State Coordinator – Microbiology (DPHL Strengthening Project )

FIND; Pune District; On-site; INR 893,000 - 1,674,000; Full time

Job summary

FIND seeks a State Coordinator – Microbiology (SC-MB) based in Pune, Maharashtra, to oversee the DPHL assessments, training, and QA/QMS strengthening under the IDSP-driven initiative. The role requires coordinating with SSU, DPHLs, and NCDC partners, including on-site visits, capacity building, and data reporting.

Extensive travel within the state and to Jharkhand may be required. Qualifications include MBBS with MD/PhD in Microbiology or MSc in Microbiology, with relevant lab experience, plus

Qualifications

• MBBS with MD in Microbiology and/or PhD in Microbiology, with at least 2 years of relevant laboratory experience in microbiology.
• 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 hand holding 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Coordination

Training delivery

Public health

Communication

MS Office

Education

MBBS with MD in Microbiology/PhD in Microbiology

M.Sc. in Microbiology

Tools

MS Office (Excel/Word)

IHIP data platform

Job description

FIND accelerates equitable access to reliable diagnosis around the world. We are working to close critical testing gaps that leave people at risk from preventable and treatable illnesses, enable effective disease surveillance, and build sustainable, resilient health systems. In partnership with countries, WHO and other global health agencies, we are driving progress towards global health security and universal health coverage. We are a WHO Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Strengthening and Diagnostic Technology Evaluation. For more information, please visit www.finddx.org

Project Background

A responsive, accessible, and pandemic-resilient public health system depends on early detection, accurate testing, and timely reporting. Under India's 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 preparedness of District Public Health Laboratories by strengthening diagnostic capacity, quality systems, and surveillance data reporting, in line with IDSP and NCDC guidance. The project intends to lead to the following outcomes:

• Baseline gap assessment (online self-assessment and on-site physical verification) of DPHLs across the state and improvement plan for each facility.
• Strengthened laboratory management, supply chain planning, and Quality Management Systems (QMS) including Internal Quality Control (IQC), External Quality Assurance (EQAS), and Inter-Laboratory Comparison (ILC) with continued on-site mentoring.
• Improved epidemiological surveillance capacity among DPHL and SSU staff, including timely and accurate P and L form reporting on the IHIP portal.
• Enhanced outbreak preparedness through water quality testing capacity building in priority blocks.
• A sustainability roadmap and capacity-building toolkit handed over to the SSU for continued implementation beyond the project period.

Number of Positions and Location:

The State Coordinator – Microbiology (SC-MB) will be based at the state headquarters (Pune, Maharashtra), working near the State Surveillance Unit (SSU), with extensive travel To Mumbai, to identified District Public Health Laboratories (DPHLs) and project districts within the state. The candidate is also willing to provide remote or in-person support at other project locations, including Jharkhand and Maharashtra, as required.

Job Description

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.

Qualification and Experience Required:

• 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:

• 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 hand holding 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.

Nature of Appointment:

The selected candidates shall initially be offered a consultancy contract through 31 March 2027, in line with the current project timeline (subject to extension based on performance and continued project/donor funding).

Compensation Offered:

The gross remuneration budgeted for the position shall be commensurate with the qualifications, experience, and salary history of the selected candidate.

FIND is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued. FIND is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. FIND does not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, disability status, political ideology, military status, or any other attribute protected by applicable law.