PATH invites applications for the position of AMR Surveillance Team Leader based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The incumbent will be leading the Fleming Fund Country Grant for PATH in Sri Lanka and will perform the following roles and responsibilities under the guidance of the Global Project Director and in close collaboration with Director of Finance & Operations, India and PATH headquarters (HQ). This position reports to The Project Director, Global Health.
PATH is the leading international, nonprofit global health organization that works to accelerate health equity by bringing together public institutions, businesses, social enterprises, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing health challenges. With expertise in science, health, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales solutions—including vaccines, drugs, devices, diagnostics, and innovative approaches to strengthening health systems worldwide. PATH is based in Seattle, United States with 1,600 employees and has more than 70 offices around the world. PATH has a budget of $305 million and is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in global health today. PATH was founded in 1977 and focuses on global health issues such as family planning, maternal health, child health, reproductive health, immunization, and epidemic diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis.
PATH is foraying into Sri Lanka working with the Fleming Fund Country Grant to focus on strengthening the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Antimicrobial Use (AMU) surveillance systems in both the human and animal health sectors. It will facilitate a stronger One Health (OH) approach to surveillance, bringing together multi-sectoral stakeholders to share surveillance data and gain a better understanding of AMR and AMU. PATH is currently working in over 12 countries globally on AMR related subjects in diagnostic networks and surveillance. The Fleming Fund Country Grant Sri Lanka is a 2-year project and has the following objectives:
- Work in close coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka’s National Advisory Committee for Combatting AMR (NAC-AMR)
- Strengthen Multisectoral AMR and AMU surveillance in humans and Established AMR and AMU surveillance systems in poultry and shrimp at National level in Sri Lanka
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Operate at a National Level to establish strategic coordination between all the AMR/AMU stake holders including the Government of Sri Lanka
- Support Ministry of Health in planning and establishing an effective coordination mechanism at national level among partners and key stake holders in AMR surveillance across the country, as per the national strategic plan.
- Convening multi sectorial meeting among various concerned ministries and departments of human health, animal health and agriculture including fisheries department
- Coordination with expert groups and national program officers through structured review meetings with the experts and monitoring progress assessment, using AMR/AMU surveillance data
- Support in establishing and strengthening a common data platform for various laboratory network existing, as part of the AMR/AMU sentinel-site network, across human and animal health side
- Communication and coordination among all key nodal officers in the selected sentinel site surveillance system existing across both human and animal health
- Provide Technical assistance to MoH for AMR and AMU surveillance strengthening across the country
- Steer the project with need-based guidance to the project team including consortium partners for implementation of project deliverables in close collaboration with national program managers and in-country partners
- Assess the AMR/AMU surveillance network existing across the country, in collaboration with national stake holders and identified technical partners / universities and departments, and accordingly plan restructuring and rebuilding of the sentinel site surveillance network including lab-equipment’s
- Carryout need assessment of capacity building and training needs of the bio-surveillance workforce in collaboration with technical partners, national experts and implement training-workshops using the national trainers.
- Undertake joint field monitoring visit to the identified sentinel site surveillance network hospitals and laboratories, to provide supportive supervision and provide feedback to the national program managers.
- Ensuring adherence across hospital and laboratories to standard operating procedures, defined as global standards, including best practices per WHO global guideline and as outlined in the country’s AMR/AMU strategic plan.
- Provide oversight on donor reporting with support from the technical and financial managers.
- Manage a team of technical, finance and administrative staff and provide supportive guidance.
- Continuously collaborate with other ministries, departments, CEO and PATH office to assess the technical progress and efficacy of AMR/AMU surveillance program operations in the country.
- Any other activities required under AMR/AMU surveillance fortifications efforts across the country, as assigned by project management
Required Skills
Required Experience
- At least 12-15 years of experience working in public health, Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka, international development, or related field with a focus on infectious disease detection, surveillance, or diagnostics
- Minimum 5 years of working experience in microbiology department/laboratory (AMR)/diagnostic networks
- Preference will be given to individuals working experience on AMR surveillance in Sri Lanka or in clinical practice
- Strong leadership and people management skills, ability to manage teams
- Ability to work on complex projects and scenarios
- Strong English written, oral, and presentation skills
- Experience of project management in International Development in the human/animal health sector
- Minimum Master’s degree or higher in public health, international development. MD or PhD will be preferred
- Ability to travel 20 percent locally
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Must have legal authorization to work in Sri Lanka.
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PATH is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued.
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PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.