Microbiology Laboratory Scientist Mentor, Timor-Leste

10 months, full time contract based in Dili, Timor-LesteAbout Menzies:As one of Australia’s leading medical research institutes dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, and a leader in global and tropical research into life-threatening illnesses, Menzies School of Health Research continues to translate its research into effective partnerships and programs in communities across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.About the position:Menzies has recently opened an office in Dili, Timor-Leste. This position will work across two of the major projects currently in progress in Timor-Leste.The STRONG TL project (Surveillance, Training, Research Opportunities and National Guidelines for improving communicable disease control in Timor-Leste) includes work across clinical, surveillance, and laboratory areas to support Timor-Leste’s ability to detect and respond to communicable diseases, including recently, COVID-19.The focus of the Fleming Fund Country Grant for Timor-Leste (Fleming project) is on strengthening antimicrobial resistance (AMR), antimicrobial use (AMU) surveillance systems, and antimicrobial consumption (AMC) data capture in both the human and animal health sectors.The successful applicant will contribute to capacity building with a One Health approach in the National Health Laboratory (NHL) and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) by:Contributing to teaching and technical advice for laboratory activities relevant to strengthening AMR and AMU surveillance system in the health sector.Strengthening quality and biosafety within the NHL.Contribute to the STRONG TL project’s objectives of improving communicable disease control in Timor-Leste.Providing on-the-job mentoring to Timorese scientists in the VDL.Support the set-up of sample flow, sample processing, microbiological diagnostic testing and biobanking in the VDL.The successful applicant will have:Postgraduate qualification(s) or progress towards postgraduate qualification(s) in a relevant field.Extensive relevant management experience in medical laboratory and / or veterinary laboratory science; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.Proven experience working as a Medical Scientist in a diagnostic laboratory with experience in microscopy, bacterial culture, basic bench testing for organism identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and using MALDI-TOF and VITEK or PHOENIX for identification and AST.Demonstrated ability to lead quality assurance and biosafety improvements in a medical laboratory.Experience teaching, training and supervising medical laboratory scientists.Expertise in tropical diseases, health systems strengthening and capacity development in low-resource settings.Ability to correspond with stakeholders, manage sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality.Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to be patient, flexible and pragmatic, especially in a cross-cultural setting.Initiative, good judgement and strong problem-solving skills with demonstrated ability to work under broad direction as part of a multidisciplinary team.Willingness to engage across human and animal health sectors with a One Health approach to capacity building.Contact: Jennifer Yan on jennifer.yan@menzies.edu.auWhat we offer:6 weeks annual leaveOption to increase super to 14%Attractive salary package and benefitsClosing date:  9 May 2021Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to applyApplicants are required to address the selection criteria. For information on how to apply for this position and to obtain the Position Description and Selection Criteria please visit http://careers.menzies.edu.au/ or phone 08 8946 8626.POSITION DESCRIPTION AUD Dili