Medical laboratory specialist

Job Title: Medical laboratory specialist

Location: Somalia-Mogadishu
Position Status: part-time – 12 Months

Vacancy: 1

**The last date for submission :**25/04/2024

About Us:

INTERNATIONAL WARS AND DISASTERS VICTIMS’ PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (IRVD) is a non -governmental organization established by a group of volunteers in Syria during the crisis in 2012 and registered in the USA, Sweden, and turkey.

IRVD is implementing projects through regional offices in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, Palestine, and Somalia.

Our work sectors are Health, Nutrition, Education, Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), Protection, Shelter & Non-food items, Wash and Sanitation.

IRVD also manages development projects, advocates to empower civil societies and local governance.

Job Description

IRVD is seeking a medical laboratory specialist in the Blood Bank responsible for performing advanced laboratory procedures and ensuring the quality and safety of blood products used for transfusion. This position requires specialized knowledge of blood banking techniques and regulations, as well as proficiency in operating and maintaining laboratory equipment.

Responsibilities:

• Perform complex laboratory tests and procedures on blood samples, including blood typing, antibody screening, compatibility testing, and infectious disease screening, using manual and automated methods.
• Operate and maintain specialized laboratory equipment and instrumentation used in blood banking, such as automated blood typing systems, gel column agglutination analyzers, and nucleic acid amplification platforms.
• Ensure the accuracy and reliability of laboratory test results by performing quality control procedures, calibrating equipment, and troubleshooting technical issues as needed.
• Participate in the processing and preparation of blood components for transfusion, including component separation, leukoreduction, and irradiation, following established protocols and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation of laboratory procedures, test results, and quality control data, in compliance with regulatory standards and accreditation requirements.
• Assist with inventory management and stock rotation of blood products, reagents, and supplies, ensuring adequate levels for daily operations and emergency situations.
• Provide training and guidance to laboratory staff, including medical laboratory technicians and assistants, on advanced blood banking techniques and procedures.
• Participate in quality assurance and quality improvement activities, including proficiency testing, audits, and root cause analysis of deviations or errors.

Ability to:

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in performing laboratory procedures and documenting results.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Leadership abilities, including the capacity to mentor and train junior staff and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
• Commitment to maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance in laboratory operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
• Certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) or equivalent certification required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a clinical laboratory setting, with specific experience in blood banking or transfusion medicine preferred.
• Proficiency in performing complex laboratory tests and interpreting results, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with automated blood typing systems, gel column agglutination assays, and molecular testing platforms preferred.

Languages:

• Arabic and English are mandatory (oral and written)

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS:

The IRVD and IRVD Staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRVD Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. By these values, the IRVD enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

Compliance & Ethics

Promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout IRVD. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of IRVD and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Conducts work with the highest level of integrity. Communicate these values to staff and partners and require them to adhere to them.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within IRVD and amongst beneficiaries served by IRVD

NB: considering the purpose and values of the organization, IRVD requests its complete employee flexibility in terms of duties and commitment, as their job description and title can be adjusted throughout the year according to needs and priorities.