Job Description
An exciting opportunity exists for a Microbiology Officer to join our team at Burnet based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea!
The Health Emergencies Working Group of Burnet’s Health Security Program has been awarded the Fleming Fund PNG country grant (2020-22) to achieve the following objectives:
- Objective 1 :Strengthened One Health approaches to information sharing
- Objective 2 :Strengthened antimicrobial resistance (AMR), antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial consumption (AMC) surveillance and monitoring systems in the human health sector
- Objective 3 :Strengthened AMR, AMU and AMC surveillance and monitoring systems in the animal health sector
In this role, you will:
- Lead the implementation of human health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) aspects of the Fleming Fund Country Grant for PNG related to developing domestic microbiology laboratory capacity
- Play an integral role in supporting the implementation of Objective 1 with other members of the PIT
- Assist with and guiding the inputs from the Thematic Leads for Animal Health, Microbiology, and Surveillance as they relate to achieving the above outputs under Objectives 2 and 3
- Support the Team Leader and other PIT technical specialists to implement activities related to Objective 1,2 and 3
- Work closely with Beyond Essential Systems for development and implementation of software related to laboratory management and AMR surveillance
- Liaise with members of the Technical Advisory Group for specialist / sub-specialist advice
- Liaise with the Melbourne project management group to support implementation of all 3 Objectives
- Strengthen and coordinate Burnet Institute relationships in PNG with all stakeholders engaged with AMR work including liaising with the holders of the Fleming Fellowship Grant to develop the capacities of key national personnel involved in microbiology testing and laboratory management
Refer to the attached position description for full details. This is a full time position, initially until 31 December 2022 with possibility of extension.
Let’s talk about you
This position would suit experienced public health professionals with an interest in applying their technical and managerial skills to addressing AMR, and familiar with delivering activities in a dynamic, challenging development setting.
The following criteria are essential:
- Undergraduate degree in medicine OR health/medical/biomedical science
- Partial or completed specialist training in Clinical Microbiology OR previous work experience in senior medical laboratory scientist role
- Expertise in human and/or animal microbiological laboratory practice including experience with bacteriology, laboratory quality management systems, and laboratory information systems
- Willingness to be based in PNG for the duration of the project
- Demonstrated abilities in teaching and training staff, preferably in resource-constrained settings
- Demonstrated capacity to work independently exercising strong judgement, decision making and problem-solving skills
- Good time management and organisational skills
- Fluency in English and demonstrated high-level written and verbal communication skills
The following experience is desirable:
- Post-graduate training in laboratory management, public health, epidemiology, biostatistics and/or international development
- Experience in resource-constrained settings such as Papua New Guinea
- Expertise in delivering projects and/or programs addressing antimicrobial resistance
- Experience in international development, research or not-for-profit organisations including providing technical advice, planning and design, monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder relationship management
- Experience with infectious diseases surveillance systems
- Demonstrated abilities in leadership and cross-cultural communication
- Experience with One Health activities (design, implementation and/or evaluation)
- Experience with conducting health research in developing settings
About the Organization
We want you to have a successful and meaningful career at Burnet and are committed to providing a supportive workplace environment for all our people. You will be part of a collaborative culture where progressive leadership, innovation, respect, and excellence are valued. Join a team of talented individuals who are passionate about what they do – improving the health of vulnerable communities around the world.
We offer:
- A monthly accrued day off for full-time staff
- 14 weeks paid parental leave
- Flexible working arrangements
- Generous salary packaging
- Opportunities for career and professional development
Who are we?
Burnet Institute is a leading Australian, unaligned, not-for-profit, organisation that uniquely links medical research with practical action to achieve better health for disadvantaged communities and help solve devastating global health problems.
Burnet Institute brings together a highly diverse skill base, with more than 400 staff and students working across cutting-edge research and projects to address some of the most relevant global health issues. Institute-wide interdisciplinary health programs Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Disease Elimination, Behaviours and Health Risks, and Health Security, are at the heart of our daily decision making. Harnessing our international and local field presence, our laboratories, and our mixed development and research cultures drives a greater focus on the most relevant health issues and achieves a greater impact as a result.
Whilst our headquarters is in Melbourne, Australia, we also have offices in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, and are actively involved in research and public health programs throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. Burnet is the only unaligned organisation in Australia that has dual accreditation with both the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Bring your whole self to work
At Burnet, we foster a diverse and inclusive culture. We want our people to feel like they belong and are free to be themselves at work. We have an active Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (GEDI) Council that works to promote and improve gender equity, diversity and inclusion across the Institute, by developing and implementing strategies informed by both national and international best practice and staff input. Burnet holds an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award from Science in Gender Equity (SAGE).
