Background:
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, Youth, Research and Technology; creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories.
FHI 360 is seeking a qualified candidate who will serve as a Senior Laboratory Specialist (SLS). The SLS will lead laboratory capacity building including biosafety biosecurity work for a potential U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) project through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) project to secure and consolidate select agents; enhance biosafety and biosecurity (BS&S) standards; and sustain and maintain countriesโ ability to detect, diagnose, and report emerging and re-emerging diseases of international security concern, according to international guidelines and best practices. This work seeks to protect the United States, its Armed Forces, and its allies from biological threats by strengthening the capabilities of partner nations and the international community to prevent, detect, and prepare for outbreaks caused by pathogens. The potential project will support the Governments in Southeast Asia and their relevant ministries in the strengthening of their laboratory systems, primarily public health but including private health and other non-governmental laboratories.
Hiring of the successful applicant is contingent on the successful award of the project to FHI 360.
Job Summary:
The Senior Laboratory Specialist provides technical support to staff and the project. They support technical requirements in the area of project design, business development and quality assurance. Implement and monitor strategic and technical initiatives. Provide technical guidance around the issues, challenges, and strategies for improving access to quality affecting the project. Contribute knowledge products through the creation and management of reports, technical materials, and conflict-sensitive solutions. Working closely with project and Headquarter (HQ) teams, support projects by evaluating programmatic effectiveness, overseeing technical aspects, and providing technical assessment reports. Contribute to business development efforts, including supporting the management of opportunity identification, capture, proposal development, and strategic partnering.
Based in the Philippines, the Senior Laboratory Specialist will work closely with the program team to implement diagnostic capacity building and technical assistance activities in the country to assess and provide capacity building technical assistance to target laboratories and the associated diagnostic networks. Strategies to strengthen the overall biosafety and bio surveillance systems for priority pathogens and diseases will be key for this work. The Senior Laboratory Specialist will ensure successful implementation of the project laboratory work plan and achievement of all FHI 360 targets and deliverables while managing and remaining within the approved budget. He/she will have the following responsibilities:
Accountabilities:
Technical Requirements:
- Supports technical aspects of projects including leading with technical assistance, laboratory strengthening, and biosafety biosecurity to detect, diagnose, and report outbreaks of infectious disease in accordance with international guidelines and as guided by the project.
- Monitors and maintains project protocols, instruments, data sets, manuals, training materials and reports related to technical area of expertise including providing guidance to ensure that program implementation adheres to appropriate laboratory technical standards and guidelines and that programs are technically sound.
- Works closely with the project team to ensure project implementation remains technically sound and adheres to company strategy and standard operating procedures (SOPโs), promoting cross-country learning, best practice exchange, and harmonization of approaches.
- Develops or writes technical briefs, reports, or other necessary materials to facilitate research, best practices, policies, and procedures including developing and implementing continuous improvement initiatives to build laboratory capacities for quality including biosafety and biosecurity with reference to accepted local and internationals standards, manuals and requirements.
- Conducts analysis of project implementation to identify areas for improvement including planning, conducting, and reporting of assessments (including biosafety biosecurity and risk) of supported health laboratories. Additionally, leads the follow-up to laboratory assessments with actionable improvement plans and technical assistance to achieve agreed improvement goals and enhance continuous improvement systems. .
- Provides mentorship and team building including leading the development and/or enhancement of the specimen management and transportation systems in the country coordinating with all current systems that have a role in the same to improve access to diagnostic services for public health threats.
- Collaborates with the monitoring and evaluation team to interpret data sets and other assessment findings.
- Provides technical support in the development and dissemination of tools, materials, reports, papers, and intervention for research projects.
- Provides technical input assist laboratories with strengthening towards accreditation through locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally accepted accreditation agencies
- May create technical portion of the project plan, within the given resources and financial constraints.
- Assists with implementing components of the technical portions of the project plan
- May support with developing and monitoring of technical work plans and budgets.
- Participate in client / funder meetings and draft reports / presentations.
Project Design Implementation:
- Collaborates with surveillance colleagues to enhance surveillance systems including strategic information systems.
- Monitors project deliverables under the direct responsibility of the SLS and reports to supervisors.
- Leads technical laboratory activities and sub activities and assists with project implementation.
- Functions as the project technical lead for Southeast Asia region with oversight of project technical administrative compliance, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of technical deliverables, and team management, (includes projects and consultants).
Business Development and Client/Funder Support:
- Represents the project while building productive working relationships internally and externally
- May participate on national and regional technical working groups and coordination platforms related to laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, bio surveillance of emerging and re-emerging diseases of international security concern pub, outbreak response, and promoting multisectoral engagement and data-sharing.
- Contributes to drafting of budgets, and work plans.
Operations Management (Finance, HR, etc.):
- Contributes to ensure project laboratory activities are on track with work plans, with technical expertise informing project implementation.
- Assists in the development of donor reports and presentations.
- Contributes to tracking laboratory biosafety and biosecurity aspects of Statement of Work (SOW) and budget tracking systems; provides reports to supervisors.
- Collects financial and technical tracking data; prepares reports.
- Contributes to coordinating with suppliers for procurements.
Applied Knowledge & Skills:
- In-depth functional knowledge of clinical laboratory medicine, laboratory biosafety biosecurity, and laboratory quality management systems .
- In-depth functional knowledge of the diagnostics for infectious diseases (including high-consequence pathogens).
- Broader knowledge of quality standards, mechanisms and strategies that are being deployed under Global Health Security and other similar mechanisms to combat emerging infectious threats
- Proficiency with database management software (such as laboratory information systems) and on-line search tools required.
- Has sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas.
- Articulate, professional, and able to communicate in a clear, positive manner with clients and staff.
- Must be able to read, write, and speak fluent English.
- Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
- Excellent and demonstrated project management skills.
- Ability to influence and collaborate with others.
- Demonstrated proficiency with using Microsoft Office Suite required.
- Ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors, and prepare reports.
- Ability to solve problems and implement corrective action as needed.
Supervision Given/Received:
- May mentor and coach other lower-level personnel.
- May supervisor junior level staff.
- Typically reports to an Associate Director/ Director.
Education: ** **
- Masterโs degree or itsโ international equivalent in laboratory sciences a Related Field.
- Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.
Experience: ** **
- Typically requires 6+ years of relevant experience in clinical laboratory medicine in developing countries. Direct experience in Southeast Asia is preferred.
- Proven knowledge and experience in the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases
- Competent in current laboratory developments in detection, diagnosis, and reporting outbreaks of infectious disease in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) guidelines of infectious diseases.
- Knowledge and experience with internationally accepted regulations that strengthen biosafety and biosecurity and pathogen oversight systems as well as bio surveillance of pathogens
- Knowledge and experience with strengthening laboratories to achieve international quality standards including against ISO 15189, 17025 and/or SLMTA/SLIPTA, would be an added advantage.
- Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization, and demonstrated ability to work with multiple partners on collaborative projects.
- Familiarity with international biosafety regulations and implementation in laboratories.
Typical Physical Demands:
- Typical office environment.
- Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
- Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
- Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.
Technology to be Used:
- Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.
Travel Requirements:
- 10% - 25%
FHI 360 offers a competitive compensation package and is an equal opportunity employer. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application file consisting of CV and covering letter by November 10 2025 at the latest to the following address, KLaureles@fhi360.org specifying the job title in the subject line of the email: Senior Laboratory Specialist, South East Asia/Philippines.
Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
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.
FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.
Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicantsโ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicantโs tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.
FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.
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- 10% - 25%
- Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.
- Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.
- Masterโs degree or itsโ international equivalent in laboratory sciences a Related Field.