Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Benefits Project
Position: Lab Coordinator
Deadline to Apply:January 25, 2012 (applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis)
Start Date: February 2012
Location: Nairobi; with flexibility to travel
Eligibility: Position open to all nationalities; Kenyan nationals strongly encouraged apply
IPA’s WASH Benefits Project is a five year study to evaluate the health benefits of sanitation, hygiene, household water treatment and nutrition using a large-scale, randomized evaluation in Western Province.
In the first phase of the study, to commence in early 2012, WASH Benefits will work in 1,000 villages, conduct 10,000 baseline surveys, and deliver interventions to 10,000 households. The project will be based out of two satellite offices in Western Province. The principal investigators of WASH benefits are Michael Kremer and Clair Null.
IPA’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) benefits project seeks a qualified applicant for the position of Lab Coordinator.
The Lab Coordinator will manage sample collection, processing, and analysis of child stool, blood, and urine samples in Western Kenya in order to meet the project objectives to measure environmental enteropathy and parasite infections among young children.
The position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand field management experience in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research. This position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, with travel to Kakamega and other areas of Western Kenya.
The Lab Coordinator will work closely with the WASH benefits management team, academic researchers, and project collaborators at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Moi University.
The Lab Coordinator position will be based at KEMRI’s headquarters in Nairobi.
Responsibilities
Position: Lab Coordinator
Deadline to Apply:January 25, 2012 (applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis)
Start Date: February 2012
Location: Nairobi; with flexibility to travel
Eligibility: Position open to all nationalities; Kenyan nationals strongly encouraged apply
IPA’s WASH Benefits Project is a five year study to evaluate the health benefits of sanitation, hygiene, household water treatment and nutrition using a large-scale, randomized evaluation in Western Province.
In the first phase of the study, to commence in early 2012, WASH Benefits will work in 1,000 villages, conduct 10,000 baseline surveys, and deliver interventions to 10,000 households. The project will be based out of two satellite offices in Western Province. The principal investigators of WASH benefits are Michael Kremer and Clair Null.
IPA’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) benefits project seeks a qualified applicant for the position of Lab Coordinator.
The Lab Coordinator will manage sample collection, processing, and analysis of child stool, blood, and urine samples in Western Kenya in order to meet the project objectives to measure environmental enteropathy and parasite infections among young children.
The position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand field management experience in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research. This position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, with travel to Kakamega and other areas of Western Kenya.
The Lab Coordinator will work closely with the WASH benefits management team, academic researchers, and project collaborators at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Moi University.
The Lab Coordinator position will be based at KEMRI’s headquarters in Nairobi.
Responsibilities
- Develop and oversee implementation of field protocols to collect and process stool and blood samples
- Develop and oversee implementation of lab processing protocols, including:
- ELISA assays on venous blood serum to test for indicators of environmental enteropathy (gut inflammation and gut permeability).
- ELISA assays to test stool samples for markers of gut inflammation.
- ELISA assays to test stool samples for Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and E. histolytica
- Kato-Katz microscopy to test stool samples for hookworm, Trichuris, and Ascaris
- Managing lab technicians, including development and implementation of quality control and quality assurance procedures and checking and analyzing data
- Cleaning data and assisting in preliminary analysis
- Assisting in the writing of project reports and policy memos
- Coordinating with local partners, including KEMRI and Moi University
Desired Qualifications and Experience
- At least 3 years of biological laboratory experience
- Experience performing ELISA assays required
- Experience performing Kato-Katz microscopy preferred
- A Bachelor's degree in biology, environmental health, or related fields.
- Experience living in a developing country is a strong plus
- Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills
- Fluency and excellent communication skills in English; fluency in Swahili is a strong plus
- Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and team player
- Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations
- We are looking for a commitment period of 2 years for this position.
If you are interested in applying, please follow the instructions below:
To Apply:
Please send a cover letter, detailed CV (including daytime phone number and an email address), your scanned copy of certificates, and 3 professional references. All files should be submitted in pdf form with the file names LASTcover_letter.pdf, LASTNAME_CV.pdf, LASTNAME_certificate# (non-pdf format acceptable, replace # with 1, 2, 3, etc.), LASTNAME_references.pdf.
Applications can be submitted in person at our Busia office, by email to, jobs-kenya@povertyaction.org ,
or by mail to PO Box 373, Busia, 50400 Kenya.
If you submit by email, please ensure that the subject line reads: “WASH Benefits Lab Coordinator” REF NO: WB-2012-01-01.”
All applicants will be considered for the Lab Coordinator position and only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the Lab Coordinator. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities.
Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from anapplicant.
Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the organization.
Please direct questions to jobs@poverty-action.org.
To Apply:
Please send a cover letter, detailed CV (including daytime phone number and an email address), your scanned copy of certificates, and 3 professional references. All files should be submitted in pdf form with the file names LASTcover_letter.pdf, LASTNAME_CV.pdf, LASTNAME_certificate# (non-pdf format acceptable, replace # with 1, 2, 3, etc.), LASTNAME_references.pdf.
Applications can be submitted in person at our Busia office, by email to, jobs-kenya@povertyaction.org ,
or by mail to PO Box 373, Busia, 50400 Kenya.
If you submit by email, please ensure that the subject line reads: “WASH Benefits Lab Coordinator” REF NO: WB-2012-01-01.”
All applicants will be considered for the Lab Coordinator position and only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the Lab Coordinator. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities.
Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from anapplicant.
Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the organization.
Please direct questions to jobs@poverty-action.org.
