Tuberculosis Specialist - Medical

Job Description

An exciting opportunity exists for a Tuberculosis (TB) Specialist – Care & Treatment to join us at Burnet! You will work with the Provincial TB program to design and implement an effective model of care for the management of DS-TB and DR-TB at the facility and community level in Western Province.

The position will be responsible for capacity building of provincial TB team staff to deliver high quality patient-centred care for DS-TB and DR-TB, with a focus on clinical care, case management and recording/reporting. You will work with facility and community-based staff and partners including medical officers, health extension officers (HEOs), case managers, nurses, community health workers (CHWs), treatment supporters and laboratory staff.

In this role, you will:

• Provide clinical mentoring of TB medical staff responsible for inpatient, ambulatory and outreach care at Daru Provincial Hospital and other South Fly District (SFD) Basic Management Units (BMUs) and in other districts
• Facilitate practical training sessions for SFD BMU’s clinical staff and other BMUs as needed
• Support development and implementation of clinical, diagnostic & case management systems, tools and protocols for patient monitoring, follow-up and retention
• Provide technical support to medical officers and HEOS on implementation issues associated with establishing the model of care
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with donors, implementing agencies and other stakeholders
• Support operational research as needed

Refer to the attached position description for full details. This is a full-time position, initially for a 12-month period with possibility of extension.

Let’s talk about you

The following criteria are essential requirements:

• A qualified and registered medical doctor who has completed basic physician training (or equivalent) in adult or paediatric medicine.
• Over 5 years of clinical experience as a medical doctor, preferably in infectious diseases or similar
• Highly adaptable, ability to work in unstable hardship setting
• Experience in protocol or guideline design, report writing or publications
• Experience in team management, capacity development / training of local staff in a resource- constrained setting
• Demonstrated analytical, critical appraisal and problem-solving skills
• Fluency in English and demonstrated high level written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to meet competing deadlines

The following experience is preferable but not essential:

• An additional qualification in global / public health, international development, or infectious diseases
• Field experience in the clinical and programmatic management of TB/DR-TB in a resource constrained setting
• Previous work experience in PNG or the Pacific

The Burnet experience…

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 – achieving a more equitable world through better health.

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

About the Organization

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 Disease Elimination, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness, and Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health 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).

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