Technical Officer, Laboratory Quality Management and Logistics at Family Health International (FHI 360)

Family Health International (FHI 360) is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research and technology - creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Technical Officer, Laboratory Quality Management and Logistics

Job Requisition ID: 2024200712
Location: Calabar, Cross River
Job type: Full-time
Supervisor: Senior Technical Advisor, Laboratory Services

Basic Function

• The Technical Officer - Laboratory services will liaise with the STA-Lab and the laboratory team at clusters and Country Office to provide technical support and implement high-quality laboratory services within the state for FHI Nigeria programs including adherence to relevant professional standards and guidelines, and involvement with laboratory clinical governance issues and audits.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and maintain oversight of the day-to-day operations of all laboratory services at the state level.
• Provide technical support, supervision, monitoring and quality assurance of laboratory service operations in the state.
• Contribute to the development of lessons learned from programs and projects related to laboratory management of HIV/AIDS and apply these lessons to modify existing program and improve the design of new programs.
• Represent FHI Nigeria on issues of laboratory management of HIV/AIDS at the states.
• Work with facility QA officers/ESM leads to monitor the quality of laboratory operations and testing in supported facilities.
• Track the implementation of a Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS)
• Assist facility staff in overseeing day-to-day quality assurance and quality control of laboratory operations to ensure compliance with regulatory bodies and ISO 15189 standards.
• Support the QA officers to design and implement oversight practices, such as testing, inspections, working with the state teams to prepare the facilities for accreditation.
• Collate, review and report facility reports (site visits, monthly/quarterly narrative, data, mentoring and supervision, etc.)
• Provide assistance in analysis of monitoring/audit results in order to identify service gaps, develop quality management plan and initiate, prioritize and deploy operational improvement measure with the laboratory team.
• Work closely with M&E and other lab staff to ensure that laboratory quality-related data e.g. proficiency testing and retesting are adequately captured in the DHIS, LMIS and LAMIS on time.
• Ensure that the test, controls and inspections are carried out and that personnel have access to all required quality-related documents.
• Participate in EQA, proficiency testing activities. Prepare detailed competency and SPI-RT audit reports for the unit and tracking return of EQA reports from facilities.
• Facilitate and ensure routine PPM and routine service/equipment maintenance.
• Remain informed on current programs in the field of laboratory management of HIV/AIDS and related development field by reviewing current literature and staying alert to any implication of such experience and research for department activities as outlined by the technical supervisor.
• Systematically ensure that records of nonconformity of events reports at the states are kept and resolve non-conformities arising within the laboratory unit to completion.
• Work closely with the lab facility staff to ensure that universal safety precautions are properly followed and biological waste from the labs and blood banks is properly disposed of.
• Provide technical assistance in capacity building for laboratory services to FHI and facility staff.
• Provide technical support on blood safety and laboratory quality assurance issues within FHI at state and local agencies in Nigeria.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements

• B.Sc Degree in Laboratory Sciences or related field with 5-7 years post national youth service experience and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in the provision of laboratory support for HIV/AIDS.
• Or Master’s degree in Laboratory sciences or related field with 3-5 years post national youth service experience and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in the provision of laboratory support for HIV/AIDS.
• Certification/license to practice as a medical laboratory scientist is required.

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes:

• Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, practices, and procedures with clinical laboratory functions and quality management systems for labs.
• Knowledge of health and development programs in developing countries in general and Nigeria specifically
• Experience in the management of laboratory services, particularly health facility-based services, including quality assurance systems, laboratory analysis, and interpretation and reporting techniques based on best practices, quality management practices and safe work practices.
• Excellent working knowledge of laboratory equipment and techniques for the following categories of assays: HIV rapid and confirmatory testing, CD4/CD8, HIV viral load, HIV DNA qualitative test, HIV viral resistance (genotype and phenotype)
• Good working knowledge of laboratory equipment and techniques for the microscopic identification and culturing of different TB species, and drug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB)
• Knowledge of District Health Information System (DHIS) and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentation and training skills.
• Ability to work well with others and develop and maintain compatibility among project staff, project collaborators, subcontractors and consultants.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills. And the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Strong knowledge of national and international regulations with quality assurance, laboratory standards and guidelines.
• Knowledge of USAID and PEPFAR funded programs.
• Supervisory or management experience required. 
• Must be able to work independently, and as part of a management team.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the social, political and ethical issues surrounding HIV infections.
• Ability to represent FHI360 to donors, government officials and the NGO community.
• Ability to manage and complete numerous tasks with a high degree of organization and meet deadlines with strong attention to consistency, detail, and quality.
• Prior work experience in a non- governmental organization (NGO). 
• Familiarity with the Nigerian public sector health system and NGOs and CBOs is highly desirable.
• Well-developed computer skills
• Ability to travel within Nigeria 25% time.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candiduates should:
Click here to apply online