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JobSummary The Laboratory and Diagnostics Advisor provides technical guidance and support for United States Government (USG)-funded STRIDES'outbreakresponse and preparedness laboratory and diagnostic systems portfolio, leading efforts to expand,validate,and strengthendiagnostic capacity while reinforcing national laboratory systems for longterm preparedness. As a core member of the STRIDES technical team, the Advisor supportsoutbreakresponse countries, including for the currentEbolaoutbreak,and regional preparedness contexts by guiding diagnostic network strengthening, laboratory readiness, biosafety and biosecurity, quality systems, and workforce development. The role ensures that diagnostic assays, platforms, algorithms, and procurement align with national policies, outbreak response plans, and international standards; oversees laboratory and diagnostics activities and subcontractor implemented activities; and works closely with ministries of health, national public health institutes, reference laboratories, and other technical team members to ensure a coordinated, technically coherent approach across the STRIDESoutbreakresponse and preparedness portfolio. Reporting to the STRIDES Senior Laboratory and Diagnostics Advisor, the Advisor ensures that emergency laboratory investments translate into sustainable, governmentowned diagnostic systems capable of supporting routine public health functions and future outbreak response. Accountabilities TechnicalRequirements:
Provides technical leadership for STRIDES'outbreaklaboratory and diagnostic systems portfolio, guiding the design and implementation of diagnostic capacity, laboratory network strengthening, biosafety and biosecurity, quality systems, and workforce development.
Works on moderate to complex laboratory systems challenges requiring evaluation of multiple technical, operational, and contextual factors-including diagnostic algorithm optimization, specimen referral systems, decentralized testing models, and national laboratory governance.
Demonstrates strong judgment in selecting diagnostic methods, technologies, and evaluation criteria; advises on assay validation, platformselection, and alignment of procurement with nationally approved workflows.
Networks and collaborates with key internal and external personnel, including ministries of health, national public health institutes, reference laboratories, STRIDES technical team members, implementing partners, and regional preparedness stakeholders.
Interprets laboratory readiness findings, quality system gaps, biosafety risks, and diagnostic performance data; recommendsevidencebasedimprovements across specimen handling, testing workflows, reporting systems, and laboratory surge operations.
Provides input to senior technical leadership on national laboratory policies, essential diagnostics lists, specimen referral strategies, laboratory governance mechanisms, and outbreak diagnostic guidelines.
ProjectDesignImplementation:
With technical oversight, provides leadership in the design, development, planning, and implementation of laboratory and diagnostic components of STRIDES projects, ensuring alignment with national priorities, outbreak response needs, and international standards.
Leads the creation of the laboratory and diagnostics technicalportionof project plans, incorporating diagnostic network strengthening, biosafety and biosecurity, quality management systems, workforce development, and reference laboratory capacity building.
Oversees daytoday laboratory and diagnostic activities in assigned response and preparedness countries, including readiness assessments, deployment of diagnostic platforms, optimization of testing algorithms, and strengthening of specimen referral and transport systems.
Tracks delivery of laboratoryrelated project outputs, ensuring activities are implemented on time, within budget, and consistent with STRIDES' technical approach and donor requirements.
Monitors staff members' LOE to ensure adequate technical coverage across laboratory readiness, diagnostic operations, biosafety mentorship, quality systems strengthening, and reference laboratory support.
Leads the design and implementation of globallevel innovative technical strategies for outbreak diagnostics, decentralized testing, laboratory governance, biosafety and biosecurity, and diagnostic network optimization.
Maintains constructive dialogue and technical exchange with field counterparts, national laboratory authorities, reference laboratories, and implementing partners to ensure coordinated, highquality laboratory system strengthening.
Develops tools, guidance, and job aids that support the design and implementation of laboratory and diagnostic components, including readiness assessment tools, diagnostic algorithm job aids, and quality systems strengthening instruments.
Ensures laboratory and diagnostic implementation is consistent with international best practices, national policies, and STRIDES' technical standards; verifies that diagnostic workflows, biosafety measures, and quality systems meet client and funder contractual obligations across one or more major functional areas.
May supervise junior technical staff, Laboratory/Diagnostics Officers, subcontractors, and consultants implementing laboratory activities; provides oversight to ensure coherent, highquality execution of diagnostic network strengthening, biosafety mentorship, and quality systems support.
Functions in an advisor capacity with oversight of technical project administration, finance compliance, technical deliverables, and team management across laboratory and diagnostic components, includingsubcontractor implementedwork.
Leads daily laboratory and diagnostic activities for assigned projects, including diagnostic platform deployment, specimen referral system strengthening, biosafety and biosecurity support, and quality management system improvements.
Tracks delivery of laboratoryrelated project outputs, ensuringtimely, highquality completion of diagnostic readiness assessments, algorithm optimization, biosafety improvements, and quality system strengthening activities.
Partner/Sub-AwardManagement:
Capacity Building, Training andSupervision:
Developsandimplementstechnicaltrainingandcapacitybuildinginterventions. Identifiesstrategies to address training gaps. May supervise orprovidetechnical guidance to staffmembers.
