State Coordinator - Microbiology

Job Summary

The State Coordinator - Microbiology (SC-MB) will work closely with the Senior Microbiologist, Training QMS Lead, Program Manager, Data Analyst, and the project team at FIND, as well as the State Surveillance Unit (SSU) including the State Surveillance Officer (SSO), state microbiologist, epidemiologists, and data manager and other state and district-level stakeholders.

The specific activities and responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Serve as FIND's primary point of contact for the State Surveillance Unit (SSU) and District Public Health Laboratories (DPHLs) in the assigned state, supporting project inception discussions and information-gathering on current testing, data reporting, procurement, and training practices.
• Coordinate with the state microbiologist and DPHL staff on completion timelines for the online self-assessment checklist, and support online orientation of SSU/DPHL staff on the assessment process.
• Undertake supportive supervision and coaching visits to districts, guiding DPHL teams through the self-assessment checklist and sensitizing them on upcoming project activities.
• Lead on-site physical verification of selected DPHLs (functionality, HR, equipment, and resource status) based on self-assessment scores and prepare state-level assessment reports for discussion with the SSU.
• Support resource mapping of equipment, reagents, kits, consumables, and HR needs at DPHLs, in line with DPHL guidelines and P / L form reporting requirements.
• Co-facilitate or support webinars and in-person training for DPHL staff (lab technicians, microbiologists, hospital managers, store in-charges) on laboratory management, supply chain planning, and Quality Management Systems (QMS).
• Support in-person regional upskilling and sensitization sessions on epidemiology, outbreak surveillance, and OPD/symptom-based testing integration - including venue identification, logistics coordination, and post-session reporting.
• Support development of a roadmap, with state microbiologists and epidemiologists, to strengthen timely P and L form entry on the IHIP portal; conduct on-site DPHL visits to verify and cross-check reported data against laboratory registers and track monthly testing and reporting trends.
• Lead state-level coordination on environmental/water testing: support discussions with the SSU, NCDC, and sanitation department; help identify priority blocks with functional Block Public Health Units (BPHUs); and provide on-site mentoring on water sample collection, transport, testing SOPs, and reporting.
• Support monthly tracking and reporting of project indicators (assessment coverage, supervisory visits, QMS compliance, IHIP reporting) from the field to the Senior Microbiologist/Program Manager.
• Represent FIND in state-level review and de-briefing meetings with NCDC/SSU, and support preparation of periodic progress reports for FIND, donors, and state officials.
• Identify gaps or challenges in the technical functioning of DPHLs and liaise with laboratory/site staff to help resolve them.
• Any other task assigned from time to time.

Nature of Appointment

The selected candidates shall initially be offered a consultancy contract through , in line with the current project timeline (subject to extension based on performance and continued project/donor funding).

Requirements

• MBBS with MD in Microbiology and/or PhD in Microbiology, with at least 2 years of relevant laboratory experience in microbiology. OR M.Sc. in Microbiology, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant laboratory experience in microbiology.
• Experience conducting laboratory assessments, developing training content, and delivering training would be an added advantage.
• Experience working within public health / disease surveillance programs at the national or state level (e.g., IDSP, NHM, NCDC-supported programs, or similar).
• Strong background in microbiology and microbiology-related laboratory testing.
• Familiarity with quality management systems (IQC/EQAS/ILC) and laboratory biosafety; exposure to environmental/water testing is an advantage.
• Good coordination and stakeholder-liaison skills, with the ability to work with government counterparts (SSU, NCDC, district officials).
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Strong team orientation, with the ability to work independently with minimum handholding and supervision.
• Energetic, resilient, and passionate about public health systems strengthening.
• Good computer knowledge (MS Office - Excel and Word); familiarity with digital data-reporting platforms (e.g., IHIP) is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the assigned state (Maharashtra/Assam/Jharkhand), including to district- and block-level facilities, at short notice.
• Advanced degree (Master's or higher) in Public Health, Pharmacy, Medicine, Epidemiology, Health Sciences, or a related field. A PhD or equivalent research experience is desirable.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), preferably diabetes, at the national and/or state level.
• At least 5 years of experience in implementation and operational research in LMIC settings.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multicentre research studies, implementation projects, or health systems strengthening initiatives.
• Experience engaging with Ministries of Health, national programmes, academic institutions, and other key health system stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including study design, data interpretation, and dissemination.
• Scientific writing experience, including technical reports, manuscripts, conference abstracts, and/or peer-reviewed publications.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate with multidisciplinary teams across multiple institutions without direct line management.
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification or prior experience working on GCP-compliant studies is desirable.

Competencies

• Strong project coordination and implementation management skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and competing priorities.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership management skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships across government, academia, implementing partners, and donors.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize technical information into practical recommendations.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to deliver high-quality outputs within deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to evolving project needs and work effectively in multicultural and resource-constrained settings.

Job Description

Project Background

A responsive, accessible, and pandemic-resilient public health system depends on early detection, accurate testing, and timely reporting. Under Indias Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), District Public Health Laboratories (DPHLs) are a critical link between clinical care and disease surveillance - supporting early identification of febrile-illness clusters, water-borne disease events, and other public health threats. In partnership with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and TIFA, FIND is supporting a multi-state initiative to strengthen DPHL capacity across Assam, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra. The project works with State Surveillance Units (SSUs) and DPHLs to: (1) conduct a baseline gap assessment of infrastructure, human resources, equipment, biosafety, and quality processes; (2) strengthen laboratory management, supply chain, and Quality Management Systems (QMS); (3) upskill DPHL and SSU staff on epidemiology, outbreak surveillance, and timely reporting on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP); (4) build capacity for environmental/water testing as part of outbreak preparedness; and (5) support integration of these systems into routine state health functions through a sustainability roadmap.

Objective and Primary Outcome: The main objective of the project is to improve outbreak prepared