Location: Manila, Philippines
FHI 360/Philippines, through the Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) project, is seeking a Laboratory Specialist. STRIDES is part of the U.S. government's Global Health Security program and advances cross-sectoral efforts to identify, manage and respond to infectious disease threats, and to detect and prevent further outbreaks.
Position summary: The Laboratory Specialist provides hands-on technical implementation support for STRIDES laboratory systems strengthening initiatives. The role implements and monitors strategic and technical initiatives, develops and manages reports and technical materials, and works closely with the Laboratory Systems Strengthening Advisor, in-country staff and STRIDES headquarters teams to evaluate programmatic effectiveness, oversee technical activities and provide technical assessment reports.
Key responsibilities:
- Conduct day-to-day technical implementation of laboratory systems strengthening, including molecular diagnostics and genomics.
- Support laboratory network strengthening: specimen referral, quality assurance, laboratory information management systems, and training across GHS technical areas including AMR, zoonotic diseases, biosafety/biosecurity, diagnostic networks and surveillance.
- Support scale-up and optimization of molecular diagnostics and genomic sequencing tools (PCR and sequencing platforms), ensuring laboratories follow approved workflows, SOPs and quality requirements.
- Support diagnostic network and laboratory capacity assessments, reporting findings and recommendations and implementing follow-up actions.
- Promote adoption of new diagnostic technologies and methodologies; work with government partners, subcontractors and project partners to align laboratory activities with project goals.
- Support work plans, deliverable tracking, procurement input, budget and timeline monitoring, and the preparation of technical reports, briefs and presentations.
- Support integration of laboratory diagnostic data into national platforms.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in medical technology, public health, microbiology or an international equivalent in biological sciences within a clinical or diagnostic discipline.
- Typically 4+ years of relevant experience in infectious disease diagnostics and/or laboratory systems strengthening.
- Demonstrated experience training and mentoring laboratory staff on molecular diagnostics, sequencing, QA/QC and biosafety/biosecurity.
- Prior experience in an NGO, government agency or private company; USG-funded project experience preferred.
- Strong organizational, analytical, project management and problem-solving skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office.
- Fluency in English and Tagalog is required.
Reports to the STRIDES Philippines Laboratory Systems Strengthening Advisor. Typical office environment with 10-25% local and regional travel. Expected annual basic salary: PHP 720,000 - 840,000.
Closing date: 2026-10-20
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online through the FHI 360 Career Portal (Workday) using the application link. Requisition ID: 2026201200.
https://fhi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-GB/FHI_360_External_Career_Portal/job/Manila-Philippines/Laboratory-Specialist_Requisition-2026201200/apply