STRIDES Laboratory and Diagnostics Advisor, Outbreak Preparedness and Response

Job Summary

The Laboratory and Diagnostics Advisor provides technical guidance and support for United States Government (USG)-funded STRIDES’ outbreak response and preparedness laboratory and diagnostic systems portfolio, leading efforts to expand, validate, and strengthen diagnostic capacity while reinforcing national laboratory systems for long‑term preparedness. As a core member of the STRIDES technical team, the Advisor supports outbreak response countries, including for the current Ebola outbreak, and regional preparedness contexts by guiding diagnostic network strengthening, laboratory readiness, biosafety and biosecurity, quality systems, and workforce development.

The role ensures that diagnostic assays, platforms, algorithms, and procurement align with national policies, outbreak response plans, and international standards; oversees laboratory and diagnostics activities and subcontractor implemented activities; and works closely with ministries of health, national public health institutes, reference laboratories, and other technical team members to ensure a coordinated, technically coherent approach across the STRIDES outbreak response and preparedness portfolio. Reporting to the STRIDES Senior Laboratory and Diagnostics Advisor, the Advisor ensures that emergency laboratory investments translate into sustainable, government‑owned diagnostic systems capable of supporting routine public health functions and future outbreak response.
Accountabilities
Technical Requirements:
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Provides technical leadership for STRIDES’ outbreak laboratory and diagnostic systems portfolio, guiding the design and implementation of diagnostic capacity, laboratory network strengthening, biosafety and biosecurity, quality systems, and workforce development.

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Works on moderate to complex laboratory systems challenges requiring evaluation of multiple technical, operational, and contextual factors—including diagnostic algorithm optimization, specimen referral systems, decentralized testing models, and national laboratory governance.

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Demonstrates strong judgment in selecting diagnostic methods, technologies, and evaluation criteria; advises on assay validation, platform selection, and alignment of procurement with nationally approved workflows.

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Networks and collaborates with key internal and external personnel, including ministries of health, national public health institutes, reference laboratories, STRIDES technical team members, implementing partners, and regional preparedness stakeholders.

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Interprets laboratory readiness findings, quality system gaps, biosafety risks, and diagnostic performance data; recommends evidence‑based improvements across specimen handling, testing workflows, reporting systems, and laboratory surge operations.

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Provides input to senior technical leadership on national laboratory policies, essential diagnostics lists, specimen referral strategies, laboratory governance mechanisms, and outbreak diagnostic guidelines.

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Performs other duties as assigned to advance STRIDES’ outbreak response and Global Health Security objectives.

Project Design Implementation:
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With technical oversight, provides leadership in the design, development, planning, and implementation of laboratory and diagnostic components of STRIDES projects, ensuring alignment with national priorities, outbreak response needs, and international standards.

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Leads the creation of the laboratory and diagnostics technical portion of project plans, incorporating diagnostic network strengthening, biosafety and biosecurity, quality management systems, workforce development, and reference laboratory capacity building.

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Oversees day‑to‑day laboratory and diagnostic activities in assigned response and preparedness countries, including readiness assessments, deployment of diagnostic platforms, optimization of testing algorithms, and strengthening of specimen referral and transport systems.

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Tracks delivery of