Senior Lab Officer

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT – SENIOR LAB OFFICER

The University of North Carolina in Vietnam is a research organization of the University of North Carlina at Chapel Hill, USA. Our missions are conducting clinical research of new treatment methods for HIV prevention, TB treatment, mental health in both treatment and behavior changes for people living with HIV, TB patients, men who have sex with men and people who inject drug. Our partners are Hanoi Medical University, Hospitals in Hanoi, Provincial CDCs nationwide. We are conducting clinical trials of HIV/AIDS Prevention Trial Network (HPTN) and AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG).

We have been conducting HPTN 083, a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the injectable agent, cabotegravir (CAB LA), for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV-uninfected cisgender men and transgender women who have sex with men (MSM and TGW). This study is conducted by The University of North Carolina (UNC), Hanoi Medical University in a cooperation with the 198 Hospital for 6 years.

In addition to the HPTN 083 study, we are currently one of the research sites selected for a new clinical trial which is a study looking at hepatitis B vaccination in adults living with HIV. The study will involve individuals who have received a previous hepatitis B vaccination, but the vaccine did not respond well and individuals who have never received the vaccination. The study will compare how well an individual responds to the vaccine in different groups based on the type of vaccine and number of doses.

We are also preparing for TB treatment clinical trials to test a new TB regimen for MDR-TB patients and their Household Contacts.

We are now seeking a talented, dedicated and committed individual to join our team with the position of Senior Lab Officer working at UNC’s project sites in Hanoi.

Position:         Senior Lab Officer
                       Full-time, based in Hanoi

Report to:      Lab Manager

Position Summary:

The incumbent of this position is responsible for assisting Lab Manager in coordinating, supervising, controlling, and assuring the quality of laboratory process, research specimen storage and transportation of all laboratories related to UNC’s studies; assisting in on-site monitoring the implementation of research activities at the UNC’s study sites in Vietnam.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assisting the laboratory manager to coordinate all preparation activities of the study-related laboratories to ensure these laboratories being compliance with Good Clinical Laboratory Practices Standards (GCLP) requirements from DAIDS prior the study activation.
• Planning and coordinating all preventive maintenance, calibration, and repairs for all laboratory equipment of UNC’s studies.
• Responsibility for importation of samples and test kits as well as exportation study samples of the studies to abroad.
• Managing data of UNC’s studies on the web LDMS consisting of specimen entry, storage, shipping, resolve LDMS discrepancies as well as monitoring and supervising data entry at study sites
• Managing other lab data of UNC’s studies on the study database and lab own systems related to lab quality management. Planning, coordinating, and reporting CQMP activities regularly.
• Ensuring all required documents of the studies are filed properly and sufficiently in soft copy on server and in paper.
• Assisting laboratory manager to monitor and supervise all laboratory activities of UNC’s studies. 
• Assisting laboratory manager to develop SOP and forms for all studies.
• Assisting laboratory manager to review SOP, records, and other documents regularly.
• Procuring of all consumable materials for the labs, test kits and equipment for UNC’s studies. Following all procurements with administration team to ensure the consumables/equipment are well delivered at the laboratories in timely manner.
• Monitoring lab material inventory of study sites of all UNC’s studies.
• Reporting lab activities to the line-manager monthly and ad-hoc if required.
• Conducting monitoring/supervision visits to study sites if required.
• Conducting training for site staff if required.
• Translating project documents (English – Vietnamese - English).
• Performing other tasks as requested by Line - Manager, Research Manager, and In-Country Director.

Required qualification and skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in biotechnology or laboratory sciences or chemical engineering or relevant fields.
• At least five years related work experience in clinical laboratory including experience with laboratory quality control and quality assurance systems and implementation
• Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated creative problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in both Vietnamese and English.
• Experience with computers, including word processing, spreadsheets, and the Internet.
• Work experience with NGOs/INGOs is preferred but not mandatory

Salaries and Benefits:           Competitive salary

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to email a cover letter with contacts for three references and a CV to Mrs. Luong Thi My Ly at [email protected] (in the subject line, please put “Senior Lab Officer_ full name”), or by post to the UNC office at Room 407-408, Building A2, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound, 298 Kim Ma street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi no later than 22 July 2022.

We are sorry that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.