Entomology Technical Manager - PMI Evolve Cambodia
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. S/he will supervise up to four VectorLink entomology technicians, a MEL entomology specialist and laboratory technician and will travel on regular basis to designated provinces.
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.
- Lead the development of national entomological monitoring plan 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.
- Prepare project comprehensive annual entomological monitoring plan and support work planning
- Review the content of communications materials for technical accuracy.
- Establish entomological sentinel sites in selected district.
- Monitor vector density and behavior pre- and post-deployment of vector control interventions using World Health Organization (WHO) standard mosquito sampling methods.
- Assist in developing and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists for mosquito collection techniques and disseminating to all in country partners.
- Monitor 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 human behavior data collection by adapting standard procedures to local context, providing training to data collectors, supervising collection, and leading analysis.
- Support identified entomology laboratories to facilitate molecular and bio-chemical analysis—including but not limited to sourcing materials, coordinating support, providing technical guidance (e.g., quality assurance), establishing routine communications, and reporting results.
- Assist in developing and integrating novel data and sample management solutions.
- Ensure availability of susceptible mosquito colony to support quality assurance and susceptibility tests in country.
- Involve and lead the vector control (VC) technical working group at national level to help develop vector control policy and an insecticide resistance management strategy and plan
- 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.
- Ensure that the field teams follow all WHO, CDC and PMI approved guidelines, protocols, and techniques for mosquito collections and tests.
- 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.
- Work closely with Entomology MEL Specialist to prepare appropriate visualizations for reporting purposes
- Coordinate vector control operational research activities where required.
- Lead capacity strengthening activities for National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control (CNM), other government stakeholders, partners, subcontractors including but not limited to:
- Conducting Case-based entomological surveillance of malaria vector bionomics using appropriate mosquito trapping methods as well as human behavioral surveys during foci investgtions .
- Train and support the CNM technicians, PHD and OD staff in mosquito trapping methods, handling and processing of mosquito samples in the field, morphological identification, data recording, entry, management and reporting.
- Support the development, review and use of mosquito morphological identification keys
- Support training of PHD and OD staff on the morphological identification keys
- Support coordination of training forCNM technicians on circumsporozoite ELISA and PCR
- Support and guide the focal counterpart from the MOH/CNM for the supervision of provincial and district-level field teams who perform mosquito collections and tests.
- Support CNM with the review, management, and visualizationof entomological data using the MIS entomology modules, as requested. Including supporting the use of data for national decision-making.
- Provide oversight and support to molecular lab coordinator through routine check-ins, data review, inventory and maintenance review, etc.
- Support annual procurements of field supplies and molecular lab supplies with technical review.
- Prepare semi-annual and annual entomological monitoring reports, vector control products and delivery quality assurance reports and insecticide resistance reports. Share accurate and timely foci reports with CNM
- 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.
- Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor Degree + 15 years or Master Degree + 12 years or PhD + 10 years
- Preferred qualifications
- 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.
- Fluent in English
