Laboratory Technologist

Job Description: Laboratory Technologist – PROPS Trial

Project:PROPS Trial (Efficacy of Probiotic Supplementation in Preterm and Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants)
Duty Station:King Faisal Hospital Rwanda Laboratory, Kigali, with liaison to hospital laboratories and the centralised study laboratory under the trial’s hub-and-spoke model
Reports to:Principal Investigator, in coordination with the Site Laboratory guide/Co-Investigator
Employment Terms:Fixed-term, for the duration of the PROPS trial at the Rwanda site, renewable subject to performance and funding

Position Overview

The Laboratory Technologist will be tasked with the receipt, processing, quality-controlled analysis, and storage of biological specimens, including blood culture and faecal specimens, collected under thePROPS Trial. The Laboratory Technologist will make sure that all laboratory procedures are performed accurately, safely, and in strict compliance with the study protocol, trial laboratory SOPs, Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP), ICH-GCP, national laboratory requirements, biosafety standards, and institutional policies.

The Laboratory Technologist will assist the trial's hub-and-spoke laboratory model, including specimen reception and initial processing, transportation and receipt of specimens at the centralised study laboratory, definitive processing, biobanking, quality assurance, documentation, and preparation of specimens for further analysis or shipment as required by the study protocol.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure readiness of all laboratory-related SOPs, protocols, equipment, supplies, and processes as required by the PROPS multi-country assessment team.
• Receive, log, and verify blood culture and faecal specimens delivered from study sites, hospital collection points, and home visits, and verify specimen identifiers against accompanying request forms, CRFs, and study records.
• Ensure blood culture specimens are appropriately inoculated, transported, received, and processed within the required timelines, including receipt within one hour at the hospital laboratory and within 24 hours at the central laboratory, as applicable.
• Process blood culture specimens using automated blood culture equipment and approved standard laboratory methods.
• Process faecal specimens using the laboratory methods specified in the study protocol and applicable SOPs.
• Freeze isolates and specimens at the specified temperatures, including −20°C to −80°C for faecal specimens and −60°C to −80°C for blood culture isolates requiring further testing.
• keep the study biorepository/freezers, including temperature monitoring, freezer maintenance logs, and organised and retrievable storage of specimens for the approved retention period.
• Package and produce specimens for transport or shipment to the centralised laboratory or other approved destination, maintaining cold-chain integrity and completing the relevant shipment and freezer-storage logs.
• Complete all laboratory-related CRFs, logs, registers, and study documentation accurately and promptly, including specimen reception, automated blood culture processing, blood isolate processing, faecal specimen processing, freezer storage, and shipment logs.
• Communicate laboratory results, particularly positive blood culture results, promptly to the clinical/outcome team as required by the study protocol.
• Participate in internal quality control and quality assurance activities and assist external audits, monitoring visits, and assessments conducted by the study team, contracted infectious disease consultants, sponsors, or relevant authorities.
• Address and document findings related to specimen handling, storage, processing, documentation, equipment, and laboratory procedures in accordance with approved corrective and preventive actions.
• keep up-to-date ICH-GCP certification and complete all study-specific laboratory SOP training before undertaking trial-related laboratory duties, together with required refresher training.
• keep specimen confidentiality and data protection in accordance with the study's consent provisions, national regulations, and institutional requirements, including restrictions relating to specimen export and secondary use.
• Follow national biosafety, infection prevention and control, occupational safety, and laboratory waste-management procedures at all times when handling biological specimens.
• keep laboratory equipment, including automated blood culture systems, freezers, thermometers, and other relevant equipment, in good working condition and escalate equipment faults or temperature excursions immediately.
• Ensure proper specimen traceability from receipt through processing, storage, retrieval, shipment, and final disposition.
• Work collaboratively with clinical, outcome, data, research, laboratory, and other study teams to ensure timely and effective implementation of laboratory activities.
• assist the Principal Investigator and study team with any other laboratory-related duties required for the successful perform of the PROPS Trial.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Master of Science (MSc) in Biotechnology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or a closely related field.
• Valid registration/license as a Laboratory Technologist/Technician with the relevant Rwandan professional regulatory body, such as the Rwanda Allied Health Professions Council, or national accreditation as required by the trial protocol.
• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in a clinical, microbiology, or research laboratory, preferably within a hospital or clinical trial setting.
• Demonstrated experience in laboratory specimen reception, processing, documentation, storage, and quality control.
• Sound understanding of biosafety, infection prevention and control, and safe handling of biological specimens.
• Ability to accurately keep laboratory records, CRFs, specimen logs, freezer records, and shipment documentation.
• Ability to work in accordance with laboratory SOPs, study protocols, quality management procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Ability to keep confidentiality and security of participant information, biological specimens, and study data.

Preferred

• Experience working with automated blood culture systems.
• Experience with faecal or other microbiological specimen processing.
• Experience with cold-chain specimen handling and storage.
• Prior experience working on a clinical trial.
• Experience working in a GCLP- or ICH-GCP-compliant laboratory environment.
• Experience with biobanking and long-term biological specimen storage.
• Familiarity with electronic data capture systems or laboratory information management systems.
• Experience supporting laboratory audits, monitoring visits, or external quality assessments.
• Experience working within a multi-site or multi-country research study.

Required Technical and Management Skills

• Laboratory specimen processing and handling.
• Microbiological specimen processing.
• Automated blood culture systems.
• Biological specimen storage and biobanking.
• Cold-chain management.
• Laboratory quality control and quality assurance.
• Biosafety and infection prevention and control.
• Laboratory documentation and record keeping.
• Completion of CRFs, specimen logs, freezer records, and shipment documentation.
• ICH-GCP and Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP).
• Laboratory equipment operation and maintenance.
• Specimen traceability and data management.
• Microsoft Office and relevant laboratory/data management systems.
• Report writing and documentation skills.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Understanding of clinical research and laboratory systems.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should apply via thislink by October 05, 2026