Summary
Date Posted: Friday, September 29 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
The Opportunity
• Under the supervision of the Chief of Party, the Entomology Manager provides leadership and management oversight of all the project’s entomological surveillance activities in country, in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), coordinate and oversee the project’s key entomological monitoring activities for integrated vector control and will guide key project and country-level vector control decisions based on data analysis and interpretation.

Project Description
• The PMI Evolve Project supports the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and USAID to plan and implement an integrated vector control strategy with the overall goal of reducing the burden of malaria while promoting equity to sustain malaria gains. Abt has implemented integrated vector control for PMI since 2011, delivering high-quality indoor residual spraying (IRS), technical assistance for insecticide-treated net (ITN) distribution and durability monitoring, and new approaches for larval source management (LSM). Additionally, Abt’s PMI-funded work manages the most comprehensive malaria vector entomological surveillance programs in 21 African countries to inform malaria vector control trends, strategies, and impact. Under the PMI Evolve Project, Abt will further its delivery of integrated vector control programs by partnering with local communities, organizations, and governments to co-design and co-implement tailored malaria vector control programs. The end goal is fighting malaria while strengthening local capacity to sustain malaria gains.

Core Responsibilities
• Lead the development of national entomological monitoring plan for Zambia in collaboration with National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), in country malaria vector control partners, research institutes, Universities and private sectors involved in malaria vector control.
• Develop and operationalize a sustainable procedure for the mobilization of Global Fund resources for entomological monitoring activities in Zambia.
• Strengthen leadership of entomological surveillance by providing direct supervision and mentorship to the NMEP’s entomological team and the provincial and district-level field teams of entomological technicians who perform mosquito collections and tests.
• Review the content of communications materials for technical accuracy.
• Establish and/or maintain entomological sentinel sites in selected districts as per the approved national malaria elimination strategic plan.
• Monitor vector density and behavior pre- and post-deployment of vector control interventions using World Health Organization (WHO) standard mosquito sampling methods.
• Support human behavior data collection by adapting standard procedures to local context, providing training to data collectors, supervising collection, and leading analysis.
• Conduct wall bioassays within two weeks after every spray cycle and on new insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITNs) before distribution to evaluate the quality spray and products.
• Conduct wall bioassays monthly in selected districts to evaluate the residual efficacy of sprayed insecticides and bi-annually to evaluate insecticidal activity of ITNs.
• Perform and supervise vector susceptibility tests to currently use and candidate insecticides on annual basis.
• Conduct intensity and synergist assays in sentinel sites selected for insecticide resistance monitoring.
• Support identified entomology laboratories to facilitate molecular and bio-chemical analysis—including but not limited to sourcing materials, coordinating support, providing technical guidance, establishing routine communications, and reporting results.
• Assist in developing and integrating novel data and sample management solutions.
• Conduct or support quality assurance activities for entomology laboratories.
• Assist in developing and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists for mosquito collection techniques and disseminating to all in country partners.
• Involve and lead the vector control (VC) technical working group at national level to help develop/maintain an integrated, data-driven vector control policy vector control policy and an insecticide resistance management strategy and plan.
• Promote and strengthen local insectaries aimed at enhancing mass production of susceptible mosquito colonies to support contact bioassays and insecticide susceptibility tests in the country.
• Train entomology technicians on maintaining mosquito colonies in an insectary, different field mosquito sampling techniques for both adult and larvae, on species identification, preserving, storing and transport of mosquito samples from the field to the insectary or entomological working sites, aimed at ensuring knowledge transfer of technical skills to the provincial and district levels.
• Ensure that the field teams follow all WHO, CDC and PMI approved guidelines, protocols, and techniques for mosquito collections and tests and the best practices of other international centers of excellence in vector control.
• Ensure that all data from all collection activities are recorded on data entry forms or by mobile data collection, perform mosquito identifications, and undertake data analysis and prepare monitoring reports.
• Lead the management of the Zambia DHIS2 Entomology database and ensure data is consistently entered timely into the database from all sentinel sites and facilitates the efficient storage and easy retrieval of information.
• Coordinate with entomological implementing partners in Zambia to ensure routine mosquito collection, data reporting, and data use for evidence-based decision-making.
• Manage and strengthen all data collection activities, data recording, data analysis, data interpretation, and preparation of entomological monitoring reports. Support and implement needs assessment and capacity-strengthening efforts to increase and expand the skills of local counterparts and field team technicians working towards ensuring the country undertakes high-quality entomological monitoring activities.
• Prepare semi-annual and annual entomological monitoring reports, vector control products and delivery quality assurance reports and insecticide resistance reports.
• Provide leadership and support in the dissemination of entomological results to all in-country partners.
• Support vector control operational research and program evaluation activities as applicable.
• Publish results from regular entomological monitoring and operational research activities in peer-reviewed journals.
• Prepare and present abstracts in international vector control and scientific conferences.
• Other duties as assigned.

What We Value
• Bachelor’s Degree + 15 years or Master’s Degree + 12 years or Ph.D. + 10 years of relevant work experience.
• PhD in Medical Entomology, Biosciences, Public Health, Environmental Health or other relevant field.
• At least 10 years of relevant international health experience, including significant experience in malaria prevention and control.
• Relevant professional work experience with significant amounts of experience directly in Vector Control operations.
• Experience in regulatory and operational aspects of insecticide use and management.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a minimum of direction and supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to work both as a member of a team and as a team leader, with the ability to accept the inputs of other team members.
• Strong management and planning skills of project tasks and budgets.
• Demonstrates leadership and teamwork and produces high quality work in a timely, cost-effective manner and has excellent writing skills.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal communication and computer skills.
• Experience with USAID and donor projects is highly desirable.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 180

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
What We Offer
• We foster an environment where you can Thrive Your Way. Our innovative total rewards programs are designed to help balance your work and personal life. The approach toward your wellbeing centers around comprehensive benefits and professional development.
• Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.
• Disclaimer: Abt Associates will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.
• Abt is committed to creating a safe and inclusive work environment. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate background checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Abt Associates also participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
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