STRIDES Laboratory/Diagnostics Officer

Job Summary:

The Laboratory/Diagnostics Officer provides technical guidance around the STRengthening Infectious disease DEtection Systems (STRIDES) Activity's laboratory/diagnostic strategy to support implementation. S/he will provide technical support to STRIDES in-country staff, including supporting technical requirements in workplan design and quality assurance. The STRIDES Laboratory/Diagnostics Officer implements and monitors strategic and technical initiatives and contributes expertise through the development and management of reports and technical materials. Working closely with in-country and Headquarter (HQ) STRIDES teams, s/he supports implementation by evaluating programmatic effectiveness, overseeing technical aspects, and providing technical assessment reports.

Accountabilities:

Technical Requirements:

• Provides STRIDES in-country laboratory and diagnostics staff with overall technical direction and guidance in line with the Activity's objectives.

• Supports STRIDES technical aspects, including staff and partner capacity building, mentorship, and team building for in-country laboratory and diagnostic teams.

• Monitors and maintains STRIDES laboratory and diagnostic protocols, instruments, data sets, manuals, training materials and reports.

• Works closely with the Senior Laboratory and Diagnostics Advisor and in-country teams to ensure project implementation remains technically sound and adheres to STRIDES strategy and standard operating 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 mangement to ensure coordination and field-level implementation, and collaborates with the STRIDES monitoring, evaluation and learning team to interpret data sets and assessment findings.

Project Design Implementation:

• Develops strategies and tools for the design and implementation of STRIDES laboratory/diagnostic technical components.

• Assists in-country teams with implementing and monitoring STRIDES laboratory and diagnostics-focused activities and supports development and tracking against workplans and budgets.

• 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.

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 spend, 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 sof