques needed for the studies in collaboration with partner laboratories and participate to implement these new techniques in the laboratory in Mbarara (and identifying the most appropriate techniques, equipment and reagents needed for the Epicentre studies other than TB studies).

You will contribute to quality Management and results validation by checking that the procedures are performed following standard operating procedures (SOP) and protocol. You will document all deviations from procedures and other occurrences and propose corrective action plans. You will validate daily results and lab results forms: consistency, completion, accuracy, and ensure that the lab results are dispatched to the clinical team as soon as they are validated.

Thanks to your precision you will check that specimen logs, registers and forms are complete, and participate in writing the lab manuals in collaboration with the laboratory quality manager. You will participate in the planning and follow up of corrective and preventive actions, write validation plans for methods and equipment and ensure proper validation is done for all methods and equipment.

You will participate in preparation of external order of products and reagents related to main/bacteriology lab activities.

Communication skills : you will be expected to have excellent communication skills to reinforce the link between the clinical team/field PI and the main/bacteriology lab activities. You will participate in several meetings : laboratory general meetings ; lab coordination meetings ; meetings related to the Epicentre research projects. You will be in charge of writing monthly report for studies and reporting any problems to the lab coordinator.

Management skills : You will manage and train your team, develop and maintain close relations with HR teams and the laboratory coordinator to ensure the human resources for all laboratory staff are adequately recruited in terms of skills and qualifications, checking that delegation of study tasks is made to appropriately qualified team members, organising regular lab meeting with the laboratory team, and preparing annual vacation plan and staff rotation.

You will contribute to develop laboratory training activities for Epicentre staff and MUST students by training the staff on the procedures, quality controls, specimen collection, storage and transportation. 

You will ensure that biosafety measures are respected in the main/bacteriology laboratory and that all staff working in the main lab are oriented in Biosafety measures and recommend refresher training when needed.

Education and Professional experience : You have a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory sciences (BMLS) from a recognized Institution. You have substantial knowledge and previous experience in Laboratory activities management and laboratory procedures (malaria microscopy, Bacteria Culture, Molecular tools, use of automated analyzers for Biochemistry and haematology).

You have a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in a similar position with another NGOs in developing countries and/or in a Research Center.

Experience/knowledge of Good Clinical and Laboratory Practices and lab safety requirement would be mandatory.

You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English. 

You have a good command of IT applications (e.g. Excel, Word, Power Point, Sharepoint, etc.).

You will be expected to have excellent organisational and planning skills, and an ability to work within a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural, motivated and competent team.

You have a proven ability to work under pressure, to be thorough, flexible and adaptable. You have good scientific writing skills, good communication and presentation skills. You work well in a team and are proactive in proposing new approaches and solutions. 

What you will get

You will work with a multicultural team in the field of epidemiology and clinical research

You will evolve in the humanitarian environment

Your contributions and ideas will be valued and highly appreciated

You will participate in the life of the organization and your responsibilities will evolve over time

Fixed-term contract of 12 months, renewable.

Position to start at the latest beginning of February 2023. 

Position based in Mbarara, with travel to study sites and Kampala if needed.

Remuneration according to experience and Epicentre salary grid.

To apply

Please send your application (CV + cover letter) no later than 28/12/2022.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. If sufficient qualified applications have been received before the deadline, the advert may be removed.

At Epicentre, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from candidates regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, beliefs, whether or not they have a disability, and all other diversity characteristics.

Epicentre pays very close attention to the protection of the personal data of its members, staff and people wanting to join the association. The data collected during your application will be processed in a fair and high-quality manner, only by the staff in charge of recruitment, wherever in the world they may be working for an MSF entity.