LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in Bangui in the United Nations Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The incumbent will perform his/her duties under the overall guidance of the Chief Medical Officer.

Responsibilities

The Laboratory Technician will be responsible for the following duties:
Provide technical support to the Medical Officer:
• Performs all pertinent laboratory examinations needed for the diagnosis of patients as defined in the Lab standard operations.
• Ensures the security and maintenance of laboratory and the equipments.
• Performs lab examinations if there are field mobile clinics and/or emergency during extra working hours if designated by the CMO.
• Ensures safe handling of bio-hazardous materials in compliance with international standards and practices.
• Draws blood samples applying international sterilization and bio safety standards.
• Assists in organization and implementation of health promotion/monitoring programmes.
• Releases reports of tests to the Medical Doctor in a timely manner ensuring confidentiality.
• In close coordination with the Medical Doctors, assists with voluntary confidential counselling and testing (VCCT) program, following international standards and guidelines.
• Ensures that results for patients using VCCT services are managed in a confidential and timely manner.
• Ensures appropriate disposal of hazardous material following international bio safety standards in coordination with the Medical Doctor, Nurses and Pharmacist
• Provides technical support for lab diagnosis referrals as requested by the Medical Officer/Clinician.

Inventory and Administration:
• Monitors, assesses, and evaluates the completion of laboratory registration book with laboratory results according to the guidelines, and reports the laboratory results, as well as makes this available upon official request to the Clinician/Medical Officer.
• Ensures confidentiality and keeps relevant information of all laboratory registries.
• Monitors consumption of material and reagents on a weekly basis and prepares monthly orders with sufficient advance information to the designated Pharmacist/Medical Supply Officer based on consumption needs.
• Ensures the maintenance of cold chain/refrigerator and performs necessary measures to maintain an optimum temperature of all reagents, specimens, and materials requiring cold chain in the laboratories.
• Ensures and supervises the performance of laboratory procedures concerning emergency blood transfusion and cross-matching and the implementation of the agreed protocols.
• Prepares monthly data report of lab activities according to mission reporting format.
• Participates and attends Lab Officer/Supervisor’s required lectures and/or in-service training and participate in evaluations of learned knowledge and/or skills.
• Perform other duties as deemed necessary by the CMO or designated authority

Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to analyze and produce laboratory results with maximum precision leading to reliable results. Demonstrates initiative and professional judgment in applying SOPs, Rules & Regulations to cover special cases and in exceptional circumstances. Strict adherence to prevailing policies governing UN staff conduct and responsibilities. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.


Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent diploma in Laboratory Studies / Techniques is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

National registration and license are required.

Medical Laboratory Technician Diploma or University degree in the relevant medical area is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of six years of progressively responsible experience in a full-service laboratory or related area is required.

Experience in molecular biology techniques (mainly PCR techniques) is required.

Hands-on experience, particularly in support of peacekeeping or a related field mission is desirable.

Experience of recent dealing with COVID-19 testing is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.