Job Summary:

The Sr. Laboratory and Diagnostics Officer provides technical guidance around the STRengthening Infectious disease DEtection Systems (STRIDES) Activitys laboratory/diagnostic strategy to support implementation across human and animal health laboratories. They will provide technical support to STRIDES in-country staff including supporting technical requirements in workplan design and quality assurance. The STRIDES Sr. Laboratory and Diagnostic Officer implements and monitors strategic and technical initiatives and contributes expertise through the development and management of reports and technical materials. Working closely with the Technical Director and in-country and Headquarter (HQ) STRIDES teams they support implementation by evaluating programmatic effectiveness overseeing technical aspects and providing technical assessment reports.

Accountabilities:

Technical Requirements:

• Provides STRIDES day-to-day technical implementation support for laboratory and diagnostic strengthening activities including technical components (molecular diagnostics genomic sequencing AMR quality management systems biosafety and biosecurity) mentoring laboratory staff supporting adherence to protocols coordination with other GHS technical areas (e.g. surveillance data outbreak and response etc.) and ensuring activities align with approved workplans and guidance from the Technical Director.
• Supports STRIDES technical aspects including staff and partner capacity building mentorship and team building for in-country laboratory and diagnostic teams.
• Implements monitors and updates laboratory protocols SOPs and training materials and supports laboratories to apply quality improvement actions based on routine supervision and performance findings.
• Works closely with the Technical Director and in-country teams to ensure project implementation remains technically sound and adheres to STRIDES strategy and standard operating procedures.
• Contributes to the development and writing of technical briefs reports or other necessary materials to facilitate assessments best practices policies and procedures.
• Conducts analysis of STRIDES in-country implementation to identify areas for improvement and propose appropriate technical strategies and guidelines.
• Assists with the implementation of research studies by providing technical support and overall management to ensure coordination and field-level implementation and collaborates with the STRIDES monitoring evaluation and research team to interpret data sets and assessment findings.
• Contributes to research initiatives to improve laboratory practices and diagnostic outcomes.

Project Implementation:

• Implements laboratory and diagnostic strategies and tools developed under the guidance of the Technical Director and adapts implementation approaches based on site-level findings and operational constraints.
• Assists in-country teams with implementing and monitoring STRIDES laboratory and diagnostics-focused activities and supports development and tracking against workplans and budgets.
• Supports laboratory data quality and completeness including review of laboratory registers reports and outputs to ensure diagnostic data are accurate timely and suitable for integration into national reporting systems.
• Monitors in-country STRIDES deliverables and reports to supervisors and identifies and raises issues to senior technical staff.
• Supports implementation of technical support diagnostic network and facility strengthening and quality improvement interventions in line with Joint External Evaluation (JEE) reports States Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reports (SPAR) country national action plans and other assessments.

Client/Funder Support:

• Builds productive working relationships internally and externally by fostering collaboration with government agencies national and international organizations academia and other relevant entities.
• Assists with the preparation and drafting of work plans presentations and reports for the DOS and other key stakeholders.
• Participate and represent the project in meetings and forums as required.

Operations Management (Finance HR etc.):

• Ensures STRIDES laboratory/diagnostic activities are on track with approved workplans and that technical expertise and best practices inform project implementation.
• Oversees in-country STRIDES timelines and budgets for laboratory/diagnostic activities.
• Tracks in-country technical project spending and Statements of Work and budget tracking systems providing reports to supervisor.
• Represents the project in donor meetings.

Project/Program Reporting:

• Prepares reports and papers summarizing STRIDES results and analyzing data sets including drafting laboratory/diagnostic sections of technical reports for donors.
• Creates other technical content (e.g. reports presentations manuscripts) as requested.

Quality Assurance:

• Develops in-depth knowledge of laboratory/diagnostic quality standards through formalized system that documents processes procedures and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives.
• Coordinates and directs activities to meet donor and regulatory requirements.
• Stays up-to-date on innovations in diagnostics and laboratory strengthening approaches and ensures new knowledge/evidence and best practices are shared with STRIDES teams partners and host countries and applied as appropriate.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of infectious disease diagnostics and applied knowledge of providing technical support for field implementation research studies and project management.
• Development of scope of work and deliverables for partners consultants etc.
• Broader knowledge of laboratory/diagnostic quality standards.
• Proficiency with database management software and on-line search tools required.
• Sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political contextual and technical issues in assigned countries and regions.
• Articulate professional and able to communicate in a clear positive manner with clients and staff.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Excellent and demonstrated project management skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with others.
• Demonstrated proficiency with using Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data identify errors and prepare reports.
• Ability to solve problems and implement corrective action as needed.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Works on problems of moderate to complex scope that require review of various factors.
• Exercises good judgment with selecting methods and techniques to determine appropriate action.
• Decisions may cause delays and affect a work unit or area within a department.
• Identifies and raises issues to senior technical staff.
• Networks with key internal and external personnel.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Determines methods and procedures on new projects and assignments.
• Serves as laboratory/diagnostics team lead to STRIDES country programs and may mentor in-country personnel.
• Reports to the Technical Director.
• Supervises a Lab and Diagnostic Officer.

Education & Experience:

• Masters Degree or International Equivalent in Knowledge/Information Services Health Human Development Microbiology Clinical Diagnostics or a Related Field.
• Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.
• Typically requires 6 years of relevant experience managing data collection and technical assistance experience.
• Proven knowledge and experience in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.
• Knowledge and experience with strengthening laboratories to achieve international quality standards.
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO) government agency or private organization.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the ethical issues surrounding research and surveillance.
• Proactive in managing multiple tasks managing and working in the virtual work environment and flexible and open to managing time for working with different teams in different time zones as needed.
• Excellent interpersonal organizational communication team building and management and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent oral and written English and Tagalog including documentation skills.

Working Conditions and Travel Requirements:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.
• Personal Computer/Laptop Microsoft applications (i.e. Office 365 SharePoint Skype/Zoom/Teams) cell phone/mobile technology and standard office equipment.
• 10%-25% local and regional travel.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

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