Project Description:
Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) is an eight-year (2019–2027) global health initiative project funded by the United States Government (USG). EpiC has a global presence and extensive breadth and depth of technical experience. In FY26, EpiC’s scope in Jamaica will focus on strengthening global health security (GHS) capacity and systems, which may include strengthening outbreak preparedness and response systems, laboratory systems, risk communication and community engagement, and health emergency management.
Job Summary:
Provides technical guidance on laboratory strengthening, improving policies, projects, or delivery of service. Provides final authorization and approval of the technical portions of project design, based on the design and direction set by technical leadership. May manage consultants. Leads project activities and sub activities and assists with project implementation. Ensures project activities are on track with work plans, with technical expertise informing project implementation. Oversees project timelines and budgets. Assists in the development of donor reports and presentations. Successfully leads start-up initiatives including project design, budgeting, and recruitment efforts (success is measured in terms of establishment of partnerships, recruitment of teams and overall quality of resulting initiatives). Develops indicators for use by supervisor.
The Laboratory Technical Advisor (LTA) leads EpiC Jamaica’s technical support for laboratory systems strengthening and capacity building at designated public health laboratories in Jamaica. Reporting to the EpiC Jamaica Project Director and working closely with the Project Manager, the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Technical Advisor, sub-contractors, and the relevant Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) staff, the LTA provides strategic technical leadership and evidence-based guidance for the design, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of laboratory systems, including laboratory assessments, quality management systems, diagnostic networks, laboratory data analysis and reporting, accreditation readiness, and capacity-building programs and tools. The LTA supports the MOHW in enhancing laboratory quality, operational efficiency, and access to diagnostic services in alignment with national priorities and internationally accepted laboratory standards, guidelines, and best practices. The role also provides scientific leadership by remaining current with evolving laboratory technologies, standards, and program developments and sharing this knowledge with project-supported laboratories, stakeholders, and project staff to ensure technically sound, high-quality, and sustainable laboratory systems.
Accountabilities:
Working in close collaboration with the MOHW, the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), designated health facilities, implementing partners, donor stakeholders, and laboratory quality organizations, the Laboratory Technical Advisor will:
Specific Technical Responsibilities:
- Provide high-quality technical leadership and advisory support in laboratory quality management systems and laboratory strengthening initiatives.
- Lead and coordinate project-supported laboratory strengthening initiatives, including laboratory quality management systems (QMS), quality assurance (QA), and quality control (QC) programs.
- Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of laboratory quality systems at designated sites in alignment with nationally and internationally accepted standards and guidelines.
- Conduct, coordinate, and report on laboratory assessments for supported laboratories and health facilities.
- Develop and support implementation of corrective and preventive action plans and continuous quality improvement initiatives arising from laboratory assessments.
- Provide technical assistance to designated laboratories to address identified gaps and achieve agreed performance improvement goals.
- Support laboratories in preparing for accreditation and progressing toward compliance with local, regional, and international accreditation standards and frameworks.
- Support development and strengthening of specimen referral, management, and transportation systems to improve access to diagnostic services and integration with existing national systems.
- Stay current with evolving laboratory science, diagnostic technologies, quality standards, and programmatic developments, and disseminate relevant updates to project-supported laboratories and stakeholders.
Project Design, Start-up and Implementation
- With technical oversight, provide technical leadership in design, development, planning, implementation, and capacity building of lab strengthening component.
- Ensure assigned activities are implemented in accordance with national standards, organizational standards, donor requirements, organizational best practices, and accepted laboratory best practices.
- Support designated laboratories to achieve agreed quality improvement using evidence-based approaches and capacity strengthening goals.
- Maintain effective professional relationships with stakeholders and serve as a trusted technical resource in laboratory systems strengthening.
- Maintain a constructive dialogue and technical exchange with counterparts and technical staff members of implementing partners
- Create technical portion of the project plan, within the given resource and financial constraints
- May supervise junior technical staff members, sub-contractors, and others implementing technical project work
- Coordinate requests from CO (Country Office) for technical assistance
Partner/Sub-Award Management, Stakeholder Engagement, and supervision
- Ensure technical activities are appropriately coordinated, documented, monitored, and aligned with national laboratory priorities and project objectives.
- Maintain effective collaboration and technical exchange with MOHW departments, NPHL leadership, laboratory personnel, implementing partners, sub-awardees, contractors, consortium members, donor representatives, and other stakeholders.
- Represent the organization and project at technical meetings, professional forums, workshops, and conferences, as appropriate.
- Coordinate with project staff, consultants, sub-awardees, MOHW teams, and facility personnel to support implementation of laboratory strengthening activities and resolve operational or technical challenges.
- Serve as the daily Point of Contact for facility staff, sub awardees in the lab strengthening component.
- Monitor and review implementation of laboratory activities and provide recommendations to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and quality.
- Mentor, coach or provide technical guidance to staff of the designated facilities.
