Job Description
Child Health and Mortality Surveillance (CHAMPS) Ethiopia
We are seeking to appoint a full time multi-skilled and experienced Bio-Medical Engineer (BME) to be based in Harar, Ethiopia. The role is to support development of a medical research laboratory of a new Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance site in Harar, Ethiopia. This is a collaboration between Haramaya University, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Emory Global Health Institute.
CHAMPS laboratories are located at the College of Health and Medical Sciences, and at Hiwot Fana Hospital in Harar at present, although laboratory work in Kersa District is possible in the long term.
The post-holder will be responsible for carrying out routine equipment maintenance and equipment checks primarily for CHAMPS, but should assist with other medical equipment when time permits. They will be expected to: liaise with the University Biomedical Engineer, work closely with sub-contracted Biomedical engineers during installation, preventative maintenance and servicing of newly purchased equipment, and existing equipment.
HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY, OROMIA, ETHIOPIA
Haramaya University is one of the oldest Universities in Ethiopia, with its first intake in 1954. It is about 17km from the city of Harar, 40km from Dire Dawa (where there is a regional airport), and 510km East of Addis Ababa. The College of Health and Medical Sciences is based on a campus in Harar town to facilitate training of students in nearby hospitals. This campus also hosts the office of the two Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS).
CHILD HEALTH AND MORTALITY PREVENTION SURVEILLANCE NETWORK (CHAMPS)
The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance network (CHAMPS, http://champshealth.org/) is a new global health surveillance network funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at understanding the causes of child death in developing countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The Emory Global Health Institute, which houses the U.S. office of the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), is the lead partner in the network and has worked with the London School of Hygiene to develop the collaboration with Haramaya University.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
The post-holder will work full-time at the CHAMPS site in Haramaya, Eastern Ethiopia. The post-holder will be responsible for performing planned preventive maintenance (PPM) based on approved PPM procedures; maintain all the laboratory equipment and inspect electrical installation; execute all related biomedical engineering work to establish safe, secure and 24 hour functioning laboratories to support CHAMPS activities. They will be expected to: inspect, install, configure, repair, service, and troubleshoot technical problems associated with all laboratory equipment and peripheral services such as lighting, power and water supply.
Key Responsibilities
- To carry out inspection, installation and configuration of newly purchased medical laboratory equipment.
- To conduct safety checks on CHAMPS laboratory building systems and carry out inspection of electrical installation of laboratory devices.
- To prepare troubleshooting standard operating procedures for preventive maintenance purpose for each equipment.
- To keep accurate and up to date maintenance logs, and prepare life history of each equipment and parts inventory of the CHAMPS laboratory equipment.
- To provide training to end users, on the safe and proper use of laboratory equipment to avoid any electrical related accidents.
- To operate specialized test-equipment in troubleshooting, calibrating and maintaining laboratory equipment, and develop a good working relationship with the technical supply team to try and remotely fix any technical problem.
- To prepare installation and maintenance cost for CHAMPS peripheral laboratory equipment such as generator.
- To identify replacement parts, perform urgent repairs on laboratory equipment at the two laboratory sites.
- To participate in the on-going renovation work of new laboratory work space at the main site, by advising the electrician on specific electrical installation points (socket levels, and switch) for the laboratory equipment, including other electrical items such as air conditioning, freezers, fridges and generator.
- To work with the university plumber to ensure constant water supply to the laboratory by checking that the tank has sufficient amount of water at all times.
- Assist with maintaining appropriate light intensity in the laboratory, ensure that emergency fluorescent tubes, fires extinguishers are installed and working properly.
This job description reflects the present requirements of the post but may be altered at any time in the future as duties and responsibilities change and/or develop providing there is full consultation with the post-holder. The post-holder will carry out any other duties, tasks or responsibilities as reasonably requested by the line manager, Dr Nega Assefa.
Responsible to: Project Manager
Duration of contract: 1 year with possible extension.
Job Requirements
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Bio-medical Engineering.
- At least two years of relevant work experience in carrying out routine maintenance of medical laboratory equipment.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills in English.
- Good level command of English language to communicate with technical supply team during trouble shooting difficulties.
- Ability to use computers and standard Microsoft office packages
- Desirable requirements
- Excellent oral and written communications in English
- Experience in an accredited laboratory.
Haramaya University, Human Resources and Development Directorate, Administrative Building, Office Number 117.
College of Health and Medical Sciences, CHAMPS office SGS building, Harar Campus or
Email :- [email protected]
Application Deadline: 10 working days after the day of advertisement
More Information
- Address Ethiopia
