Laboratory Capacity Project Manager

Region: Europe (HQ)

Contract type: Max term contract

Reports to (role)

Chief Anaesthetist

What we do / background

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as numerous significant public health events and the more widely recognized necessity to expand laboratory capacity overall, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and FIND embarked on an initiative to understand what tools and means are available to improve access to diagnostics in conflict-affected settings. Technology assessments and infrastructure analysis in a first phase (2021) in Gaza and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) surfaced a range of recommendations and delineated viable concrete paths to address gaps in the short and long term.

The ICRC, as lead humanitarian partner, and FIND, as the lead knowledge partner, have set out ambitions to pursue a holistic approach to sustainable laboratory capacity building in a second and third phase, from 2022-2024 and 2024-2026 respectively, through various workstreams at both the local and global levels. These workstreams aim to deepen learnings and implement recommendations in the selected country settings while delineating broader global operational guidelines and an investment blueprint for future replication and scale in humanitarian settings.

The ICRC Health Unit is currently seeking a qualified candidate to manage the project and oversee the respective workstreams and deliverables in collaboration with ICRC teams and FIND counterparts, and in coordination with other key external stakeholders in the humanitarian, development and global health arena

Purpose

We are seeking a highly motivated health professional with public health experience and proven project management skills to lead and advance the Laboratory Capacity Building Project from ICRC Headquarters in close collaboration with project partners and field teams.

Accountabilities & Functional Responsibilities

• Lead and advance the development and implementation of the Laboratory Capacity Building Project and its respective workstreams. Manage project plans, oversee milestone delivery and liaise with HQ and field colleagues for its effective operational roll out and sustainability.
• Provide project support and guidance to field teams and FIND counterparts in establishing context specific plans, the operational and HR set-up for implementation, financial administration processes and logistics. Facilitate regular communications of teams in country and at HQ.
• Develop and actively engage in monitoring and evaluation plans. Monitor the progress alongside relevant technical counterparts, technical working groups and the Project Steering Committee.
• Develop terms of reference for, mobilize, coordinate and chair a Project Steering Committee of external stakeholders and maintain regular meetings.
• Develop terms of reference for, mobilize, coordinate and chair technical working groups of internal and external stakeholders for the development of (1) the operational guidelines and (2) the investment blueprint. Plan, draft and publish these deliverables accordingly.
• Develop plans and recommendations for replication and scale of laboratory capacity building efforts to other ICRC contexts/ other humanitarian settings.
• Review and contribute to comprehensive technical reports prepared by the FIND Senior Laboratory Technical Advisor. Ensure coherence with ICRC mandate and approaches and coordinate internal input from relevant technical colleagues as appropriate.
• Contribute to and/or lead on internal and external reporting and communication materials and resource mobilization efforts related to the Project.
• Contribute to and/or lead on reflection pieces, lessons learned, and best practices related to the Project, its new ways of working and the institutional drive towards sustainable humanitarian impact.
• Contribute to and/or lead on the external positioning of the ICRC related to laboratory capacity building in diplomatic, humanitarian and development circles and among donors; represent the ICRC accordingly.

People management responsibilities

No

Your profile and skills

Advanced degree in a medical field and/or public health; experience in hospitals and/or laboratories settings a strong asset;

Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in a humanitarian setting

Proven experience in project management and multi-stakeholder partnerships;

Experience with the ICRC and/or IFRC an advantage

Excellent command of spoken and written English and French. Additional language skills are an asset.

Demonstrated strategic and creative thinking and organizational skills;

Demonstrated ability to mobilize internal and external stakeholders on both technical and executive levels;

Strong leadership, with highly-developed networking and negotiation skills;

Solid representational and communication skills;

Consolidated ability to work transversally with multi-disciplinary teams;

Able to work independently but within a team structure;

Excellent inter-personal skills;

Ability to travel on short missions;

Additional information

• Type of contract: Fixed term
• Length of assignment: 1 year, potentially renewable
• Working rate: 100%
• Starting date: April/May 2022
• Location: HQ – Geneva
• Application deadline: 06.03.2022

The ICRC values diversity and is committed to create an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.