Senior Technical Officer, Laboratory Services at FHI 360

Supervisor: STA, Laboratory Service

Basic Function:

Provide technical expertise and assistance in implementing high-quality laboratory services within the care and treatment project in Nigeria, including laboratory capacity development at project health facility sites.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Give technical support and develop quality policies, quality tools, SOPs and recommendations related to the implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of laboratory services for HIV/AIDS, opportunistic (OI) and malaria care and treatment in collaboration with technical staff within FHI and at national, state and local agencies in Nigeria.
• Provide technical assistance in capacity building for laboratory services at health facilities and other settings as appropriate.
• Develop concept papers and research papers to improve and or extend existing laboratory activities.
• Carry out quality control functions/activities, in collaboration with the zonal and state teams, of the labs, including quality control inspections schedules and the collection of quality control recors; ensure the availability of quality records documents.
• Review and monitor QA and QC activities of the Laboratory in order to determine conformance with established policies, national regulations, or accreditation requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and technical support related to high technology (TB culture, PCR) laboratory services.
• Remain informed on new findings in the field of laboratory technology thatrelate to HIV/AIDS, OI, malaria care and treatment by reviewing current literature, and draw implications from research for program activities.
• Coordinate Proficiency testing (PT) activities and ensure PT is being done for each specialty; explore other ways of testing evaluation in the absence of PT
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes:

• Knowledge of health and development programs in developing countries in general and Nigeria specifically.
• Excellent working knowledge of laboratory equipment and techniques for the following categories of assays: HIV rapid and confirmatory testing, hematology, biochemistry, CD4/CD8, HIV viral load, HIV DNA qualitative test, HIV viral resistance (genotype and phenotype).
• Excellent working knowledge of laboratory equipment and techniques for the identification and culturing of different TB species,and drug resistance tuberculosis (
• Thorough knowledge of QA, QC and proficiency testing concepts; the ability to apply these concepts to resolve complex conditions in laboratory and administrative settings.
• Knowledge of laboratory service and management issues related to the clinical management of HIV/AIDS, including ART.
• Knowledge of laboratory service and management issues related toOpportunistic infection (OI) and malaria.
• Knowledge of District Health Information System (DHIS) and Lafiya Management Information System (LAMIS) is required.
• Laboratory management and training experience and ability to understand full range of issues around the laboratory management of HIV/AIDS, including provision of counseling and testing services.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the social, political and ethical issues surrounding HIV infection.
• Ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain compatibility among project staff, subcontractors, consultants and recipients of assistance.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.
• High degree of proficiency in written and spoken English communication.
• Well-developed computer skills.
• Ability to travel within Nigeria 25% time.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• BSc in Laboratory sciences or related field with 7-9 years post national youth service experience and a minimum of 5 years experience in provision of laboratory support for HIV/AIDS.
• Or Master degree in Laboratory sciences or related field with 5-7 years post national youth service experience and a minimum of 5 years experience in provision of laboratory support for HIV/AIDS.
• 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.
• Experience implementing in the North East Zone
• Knowledge of advanced laboratory procedures, diagnosis and management related to HIV/AIDS care and treatment is required with some experience in an international development orgnization preferred.
• Certification of license to practice as a medical laboratory scientist is required.
• Expertise in hematology, TB and blood safety issues will be an added advantage.