Laboratory Manager
Organizational Context
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN-related agency established in 1951, promotes humane and orderly migration globally. It supports governments and migrants by saving lives, protecting people on the move, resolving displacement, and facilitating legal migration pathways. This role is within the IOM Migration Health Division in Harare, Zimbabwe, reporting to the Chief Migration Health Officer and overseen by the Chief of Mission.
Job Purpose
This role provides essential technical support to laboratory services within the IOM Migration Health Division in Harare, Zimbabwe. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring the efficient and high-quality operation of laboratory services, specifically in relation to Migration Health Assessments (HAP) and other programs managed by the division. The position contributes to the overall health and well-being of migrants by maintaining international standards in diagnostic testing, quality control, and laboratory management. The role is crucial for the effective delivery of health services to vulnerable populations and supports IOM's mandate to facilitate safe and regular migration.
Responsibilities
The Laboratory Manager is responsible for organizing and optimizing laboratory services, ensuring facilities and bio-safety measures meet international and national standards. This includes maintaining up-to-date Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ensuring high-quality service delivery through internal quality controls and external assessments. The role involves managing laboratory staff, including recruitment, training, supervision, and development, and ensuring adequate staffing levels. Responsibilities also include planning and managing laboratory-related activities, budgets, equipment, and consumables procurement. The incumbent will maintain organized record-keeping and information management systems for timely reporting and operational research, and liaise with national and international laboratories and partners. Continuous service improvement, including facility assessment, process control, and customer service, is also a key duty.
Work Experience
Requires four years of relevant laboratory experience in TB diagnostics, including microscopy, culture, drug susceptibility testing (DST), and molecular testing. At least two years must be in a supervisory or laboratory management capacity. Demonstrated expertise in sputum processing, culture methods, DST, and molecular platforms is essential. Strong knowledge of TB laboratory biosafety, quality assurance, and management systems is required. Experience with laboratory accreditation and external quality assessment programs is desirable.
Skills
Technical expertise in TB diagnostics and mycobacteriology, leadership and people management, quality and biosafety management, analytical and problem-solving skills, planning, organization, and resource management, and effective communication and stakeholder engagement.