Role purpose
dengue remains a substantial public health issue in lao pdr due to challenges in mosquito control, rapid urbanization, climate change, limited access to healthcare in remote areas, and issues with surveillance and reporting. After a historical peak of dengue cases in 2019, the country experienced another large outbreak in 2022 and 2023. Existing methods of disease control, such as spraying insecticides in outbreak areas or clean‑up campaigns, have not eliminated dengue as a constant public health issue in laos. Save the children international (sci) together with world mosquito program (wmp) and the department of communicable disease control of the ministry of health (dcdc, moh) implemented the driving down dengue in laos (dddil) project, with an overall goal of contributing to the reduction of dengue transmission in laos. Sci works with the ministry of health, provincial health departments and district health offices in the target locations in vientiane capital, oudomxay, luang prabang, savannakhet and champasack to support releases of wolbachia‑carrying ae. aegypti. The purpose of this position is to perform duties in mosquito rearing space and in the community as required, including mosquito rearing, release, field collection and identification, engaging the community, data collection, quality assurance and reporting and additional duties as required.
the laboratory officer reports to the laboratory coordinator and is responsible for reporting on a weekly basis the status of lab activities including mosquito rearing, qa, mosquito release activities, etc.
in the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
key areas of accountability
* ensure they fully understand the provisions of the child safeguarding policy, the code of conduct and local/country procedures and conduct themselves in accordance with the policy, reporting suspicions of child abuse.
* conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the child safeguarding policy in their personal and professional lives.
key responsibilities
* assist in the overall mosquito rearing process, including routine laboratory activities and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
* ensure proper storage, monitoring, and handling of mosquito eggs prior to release.
* prepare mosquito release containers (mrcs), pack crates for distribution to village volunteers, and maintain batch control with qa checks.
* collect, record, compile, and analyze laboratory trial data; prepare weekly summaries, reports, and presentations using microsoft excel and powerpoint.
* support the laboratory coordinator with logistics, inventory management, and preparation of advance requests and returns.
* prepare and summarize monthly timesheets and invoices for consultancy laboratory assistant staff to ensure accurate salary processing.
* follow standard operating procedures (sops), quality assurance protocols, and reporting systems for all laboratory processes.
* perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
* be available to work outside regular hours, including evenings, weekends, public holidays and peak periods when leave may be restricted.
qualifications and experience
bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent professional qualifications in relevant fields (science, entomology, veterinary or health sciences).
experience and skills
* demonstrated experience in laboratory and/or field entomology, including mosquito rearing, collection, and identification.
* strong team player with the ability to work independently under routine supervision.
* excellent organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to handle high‑volume tasks accurately and meet deadlines.
* effective interpersonal and communication skills, able to work within large, multidisciplinary teams.
* proficiency in using computers (including google drive suite), smartphones, and stereo microscopes, with the ability to quickly learn new software platforms.
* strong ability to prioritize tasks and perform effectively under pressure.
* high attention to detail in reporting, record‑keeping, and data analysis.
contract length
fixed term (1 year with the possibility of extension).
equal opportunity employer
save the children is an equal opportunities employer. Qualified females, persons with disability and candidates from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti‑harassment policy.
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