STRIDES Laboratory and Diagnostics Advisor, Outbreak Preparedness and Response

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. The Advisor 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 outbreak response and preparedness laboratory systems challenges in countries at risk or experiencing an outbreak 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 recommending diagnostic methods, technologies, and evaluation criteria appropriate for the specific country context; 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.

*Guides laboratory readiness as a key component of outbreak response and preparedness; interprets findings, quality system gaps, biosafety risks, and diagnostic performance data; and 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 diagnostic guidelines appropriate for outbreak response and detection in specific country contexts.

*Performs otherduties asassigned to advance STRIDES'outbreakresponse and Global Health Securityobjectives.

ProjectDesign andImplementation:

*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 for outbreak response and preparedness, 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 outbreak 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 outbreak response and preparedness project outputs, ensuring activities are implemented on time, within budget, and consistent with STRIDES' technical approach and donor requirements.

*Coordinates requests from country offices for laboratory technicalassistance, ensuring coherent andtimelysupport across outbreak response and preparedness contexts.

*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 and adapts tools, guidance, and job aids that support the design and implementation of laboratory and diagnostic outbreak activities, 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.

*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:

*Mayserve as adailyPOC (Point of Contact) with clients for some projects on technicalmatters.

Capacity Building, Training andSupervision:

*Developsandimplementstechnicaltrainingandcapacitybuildinginterventions.

*Identifiesstrategies to address training gaps.

*May supervise orprovidetechnical guidance to staffmembers.

Applied Knowledge &Skills

*Comprehensive knowledge of infectious disease diagnostics and applied knowledge of field implementation and project management.

*Demonstrated project and technical leadership; prior experience strengthening laboratory/diagnostic capabilities during an emerging infectious disease outbreak a plus.

*Demonstrated experience strengthening laboratory/diagnostic capabilities in a low- or middle-income country, or other complex context or setting.

*Excellent oral and written communication skills, fluency in a second language (French, Spanish, and/or Russian) desirable.

*Experience implementing USG-funded contracts.

*Ability to work flexibly throughout project implementation in response to shifting country, regional, global, and USG priorities.

*Ability to motivate, influence, and work well with others to achieve STRIDES objectives.

*Ability to build positive working relationships with various stakeholder communities, government officials, and other multilateral bodies and donor representatives.

*Strong organizational skills, high level of attention to detail, and effectiveness under deadlines.

SupervisionGiven/Received

*May supervise junior staffmembers.

*Coordinates own workflow and sets individualpriorities.

*Reports to the STRIDES Senior Laboratory/Diagnostics Advisor.

Education

*Master's Degree oranInternationalEquivalent inBiological or Laboratory Sciences, Microbiology, Clinical Diagnostics, PublicHealthor a related field.

*Project Management (PM) Certificationpreferred but not required.

Experience

*Typicallyrequires8+yearsofrelevantexperienceinimplementingapplicable laboratory and diagnostic network strengthening programs and services.

*Infectious disease outbreak response experience and knowledge preferred.

*Experience providing laboratory and diagnostic network support for low- and middle-income countries. Competent in the diagnosis of infectious diseases including near point-of-care and molecular diagnostic testing.

*Knowledge and experience with strengthening laboratories to achieve international quality standards.

*Familiarity with international biosafety regulations.

*Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization.

Typical PhysicalDemands

*Typical officeenvironment.

*Abilitytospendlonghourslookingatacomputerscreenanddoingrepetitiveworkon a keyboard.

*Abilitytositandstandforextendedperiodsoftime.Ability to lift5lb.

Technology to beUsed

*Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

TravelRequirements

* 10% -25%

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.

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