Job Description

The Senior Technical Advisor, Laboratory Services provides technical expertise for laboratory strengthening activities that support HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and related diagnostic services under the EpiC Project in Tanzania. The position supports implementation of high-quality laboratory systems and diagnostic services across Police and Prison (PnP) health facilities and public-sector HIV care and treatment facilities in supported regions.

The Advisor provides technical support and implementation support to strengthen laboratory systems for HIV, TB, advanced HIV disease (AHD), viral load monitoring, early infant diagnosis (EID), cervical cancer screening, and integrated specimen referral systems and other priority diagnostic services in accordance with national guidelines and national laboratory standards.

The incumbent works closely with the Ministry of Health, National Health Laboratory Quality Assurance and Training Centre (NHLQATC), National AIDS, STI and Hepatitis Control Programme (NASHCoP), National TB and Leprosy Programme (NTLP), Police Medical Unit (PMU), Prisons Health and Nutrition Unit (PHNU), Regional and Council Health Management Teams, implementing partners, and laboratory networks to strengthen laboratory quality, diagnostic capacity, data utilization, and continuous quality improvement.

GHSC PSM

Accountabilities:

Technical Requirements:

• Provides technical assistance for HIV and TB laboratory services across Police, Prisons, and public sector care and treatment facilities.
• Supports implementation of HIV and TB diagnostic algorithms, specimen collection, processing, referral and result communication.
• Strengthens facility readiness for HIV and TB laboratory service delivery, including workflow optimization, sample management, and client-centered service integration.
• Supports the introduction and effective use of laboratory technologies and point-of-care testing platforms in accordance with national standards
• Provides technical guidance on advanced HIV disease laboratory packages, including CD4-related support, TB diagnostics, cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) screening where applicable, and other priority tests.
• Strengthens laboratory quality management systems at all supported sites.
• Supports implementation of internal quality control, external quality assurance, proficiency testing, corrective actions, and documentation systems.
• Conduct routine laboratory quality assessments and monitor compliance with national and project standards.
• Mentors and build capacity of laboratory staff and facility teams on good laboratory practices, biosafety, and quality improvement.
• Supports integrated HIV and TB service delivery, including TB screening, specimen collection, follow-up of TB test results, and linkage to TB treatment.
• Strengthens collaboration between laboratory, care and treatment, TB, and pharmacy teams to improve client flow and continuum of care.
• Supports implementation of specimen referral systems for TB and HIV-related laboratory tests.
• Contributes to efforts that improve early diagnosis of TB among people living with HIV and other priority populations.
• Supports on-site mentorship and practical coaching for laboratory and clinical staff.
• Supports the planning and delivery of training, refresher sessions, and cascade mentorship activities.
• Develop or adapt standard operating procedures, job aids, checklists, and training materials as needed.
• Reviews laboratory data for completeness, accuracy, trends, and service gaps.
• Uses data to identify performance issues and guide targeted improvement actions.
• Supports routine reporting on HIV and TB laboratory indicators within project, facility, and national reporting systems.
• Contributes to preparation of monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc technical reports, presentations, and success stories.
• Supports monitoring of laboratory commodity availability, equipment functionality, calibration status, and maintenance needs.
• Identify laboratory supply gaps and support timely escalation for resolution.
• Promotes proper inventory management and use of laboratory commodities, reagents, and consumables.
• Supports troubleshooting of operational barriers affecting laboratory service delivery.
• Ensures activities are implemented in line with national guidelines, project standards, and donor requirements.
• Supports adherence to biosafety, infection prevention and control, and laboratory safety standards.
• Maintains confidentiality of client and facility information.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong knowledge of national laboratory systems, laboratory networks, and referral systems.
• Practical expertise in laboratory quality management systems (LQMS) and continuous quality improvement.
• Application of ISO 15189 principles and other relevant laboratory standards.
• Knowledge of SLIPTA/SLMTA, accreditation processes, and laboratory improvement approaches.
• Ability to conduct laboratory assessments, identify gaps, and develop costed improvement plans.
• Knowledge of laboratory biosafety, biosecurity, waste management, and infection prevention and control.
• Strong applied knowledge of HIV testing services, including HIV rapid diagnostic testing algorithms, HIV viral load (VL), early infant diagnosis (EID) and molecular testing, CD4 testing, sample referral, result turnaround time and quality assurance.
• Ability to forecast and quantify laboratory reagents, consumables, PPE, and other commodities.
• Strong understanding of laboratory information systems (LIS) and electronic data systems.
• Understanding of interoperability between laboratory systems and broader health information systems.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Mentors and supervises junior level staff to strengthen their technical capacity and performance
• Reports to Technical Director.

