Laboratory and Diagnostics Advisor, Outbreak Preparedness and Response

• Provide technical leadership for STRIDES' outbreak laboratory and diagnostic systems portfolio
• Guide diagnostic capacity expansion, laboratory network strengthening, biosafety and biosecurity, quality systems, and workforce development
• Advise on diagnostic methods, technologies, assay validation, platform selection, and procurement alignment
• Collaborate with ministries of health, public health institutes, reference laboratories, implementing partners, and regional preparedness stakeholders
• Interpret laboratory readiness findings, quality gaps, biosafety risks, and diagnostic performance data
• Provide input on laboratory policies, essential diagnostics lists, specimen referral strategies, governance mechanisms, and outbreak diagnostic guidelines
• Design and implement laboratory and diagnostic components of STRIDES projects
• Lead laboratory and diagnostics technical sections of project plans
• Oversee laboratory and diagnostic activities in assigned response and preparedness countries
• Track project outputs, budgets, timelines, technical coverage, and donor requirements
• Coordinate country-office requests for laboratory technical assistance
• Lead global technical strategies for outbreak diagnostics, decentralized testing, laboratory governance, biosafety, biosecurity, and diagnostic network optimization
• Develop tools, guidance, and job aids for readiness assessments, diagnostic algorithms, and quality systems strengthening
• Ensure implementation meets international best practices, national policies, technical standards, and contractual obligations
• Supervise or guide junior technical staff, officers, subcontractors, and consultants
• Manage technical project administration, finance compliance, deliverables, and team management
• Serve as a technical point of contact with clients when assigned
• Develop and implement technical training and capacity-building interventions
• Manage technical resources and project operations
• Draft sponsor financial and technical reports and upload deliverables data to sponsor systems
• Prepare sponsor presentations and contribute to work plans
• Author technical deliverables including reports, presentations, and manuscripts
• Aggregate data and provide high-level summaries
• Conduct quality assurance and improve procedures
• Support field projects and coordinate with employees and consultants onsite and in the field

Requirements

• Master's Degree or an International Equivalent in Laboratory Science, Microbiology, Clinical Diagnostics, Public Health or a related clinical/medical field
• 8+ years of relevant experience implementing large-scale laboratory systems, networks, and diagnostics programs
• Emergency outbreak response experience/knowledge preferred
• Experience mentoring junior laboratory staff and guiding technical activities
• Documented success providing systems-level laboratory guidance
• Proven track record training laboratory personnel, validating assays, and establishing quality management systems (QMS)
• Experience designing laboratory strengthening portfolios, securing research or development grants, or driving public health program growth
• Prior work experience in an NGO, government agency, or private organization
• Project Management Certification preferred
• Strong knowledge and skills in laboratory and diagnostic systems
• Knowledge of technical standards, operational processes, procedures, work, and task flow
• Ability to manage projects, set priorities, and plan successful implementation
• Proficient writing and verbal communication skills
• Relevant computer software skills, including MS Office
• Ability to manage own work to job and performance standards
• Must be able to read, write, and speak fluent English and be fluent in the host country language
• Ability to spend long hours using a computer and keyboard
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods and lift 5 lb.
• Willingness/ability to travel 10%-25%
• Successful completion of applicable screening checks

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in laboratory and diagnostic systems, including capacity expansion, quality management systems, and technical leadership. Proficient in project management, training, and collaboration with health ministries and stakeholders to optimize outbreak response and diagnostics.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Laboratory Systems Implementation
• Quality Management Systems (QMS)
• Project Management Certification
• Technical Leadership in Diagnostics
• Fluent in English and Host Country Language

Hard Skills

• Laboratory Science
• Microbiology
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Assay Validation
• Diagnostic Capacity Expansion
• Biosafety and Biosecurity
• Data Aggregation and Reporting
• Diagnostic Algorithm Development
• Project Management
• Technical Training

Soft Skills

• Mentoring
• Communication Skills
• Team Management
• Collaboration
• Problem-Solving

Certifications & Qualifications

• Project Management Certification

Industry Keywords

• Public Health
• NGO Experience
• Emergency Outbreak Response
• Laboratory Governance
• Technical Standards

Tools & Technologies

• MS Office
• Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Diagnostic Technologies