Laboratory Advisor

_Job Summary:_

The Laboratory Advisor (LA) will lead the laboratory capacity building work for a US-CDC funded project that will serve the Global Health Security Agenda to strengthen detection of priority infectious diseases, specifically COVID-19 and influenza in Indonesia and regionally as requested. The project will support the Indonesia government and their relevant ministries in the strengthening of their laboratory systems, primarily public health but including private health and other non-governmental laboratories. The position will involve frequent travel in country as permitted based on local restrictions related to COVID-19. The LA will have both administrative and technical responsibilities. The administrative responsibilities include managing assignments, the associated staff including those of any partners, logistics and budgets. The technical responsibilities include working with CDC and other technical partners implementing complementary programs in the country to assess and provide capacity building technical assistance to target laboratories and the associated diagnostic network in Indonesia. Such strategies to strengthen the overall surveillance systems for priority diseases. The primary responsibility of the LA is to ensure successful implementation of the project laboratory work plan and achievement of all FHI 360 targets and deliverables in Indonesia while managing and remaining within the approved budget. This position reports to the Principal Investigator or their designee. This position is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

_ Technical Responsibilities:_

The Laboratory Advisor provides technical and scientific leadership to the design, implementation and monitoring of technical strategies, laboratory assessment and capacity building initiatives, laboratory data analysis and reporting, programs or tools to support laboratory capacity building for the project. Specifically:

- Leads the development of technical assistance, laboratory strengthening and quality assurance/quality control materials and programs.
- Responsible for the planning, conduct, and reporting of assessments of health laboratories supported by the project.
- Leads the follow-up to laboratory assessments with actionable improvement plans and technical assistance to achieve agreed improvement goals and enhance continuous improvement systems.
- Lead 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.
- Responsible for developing and implementing continuous improvement initiatives to build laboratory capacity and quality with reference to accepted standards and requirements.
- Collaborate with surveillance colleagues (internal and external to the project) to enhance sentinel surveillance systems including strategic information systems.
- Encourage and assist laboratories with preparing for and seeking accreditation through locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally accepted accreditation agencies.
- Assesses current technical, scientific, managerial and operational efficiencies at the country and regional level as appropriate.
- Provides guidance to ensure that program implementation adheres to appropriate laboratory technical standards and guidelines and that programs are technically sound.
- Other duties as assigned.

The Laboratory Advisor provides technical advice based upon expertise and knowledge of evidence
- based methods and strategies, current practice, and established laboratory and operational standards to ensure quality and rigorous design. Provides scientific leadership by staying current of evolving laboratory technical standards, guidelines, and program developments in area of expertise and sharing those with project-support laboratories, stakeholders, and project staff. The LA will be required to coordinate and work with a diverse group of organizations including CDC, the Ministry of Health laboratory staff and leaders, laboratory quality organizations, several international and national development partner organizations, and the donor in order to complete work.

_ Accountabilities:_

- Provides technical leadership in laboratory quality and quality management systems.
- With technical oversight, provide technical leadership in design, development, planning, implementation, and capacity building of the detection components of COVID-19 and influenza.
- Responsible for accomplishing assigned job responsibilities and following the standards and practices of FHI 360 and the Laboratory Sciences Division.
- Responsible for planning and scheduling own workflow and timetables and that of other FHI 360 staff working on laboratory activities and that of recipient laboratories and partners supporting laboratory activities.
- Identifies areas for improved efficiency or effectiveness within prescribed parameters, and institutes enhancements to procedur