Education: **

• Master’s degree in medical laboratory sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, or a closely related field.
• A Master’s degree in public health, Laboratory Management or a related discipline is an added advantage

Experience: **

• Minimum of 6+ years of progressive responsible experience in supporting national laboratory systems, laboratory networks, and referral systems.
• Must be registered and licensed with the appropriate professional regulatory body in Tanzania, where applicable.
• Experience working with in a non-governmental organization/s (NGO), government ministry or entity, implementing partners, donors or private organization/s.
• Experience with deployment, verification/validation, utilization, maintenance, and troubleshooting of molecular testing platforms.
• Experience with project workplans, budgets, targets, performance indicators, donor reporting, and compliance.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements:

• 10% - 25% domestic travel to councils and health facility project sites to provide technical assistance, supportive supervision, stakeholder engagement, and implementation support

• Provides technical assistance for HIV and TB laboratory services across Police, Prisons, and public sector care and treatment facilities.
• Supports implementation of HIV and TB diagnostic algorithms, specimen collection, processing, referral and result communication.
• Strengthens facility readiness for HIV and TB laboratory service delivery, including workflow optimization, sample management, and client-centered service integration.
• Supports the introduction and effective use of laboratory technologies and point-of-care testing platforms in accordance with national standards
• Provides technical guidance on advanced HIV disease laboratory packages, including CD4-related support, TB diagnostics, cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) screening where applicable, and other priority tests.
• Strengthens laboratory quality management systems at all supported sites.
• Supports implementation of internal quality control, external quality assurance, proficiency testing, corrective actions, and documentation systems.
• Conduct routine laboratory quality assessments and monitor compliance with national and project standards.
• Mentors and build capacity of laboratory staff and facility teams on good laboratory practices, biosafety, and quality improvement.
• Supports integrated HIV and TB service delivery, including TB screening, specimen collection, follow-up of TB test results, and linkage to TB treatment.
• Strengthens collaboration between laboratory, care and treatment, TB, and pharmacy teams to improve client flow and continuum of care.
• Supports implementation of specimen referral systems for TB and HIV-related laboratory tests.
• Contributes to efforts that improve early diagnosis of TB among people living with HIV and other priority populations.
• Supports on-site mentorship and practical coaching for laboratory and clinical staff.
• Supports the planning and delivery of training, refresher sessions, and cascade mentorship activities.
• Develop or adapt standard operating procedures, job aids, checklists, and training materials as needed.
• Reviews laboratory data for completeness, accuracy, trends, and service gaps.
• Uses data to identify performance issues and guide targeted improvement actions.
• Supports routine reporting on HIV and TB laboratory indicators within project, facility, and national reporting systems.
• Contributes to preparation of monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc technical reports, presentations, and success stories.
• Supports monitoring of laboratory commodity availability, equipment functionality, calibration status, and maintenance needs.
• Identify laboratory supply gaps and support timely escalation for resolution.
• Promotes proper inventory management and use of laboratory commodities, reagents, and consumables.
• Supports troubleshooting of operational barriers affecting laboratory service delivery.
• Ensures activities are implemented in line with national guidelines, project standards, and donor requirements.
• Supports adherence to biosafety, infection prevention and control, and laboratory safety standards.
• Maintains confidentiality of client and facility information.

• Strong knowledge of national laboratory systems, laboratory networks, and referral systems.
• Practical expertise in laboratory quality management systems (LQMS) and continuous quality improvement.
• Application of ISO 15189 principles and other relevant laboratory standards.
• Knowledge of SLIPTA/SLMTA, accreditation processes, and laboratory improvement approaches.
• Ability to conduct laboratory assessments, identify gaps, and develop costed improvement plans.
• Knowledge of laboratory biosafety, biosecurity, waste management, and infection prevention and control.
• Strong applied knowledge of HIV testing services, including HIV rapid diagnostic testing algorithms, HIV viral load (VL), early infant diagnosis (EID) and molecular testing, CD4 testing, sample referral, result turnaround time and quality assurance.
• Ability to forecast and quantify laboratory reagents, consumables, PPE, and other commodities.
• Strong understanding of laboratory information systems (LIS) and electronic data systems.
• Understanding of interoperability between laboratory systems and broader health information systems.

• Master’s degree in medical laboratory sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, or a closely related field.
• A Master’s degree in public health, Laboratory Management or a related discipline is an added advantage
• Minimum of 6+ years of progressive responsible experience in supporting national laboratory systems, laboratory networks, and referral systems.
• Must be registered and licensed with the appropriate professional regulatory body in Tanzania, where applicable.
• Experience working with in a non-governmental organization/s (NGO), government ministry or entity, implementing partners, donors or private organization/s.
• Experience with deployment, verification/validation, utilization, maintenance, and troubleshooting of molecular testing platforms.
• Experience with project workplans, budgets, targets, performance indicators, donor reporting, and compliance.