Operations Management (Finance, HR,etc.):
Managestheprocesses,services,planning,organizing,coordinating,andcontrollingofall technical resources for a project.
Project/ProgramReporting:
Drafts sponsor financial and technicalreports. Collatesanduploadsoutputanddeliverablesdatatosponsordatasystems. Prepares and delivers presentations to sponsors on progress. Helps in the development and review of workplans. Creates technical content, owning the content, true experts at an advanced level (may be the most senior technical person). Serves as the primary author for technical deliverables (e.g., reports, presentations, manuscripts). Gathers and aggregates data to provide a summary / high level overview.
QualityAssurance:
Ensurestechnicaldeliverablesareconsistentwithbestpracticesintheindustry / subject and meet client/funder contractual obligations. Identifiesareasforimprovedefficiencyoreffectivenesswithinprescribedparameters, and institutesenhancements to procedures.
Applied Knowledge &Skills
Ensuresappropriateandtimelytechnical support for fieldprojects. Ensures the quality of implemented technical activities and systems at all levels. Conductsroutinecoordinationwithemployeesandconsultants,on-siteandinthefield. Strongknowledgeandskillsinaspecifictechnicalarea/functionandgeneralunderstanding of concepts and principles of related technical areas/functions. Solidknowledgeofstandardsforthetechnicalarea/field,operationalprocessesand procedures, work, and task flow. Hastheabilitytomanageprojects,setrealisticpriorities,andplanforthesuccessfulimplementation of activities. Proficient writing and verbal communicationskills. Relevantcomputersoftwareskills(including,ataminimum,thestandard applicationsinMSOffice). Ability to manage their own work to job and performancestandards. Must be able to read,writeand speak fluent English fluent in host countrylanguage.
Problem Solving &Impact
Demonstratestheabilitytoassessneedswithinagreedupondutiesandconsiders course of action best to meet those needs. Effectively applies knowledge of technicalareato solve a range of problems. Demonstratestheabilitytodevelopsolutionstoproblemsthatcannotbesolvedusing existing methods or approaches. Faultydecisions/recommendations/failurestocompleteassignmentswillnormallyresultiseriousdelaystoassignedprojectsresultinginconsiderableexpenditureofadditionaltime, resources, and funds. Decisions and actions impact primarily workflow, project processes and timeframes. Problems encountered are valid, requiring review of practices and precedents to resolve. Problem solving involves evaluating and resolving discrepancies with data, analyses, processes within prescribed guidelines. Policiesorguidelinesexistformostproblems;othersmustbereferredtobyasupervisor ormore senior professional.
SupervisionGiven/Received
May supervise junior staffmembers. Coordinates own workflow and sets individualpriorities. Works under general guidelines for completion and accuracy as determined by the supervisor. May manage a centralized functional area of activity. Serves as mentor to technical staff.
Education
Master's Degree oranInternationalEquivalent inLaboratory Science, Microbiology, Clinical Diagnostics, PublicHealthor a related clinical/medical field. Project Management (PM) Certificationpreferred.
Experience
Typicallyrequires8+yearsofrelevantexperienceinimplementinglarge-scale laboratory systems, networks, and diagnostics programs. Emergency outbreak response experience/knowledge preferred. Mentoringjunior laboratory staff and guides technical activities. Documented successprovidingsystems-level laboratory guidance. Proventrack recordtraining laboratory personnel,validatingassays, and establishing quality management systems (QMS). Experience designing laboratorystrengthening portfolios, securing research or development grants, or driving public health program growth. Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization. International or Domestic (US) Program Development or Program management preferred.
Typical PhysicalDemands
Typical officeenvironment. Abilitytospendlonghourslookingatacomputerscreenanddoingrepetitiveworkon a keyboard. Abilitytositandstandforextendedperiodsoftime.Ability to lift5lb.
Technology to beUsed
PersonalComputer,MicrosoftOffice365(i.e.,Word,Excel,PowerPoint,Skype/TEAMS,e-mail), office telephone, cellphoneand printer/copier.
TravelRequirements
The expected US Based hiring salary range for this role is listed below.Candidates FHI 360 pay ranges represent national averages that vary by geographic location.Whendeterminingan offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and educationpossessedby the applicant, internal equity, business sector, and budget.For internal candidates, salary placement will also follow FHI 360's current promotional increase guidelines. Final compensation will bedeterminedin accordance withapplicable law and FHI 360 policy. Base salary is only onecomponentof our offer.FHI 360 contributes7% of monthly base pay toa money purchasepension plan account.Additionally, allUS basedstaff working full-time, which is calculated at40 hours/week, receive18 daysof paid vacation per year, 12 sick days per year, and 11 holidays per year. Paid time off is reduced proratafor employees working less than a full-time schedule. US Based Hiring Salary Range: 89,000 - 120,000 USD annually International hiring ranges will differ based onlocation" 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. FHI 360 is an equal opportunity employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants' previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant's tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks. FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods or services during the application, recruitment or employment process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email CareerCenterSupport@fhi360.org. FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through acompetitive benefits package, professional developmentand policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others - and yourself. Please click here to continue searching FHI 360's Career Portal.
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FHI 360
paid time off, sick time
Sep 10, 2026