Special Service Agreement - Laboratory Surveillance Officer, Papua New Guinea

Overview

Provide laboratory support at the Central Public Health Laboratory by ensuring timely testing, secure specimen handling, reliable specimen referral, and compliance with laboratory quality and biosafety standards.

Tasks Summary

• Support poliovirus environmental surveillance concentration activities, including sample receipt, preparation and processing.
• Pack ES samples and coordinate shipment to RITM in compliance with international shipping regulations.
• Maintain updated ES testing and database.
• Support inventory monitoring of ES consumables and reagents.
• Support serology testing for measles, rubella, and other pathogens.
• Support PCR testing, including sample preparation and extraction assistance.
• Encoding of laboratory results.
• Ensure testing and reporting timelines are consistently met.
• Complete the CPHL sections of the AFP/AFR /other CIFs, scan the AFP CIF and share it with the NDOH EPI team and Health Security team.
• Support specimen receiving, verification of sample integrity and review of documentation.
• Support local and international shipment of specimens.
• Support distribution of empty specimen containers to Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs).
• Maintain and update all shipment logs, airway bills, and confirmation records.
• Support CPHL in sharing laboratory results and providing routine feedback to PHAs.
• Conduct routine temperature monitoring of stool specimens using log tags.
• Promptly escalate cold chain breaches and deviations for corrective action.
• Support LQMS implementation at CPHL, including equipment and maintenance logs and temperature monitoring charts.
• Support readiness for supervisory visits, assessments, and external quality assurance activities.
• Support compliance with biosafety and biosecurity standards.
• Contribute to weekly and monthly laboratory surveillance summaries.
• Support coordination between CPHL, national surveillance units, PHAs, and WHO on sample tracking and testing updates.
• Perform other tasks assigned by CPHL and supervisors.

Experience Requirements

• At least one (1) year of experience working in a diagnostic or public health laboratory, preferably in serology testing.
• Experience in molecular diagnostics, including PCR techniques, is desirable.
• Experience handling clinical or surveillance specimens, including specimen reception, storage, documentation, and shipment, is an advantage.
• Familiarity with laboratory quality management systems (LQMS), biosafety procedures, and cold chain management is desirable.
• Experience working in public health surveillance or national reference laboratories will be considered an asset.

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field such as Medical Laboratory Science, Microbiology, Biology, Public Health, or other relevant health sciences.
• Degree in Medical Laboratory Science or equivalent laboratory-focused training is highly preferred.

Other Details

Languages Required: • Fluency in English.

Languages Preferred: • Working knowledge of Tok Pisin.

Contract Duration: 12 months

Work Modality:

Remuneration: • The monthly remuneration for this position is PGK 9,000.42, payable monthly, equivalent to the NO-A level.