Position title: Microbiologist (AMR Laboratory Capacity)
Reports to: Senior Microbiologist / Project Manager
Job Grade: P2
Location: Addis Ababa
ASLM Background
The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) is a Pan‐African professional body, working to advocate for the critical role and needs of laboratory medicine and networks throughout Africa. Africa is rapidly growing but faces major health challenges including epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, and new priorities such as Ebola, meningitis, Mpox, and other global health security threats. Strengthened laboratory capacity and surveillance in Africa are critical to overcoming the burden of disease and ensuring a healthy future for the continent. ASLM addresses these challenges by working collaboratively with governments, local and international organizations, implementing partners, and the private sector.
Position Summary
The Microbiologist will support the establishment, operation, and enhancement of microbiology laboratory functions for AMR detection, surveillance, outbreak confirmation, and research and development. The role will provide hands-on technical support in bacterial culture, pathogen identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), quality assurance, equipment management, and the expansion of microbiology services within Africa CDC laboratories.
The post holder will also contribute to multi-country initiatives aimed at strengthening bacteriology capacity, AMR surveillance, laboratory quality systems, and technical support to African Union Member States.
Key Responsibilities:
Laboratory testing and AMR surveillance
- Prepare, process, and analyse microbiology samples using routine and advanced methods for bacterial isolation, identification, and AST.
- Perform and support manual and automated microbiology procedures for diagnosis, AMR surveillance, outbreak confirmation, and research activities.
- Support the interpretation, validation, documentation, and reporting of microbiology and AST results in line with established laboratory protocols.
- Maintain diagnostic viability of specimens and support molecular detection, confirmation, and characterization of priority bacterial pathogens where applicable.
Quality assurance, biosafety, and laboratory systems
- Support quality control processes to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and traceability of microbiology and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.
- Document and implement QMS requirements related to bacterial isolation, pathogen identification, AST, biosafety, specimen storage, and laboratory reporting workflows.
- Identify, document, and follow up on errors, failures, nonconformities, quality assurance issues, and corrective actions.
- Implement laboratory safety procedures for the safe handling, storage, processing, and disposal of hazardous biological materials and substances.
- Support laboratory certification and accreditation processes in line with international standards and recognized best practices.
- Support the Senior Microbiologist in conducting analyses, interpreting results, and preparing reports for specimens submitted to Africa CDC laboratories for outbreak detection and characterization in Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) and Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory settings.
Equipment, supplies, and laboratory operations
- Conduct and document calibration, preventive maintenance, quality control, troubleshooting, and routine checks for laboratory equipment, instruments, and laboratory information systems.
- Support maintenance planning, service coordination, repairs, and follow-up of equipment service contracts.
- Maintain inventories of microbiology reagents, culture media, additives, consumables, and laboratory supplies, and support timely ordering based on anticipated testing volumes.
Training, mentorship, and Member State support
- Provide technical assistance, orientation, mentorship, and training to laboratory scientists and technicians in Africa CDC, ASLM-supported, and Member State laboratories.
- Support site visits and technical assistance activities aimed at strengthening bacteriology capacity, AMR detection, and AMR surveillance systems.
- Coordinate and support implementation of multi-country projects and initiatives focused on bacteriology capacity building for AMR surveillance across African Union Member States.
Planning, coordination, and reporting
- Develop workplans, prepare technical reports, contribute to monitoring and evaluation systems, and support coordination with project teams, partners, and funding agencies.
- Work collaboratively with internal and external laboratory teams, technical divisions, Member States, and partners to advance microbiology laboratory capacity and AMR surveillance.
- Uphold high ethical standards and perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications, Competencies and Experience:
Academic requirements and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in medical microbiology, bacteriology, laboratory sciences, biomedical sciences, or a related field, with at least seven years of relevant experience in microbiology, bacterial culture, and AST; or
- Master’s degree in medical microbiology, bacteriology, laboratory sciences, biomedical sciences, or a related field, with at least five years of relevant experience in microbiology, bacterial culture, and AST.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience in bacterial culture, pathogen identification, AST, AMR characterization, molecular techniques for bacterial confirmation, manual and automated bacterial detection methods, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and epidemiological or operational studies.
Required skills and competencies
- Experience developing, validating, implementing, and quality-assuring microbiology diagnostic protocols and procedures in accordance with international standards and guidelines.
- Experience working in microbiology laboratories for AMR detection, characterization, surveillance, research, or public health response.
- Experience supporting training, mentorship, site visits, laboratory assessments, and technical assistance for microbiology or AMR surveillance programmes.
- Knowledge of laboratory quality management systems, biosafety, equipment management, inventory management, and accreditation readiness processes.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, documentation, report-writing, and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
- Proficiency in English and French, written and spoken; knowledge of other African languages is an asset.
Competencies
- Accountability, integrity, professionalism, teamwork, respect for diversity, learning orientation, and commitment to quality improvement.
- Ability to build relationships with national, regional, and continental stakeholders and communicate technical information clearly.
- Results orientation, continuous improvement mindset, conceptual thinking, information sharing, and ability to manage risks in laboratory and project implementation settings.
ASLM is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.