Job Description

Job AnnouncementPosition: Community Sputum Transport CoordinatorProject Name: USAID Philippines TB Platforms for Sustainable Detection, Care and TreatmentLocation: Makati OfficeType: Project-Based Staff (1 year contract)Reports to: Technical Team LeadUniversity Research Co., LLC (URC)URC is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With a non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 45 countries, including the United States.Established in 1965, URC offers a range of technical assistance to strengthen health and social systems and service quality by empowering communities and health workers to identify and scale up locally appropriate solutions to critical problems. Internationally, we expand access to and improve the quality of services addressing maternal, newborn, and child health; infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; reproductive health and family planning; food and nutrition; and vulnerable children and families. In the US, we focus on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.URC's mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide. Please join us in carrying out our mission (http://www.urc-chs.com/).Overview and Rationale: USAID's TB Platforms supports the National TB Control program and its project sites in implementing community-based case finding interventions to increase TB case notification as part of the TB recovery efforts to regain the achievements made prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.Active case finding (ACF) through the deployment of mobile CXR in target communities and enhanced case finding (ECF) during house-to-house visits are conducted through the support of local health offices and engaged community partners and stakeholders. One of the main challenges identified in the implementation of ACF and ECF activities are the weak tracing mechanisms of presumptive TB patients identified during screening activities, non-compliance of TB presumptives for testing due to distance of the health center or rapid TB diagnostic laboratory where they need to submit sputum specimen and the corresponding costs in going to these facilities, and lack of awareness on the importance of testing. Delays in testing are also experienced due to weak referral and feedback system between patients, health centers, and TB laboratories. Sputum transport mechanisms exist but these largely serve facilities, from health centers to RTDLs, and not from the community to RTDLs, necessitating patients to still travel from the community to health centers.The community sputum transport coordinator will thus assist target communities and partner NGOs in establishing and sustaining sputum transport mechanisms to address the challenges encountered by facilities and patients thereby ensuring that presumptive identified are tested and diagnosed for timely management and treatment.Job Summary: The community sputum transport coordinator is expected to carry out the following tasks:

• Coordinate with the Technical Team Lead and Laboratory Officer in enhancing the guidelines and tools on community sputum transport.
• Collaborate with the USAID's TB Platforms regional and M&E teams together with the Laboratory Officer to identify, assess, and prioritize sites for implementation of the community sputum transport mechanism.
• Lead the establishment of community sputum transport systems in priority areas
• Work closely with engaged small grantees, other engaged CSOs/NGOs/CBOs/FBOs, and community volunteers in setting up a community sputum transport mechanism that would link presumptive TB patients identified in their supported ACF or ECF activities.
• Assist the engaged community partners link with local health offices, RTDLs, and C/PHOs to set up the community sputum transport system and to ensure that specimens from the community are received, processed, recorded, and reported accordingly.
• Conduct capacity building activities with local health offices, engaged small grantees, other engaged CSOs/NGOs/CBOs/FBOs, and community volunteers on sputum collection, transport, and storage, basic facts of TB, basic biosafety and infection prevention and control practices, recording and reporting.
• Participate in ACF/ECF planning sessions with local health offices, TB Platforms, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate with contracted service provider on transporting sputum specimen
• Based on initial assessment results, work with the Laboratory Officer and local partners to create a route for the service provider from the community to target RTDLs, identify RTDLs where specimen will be routed, and identify alternate RTDLs when primary RTDLs are already full, and determine schedule for transportation of specimen

• Work with TB Platforms deployed HR staff in the sites to complement the activities of the community sputum transport system which ensures the completion of the TB care cascade from prevention, TB screening, testing, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Conduct regular onsite monitoring and mentoring of the small grantees (local NGOs) of the project to ensure the latter's deliverables and milestones are reached
• Assist engaged facilities to monitor laboratory supplies and provide feedback to C/PHO to ensure continued testing of clients.
• Support onsite and remote monitoring and mentoring activities to ensure the smooth operation and achievement of milestones, targets, and objectives.
• Comply with the recording and reporting requirements of the project.
• Ensure confidentiality and privacy of information during implementation.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology or Medical Laboratory Science is desirable. Bachelor's degree in Public Health or other health degree may be considered.
• At least 2-3 years' work experience in TB program and projects
• Experience in supporting or implementing interventions related to TB laboratory is an advantage.
• Good communication skills in Filipino and English
• Computer literate with knowledge on the use of Microsoft Office applications
• Strong collaboration, interpersonal, organizational, and team building skills

URC is an E-Verify EmployerURC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We value and seek diversity in our workforce.Job Type: Full-timeSchedule:

• 8 hour shift

Application Question(s):

• Please leave an email address where we can also contact you.

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• TB Program: 1 year (Preferred)