Introduction

The Fleming Fund (FF) is a U.K. Department of Health and Social Care programme to help low and middle-income countries fight Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). AMR poses a severe global threat, expected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050. With potential costs reaching $100 trillion, its impact on the global economy is significant. Fleming Fund Grants aim to tackle the AMR challenge in developing countries including Pakistan. The grants are funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care and managed by Mott MacDonald for the country, regional and fellowship grants. Pakistan has received Fleming Fund support since 2019 in the form of two Country Grants, 9 Fellowships, and central and local procurement of equipment, reagents, and consumables. Between 2017 and the end of phase-1 of the program in March 2023, the program has provided financial support to grantees to establish and support local development of national AMR surveillance systems.

In partnership with the Fleming Fund, DAI's programme in Pakistan collaborates with the Pakistani government to strengthen systems using a “One Health” (OH) approach – a multisectoral approach to complex health problems that reaches across human health, animal health, and environment sectors. As global leaders in One Health, the DAI team helps incorporate One Health across programme interventions. DAI is helping Pakistan become a leader in combating antimicrobial resistance, and a model for better management of antimicrobials in human and animal populations. DAI and its consortium partners have successfully secured an additional round, Phase 2, of the Fleming Fund Country Grant in Pakistan which spans from January 2024 to December 2025. The Phase 2 of the FFCG programme focuses on achieving four intermediate outcomes: 1) Production of quality AMR/U/C and burden of disease data; 2) Conducting quality data analysis; 3) Sharing quality data analysis with decision-makers; and 4) Contributing to sustainable investments at both the country and global levels to counter AMR.

Position Summary:

Fleming Fund Country Grant Pakistan (FFCGP) requires a senior microbiologist to coordinate and manage surveillance-related activities at the human health FFCGP-supported laboratories in provinces and the National Institute of Health, Islamabad. The Senior Microbiologist will present the FFCGP at national and international high-value forums related to microbiology, pathology, and other key events arranged by the Pakistan Medical Association and other sub-associations within Pakistan and abroad.

Scope of Work

The NEQAS Compliance and Laboratory Support Specialist will ensure laboratories in Pakistan comply with NEQAS standards and maintain accurate testing procedures. This role involves coordinating with provincial reference labs and the NIH Islamabad, providing technical support for procurement needs, and promoting WHONET and GLASS reporting. The Specialist will also support capacity building by developing and delivering training materials, assisting with sample collection strategies for WGS at NIH, and conducting gap analyses in laboratory procedures. Additionally, the candidate will engage with key stakeholders to enhance AMR surveillance efforts and may undertake other tasks as assigned by their supervisor.

Terms of Reference:
NEQAS Compliance Support:

• Assist laboratories in maintaining compliance with the National External Quality Assessment Scheme (NEQAS) standards to ensure the accuracy and reliability of testing procedures and outcomes through dialogue with the medical community and understanding.
• Develop coordination with laboratories and ensure strong communication channels at provincial reference laboratories and the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad through regular visits and formal/informal discussions.

Procurements Technical Support:
• Using communication channels, understand the needs of laboratories regarding consumables requirements and provide technical guidance to laboratories in key areas for mutual agreements
• Hold virtual or in-person meetings regularly with laboratories across Pakistan to facilitate liaison and elevate the image of FFCGP and its partners.
LSHTM Core Standards for AMR:
• Promote WHONET and GLASS reporting entries with laboratories across Pakistan through dialogue and communication channels like CPSP, PMA, and others.
• Conduct desk assessment of quarterly reports and, wherever required, provide technical assistance in areas of improvement related to laboratories and overall reports.
• Technical guidance to provincial laboratories regarding capacity building and achieving the LSHTM roadmap for AMR core standards.
• Review of training needs assessments for hospitals and align them against Pakistani perspectives and its community understanding.

On-Spot Orientation Sessions:
• Support provincial microbiologists in developing the training material from medical perspectives at hospital and laboratory levels.
• Support provincial microbiologists in person for training delivery wherever requested.

Whole Genome Sequencing Laboratory Support:
• Support the National Institute of Health (NIH) regarding sample collection strategies.
• Liaison with sentinel sites for sample collection for WGS at NIH.
• Develop rapport among FFCGP sentinel sites and NIH and FFCGP.
• Initiate dialogue with CDC and WHO regarding activities under the AMR and One Health umbrella.

Laboratory Gap Analysis and Improvement Strategies:
• Identify gaps in laboratory procedures, if any, and develop strategies for improvement and sustainability with provincial microbiologists and NIH support.

Capacity Building:
• Develop training agendas for different training related to AMR surveillance and laboratory work.

Note: Candidate will be assigned any other activity apart from above activities by supervisor if he/she deems necessary.

Requirements (Education, Experience, Skills, Languages etc.):

Education
Bachelors (Mandatory):
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Fellowship/PhD (Exceptional Cases) (Mandatory):
FCPS in Diagnostic Pathology/Microbiology/Community Medicine/PhD in Microbiology

Professional Experience:
10+ years (Including one-year house job and four-year FCPS/PhD residency)
Candidates with below skills will be preferred
• Sound understanding of the Microsoft Office package
• Experience working in BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories
• Knowledge of external quality assurance modalities (EQAs)
• Candidates with experience in non-governmental organizations will be preferred
• Candidates with research publications in international journals in the past will be preferred
• Candidates with expertise in Antimicrobial Resistance will be preferred

Travel required:
Travel Across Pakistan (20-40% Travel to sites across Pakistan)

Note: Female candidates, personal from marginalized communities, differently abled personal, will be preferred.