- Develop tools, strategies, and approaches to support laboratory capacity building and quality improvement activities including capacity building interventions.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Project/Program Reporting:
- Draft relevant sections of technical reports and presentations for donor and other stakeholders.
- Collate and upload output and deliverables data to donor data systems, as appropriate.
- Gather and aggregate data to provide a summary / high level overview.
Applied Knowledge & Skills:
- In-depth functional knowledge of clinical laboratory medicine and laboratory quality management systems.
- In-depth functional knowledge of the diagnostics for infectious diseases (including COVID-19 and influenza).
- In-depth knowledge of the mechanisms and strategies that are being deployed under the Global Health Security Agenda and other similar mechanisms to combat emerging infectious threats.
- Good understanding of the external environment and how it affects laboratory functioning in general and FHI 360, including political, legal, environmental, financial and social influences.
- Good understanding of how laboratory systems and network support disease surveillance efforts, particularly in Jamaica.
- Strong diagnostic, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to exchange information, present recommendations, and collaborate with colleagues and peers within the organization and externally.
- Ability to influence others of the benefits/importance of an idea or plan of action and to gain their support or commitment.
- Strong negotiation skills and ability to reach mutual points of agreement and benefit among peers and colleagues.
- Will be required to lead diagnostic network coordination and work with a diverse group of national organizations including the Government and other diagnostic network leaders, development partners, other regional and global CDC staff and other complementary programs being implemented in the country.
- Has the ability to manage projects, set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
- Proficient writing and verbal communication skills.
- Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office).
- Ability to manage their own work to job and performance standards.
- Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English.
Competencies:
There are 31 FHI 360 development competencies. Of greatest focus for this particular job will be:
Project Management (Planning and Time Management) - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks (sets objectives/goals/measures). Breaks down work into steps, schedules, task/people assignments. Marshals people, time, and resources efficiently. Arranges information in a useful manner and orchestrates multiple activities at once.
People Management (Making Others Great) – Facilitate professional development of staff by providing challenging, learning assignments and opportunities. Shares and solicits feedback monthly at the very least. Helps establish compelling development plans. Assigns responsibility and accountability for tasks/decisions. Monitors process, progress, and results.
Creates a climate in which people want to do their best.
Creating and Managing Systems and Processes – Recognizes the need for standardization and balances client and organization need in systems design. Anticipates the effects of process change on people while optimizing task efficiency and simplicity.
Employees are expected to possess or have high potential for the development of these three fundamental competencies.
Problem Solving & Impact:
- Demonstrates the ability to assess needs within agreed upon duties and considers course of action best to meet those needs.
- Effectively applies knowledge of technical area to solve a range of problems.
- Demonstrates the ability to develop solutions to problems that cannot be solved using existing methods or approaches.
- Faulty decisions/ recommendations /failures to complete assignments will normally result in serious delays to assigned projects resulting in considerable expenditure of additional time, resources, and funds.
- Decisions and actions impact primarily workflow, project processes and timeframes.
- Problems encountered are varied, requiring review of practices and precedents to resolve. Problem solving involves evaluating and resolving discrepancies with data, analyses, processes, etc. within prescribed guidelines.
- Policies or guidelines exist for most problems; others must be referred to a supervisor or more senior professional.
Supervision Given/Received:
- Supervises technical consultancies and implementing sub-partners.
- Coordinates own workflow and sets individual priorities.
- Works under general guidelines for completion and accuracy as determined by the supervisor.
- May accomplish results through lower-level staff managers or through experienced staff who exercise independence in their assignments.
- May serve as a mentor or coach to designated facility technical staff.
- Collaborates with the Project Manager.
- Reports to the EpiC Jamaica Project Director.
Education: ** **
- Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in laboratory sciences with a specialization in microbiology; or Related Field.
Experience: ** **
- At least eight years of experience in clinical laboratory medicine in developing countries with at least five years’ experience in a laboratory quality management role; direct experience in Jamaica is preferred.
- Proven knowledge and experience in the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases
- Competent in current laboratory developments in the diagnosis of infectious diseases including point-of-care and molecular methods.
- Knowledge and experience with strengthening laboratories to achieve international quality standards including against ISO 15189 and/or SLMTA/SLIPTA.
- A demonstrated ability to work with multiple partners on collaborative projects;
- Familiarity with international biosafety regulations and implementation in laboratories;
- A demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with host country governments and international organizations operating in country; and
- Experience to manage donor-funded projects (particularly US Government-funded), set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
- Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization.
Typical Physical Demands:
- Typical office environment.
- Ability to spend long hours looking at a computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
- Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
- Ability to lift 5 - 25 lbs.
Technology to be Used:
- Personal Computer, Microsoft Office 365 (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype/TEAMS, email), office telephone, cell phone and printer/copier.
Travel Requirements:
The expected hiring salary range for this role is JMD 6,600,000 - 9,000,000 annually for basic salary. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, market pay, and budget.
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.
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