Senior Technical Advisor - Laboratory Services

About the role

FHI 360 is recruiting a Senior Technical Advisor for Laboratory Services in Lagos State, Nigeria, reporting to the Associate Director, Laboratory Services. The advisor provides strategic and technical leadership to strengthen laboratory systems and services under the HIV, TB and Malaria programme through the Technical Quality Leadership and Accountability (TQLA) support mechanism, ensuring alignment with national policies, WHO recommendations and donor (PEPFAR/USDOS) requirements. The position focuses on quality management systems, diagnostic network optimisation, biosafety and biosecurity, accreditation, quality assurance and capacity strengthening, and includes travel within Nigeria 45% of the time.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic technical oversight of laboratory components of HIV, TB and Malaria programmes in the designated zones of the Nigeria bilateral project.
• Coordinate the design, planning and implementation of the laboratory component of HIV/AIDS care and treatment with state and community-level staff and agencies.
• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of laboratory Quality Management Systems (QMS), support ISO 15189 requirements, and strengthen IQC, EQA and proficiency testing.
• Strengthen specimen transport, equipment and inventory management, LIS, and laboratory-clinical interfaces.
• Support the indigenous prime partner in building sustainable laboratory capacity, including mentoring laboratory managers and personnel, developing training curricula and job aids, and conducting competency assessments.
• Develop guidelines, tools and recommendations for TB, malaria and opportunistic infection laboratory services, and monitor quality improvement interventions.
• Strengthen viral load testing, early infant diagnosis, HIV rapid testing, CD4 and HIV diagnostics, GeneXpert, TB culture and drug susceptibility testing, and malaria microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests.
• Prepare technical reports for donors and government, document best practices, support operational research, and collaborate with ministries of health, national public health laboratory systems and implementing partners.
• Represent FHI 360 in technical meetings, coordinate with the Project Director on department strategy, and supervise and mentor field lab staff at state offices.

Required profile

• Master's degree in medical laboratory sciences with over 12 years of relevant experience, or a doctorate in laboratory sciences with at least 11 years.
• At least 7 years supporting HIV, TB and/or Malaria laboratory programmes.
• Excellent working knowledge of HIV, TB and malaria laboratory assays and equipment, and of DHIS and LIMS.
• Ability to travel within Nigeria 45% of the time.
• Proven ability to supervise staff, strong written and spoken English, and ability to represent FHI 360 to donors and government.