Laboratory Technical Advisor

Overview

Overview:

Jhpiego, an international non-profit health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, is seeking an experienced Laboratory Technical Advisor to support the Government-to-Government (G2G) Health Systems Strengthening Project in Liberia.

The Senior Laboratory Technical Advisor will provide strategic and technical leadership to strengthen Liberia's laboratory systems, specimen transportation and referral networks, Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS), and government capacity to deliver high-quality laboratory services nationwide. Working closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH), National Reference Laboratory (NRL), National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), County Health Teams, health facilities, and implementing partners, the Advisor will support the improvement of laboratory quality, diagnostic services, specimen management systems, and institutional capacity while promoting government ownership and sustainability.

The Advisor will play a key role in strengthening national laboratory systems, improving access to timely and accurate laboratory results, supporting quality improvement initiatives, and ensuring integration of laboratory services within broader health systems strengthening efforts.

This position is contingent upon donor award and is for Liberian nationals only.

Responsibilities

Laboratory Systems Strengthening

• Provide technical leadership and assistance to strengthen national and sub-national specimen collection, transportation, tracking, referral, and result-return systems.
• Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of standardized procedures, guidelines, and tools for specimen management and laboratory services.
• Assess specimen referral pathways, identify system gaps, and support improvements in specimen integrity, biosafety, turnaround times, and result reporting.
• Strengthen Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS), quality assurance, quality control, and continuous quality improvement processes.
• Support development and implementation of laboratory SOPs, quality manuals, guidelines, quality indicators, monitoring tools, and corrective action plans.
• Conduct laboratory assessments, audits, and quality improvement activities and support follow-up of identified recommendations.
• Promote best practices in laboratory management, biosafety, quality assurance, and diagnostic service delivery.
• Support implementation of national laboratory standards and accreditation-readiness initiatives where applicable.

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance

• Provide technical assistance, mentorship, coaching, and supportive supervision to laboratory personnel, facility staff, and government counterparts.
• Strengthen the capacity of MOH, NRL, NPHIL, County Health Teams, and health facility staff to manage specimen referral and laboratory quality systems independently.
• Develop and implement capacity-building plans and technical tools to improve laboratory performance and quality management practices.
• Facilitate training and knowledge-sharing activities related to specimen management, laboratory quality systems, and diagnostic services.
• Support government ownership and institutionalization of laboratory systems and processes.

Program Implementation and Monitoring

• Participate in laboratory system assessments, operational evaluations, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Monitor implementation of project-supported laboratory activities and ensure alignment with national priorities and donor requirements.
• Contribute technical expertise to surveys, assessments, operational research, and evaluations related to laboratory systems and services.
• Support routine monitoring of laboratory performance indicators and use data for continuous improvement and decision-making.
• Identify challenges and recommend practical solutions to strengthen laboratory service delivery and system performance.

Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

• Collaborate closely with the Ministry of Health, NPHIL, NRL, County Health Teams, health facilities, implementing partners, and other stakeholders.
• Support coordination of laboratory-related technical working groups, stakeholder meetings, and collaborative initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with government counterparts, donors, and development partners.
• Represent Jhpiego in technical meetings, workshops, and forums related to laboratory systems strengthening and health systems development.

Documentation, Reporting, and Sustainability

• Document activities, achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and best practices related to laboratory systems strengthening.
• Contribute to project work plans, technical reports, monitoring tools, presentations, and other project deliverables.Technical
• Support development of sustainability and transition plans for laboratory systems and services.
• Maintain high-quality documentation and reporting standards in accordance with donor and Jhpiego requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Country Program Manager or designee.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science, Clinical Laboratory Science, Biological Sciences, Public Health, or a related field. A Master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• Professional qualification and registration as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, Technologist, or related laboratory professional.
• Minimum of seven (7) to eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in laboratory systems strengthening, laboratory quality management, diagnostic services, specimen management, or related public health programs.
• Demonstrated experience in Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS), quality assurance, quality control, and continuous quality improvement.
• Experience with specimen collection, handling, packaging, transportation, referral, tracking, and result-return systems.
• Experience conducting laboratory assessments, audits, quality improvement activities, and corrective action planning.
• Proven experience providing technical assistance, mentorship, training, and supportive supervision to laboratory personnel and government counterparts.
• Experience working with government laboratory systems, public health programs, and national laboratory networks.
• Strong knowledge of national and international laboratory standards, quality systems, and best practices for laboratory service delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to assess laboratory system performance, identify gaps, and implement practical solutions.
• Experience supporting donor-funded health programs and working with government-led implementation mechanisms.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation, mentoring, and report-writing skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with government counterparts, partners, and stakeholders.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently throughout Liberia, including to project-supported counties and health facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. The position will be closed for further applications once it is successfully filled. We will be conducting interviews on a rolling basis, so we encourage interested candidates to apply at their earliest convenience. Thank you for your interest in joining our team.

 

Jhpiego is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Failure to follow the application instructions will result in your application being denied.

 

For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

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