Laboratory & Diagnostics Officer

About the role

The Laboratory & Diagnostics Officer will provide technical leadership and guidance for the Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) activity in Ghana. The role involves developing, implementing and monitoring strategic initiatives to strengthen laboratory systems and diagnostic capacities, ensuring high‑quality, reliable testing across the country.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of laboratory and diagnostic components of the STRIDES project.
• Coordinate with other Global Health Security technical areas (surveillance, data, etc.) to ensure synergy.
• Maintain project protocols, instruments, data sets, manuals, training materials and reports.
• Provide technical assistance to national, regional and local partners to achieve project objectives.
• Develop guidelines, policies and technical briefs for laboratory diagnostic network strengthening.
• Support scale‑up and optimisation of new diagnostic tools and laboratory information management systems.
• Mentor project team members and subcontractors, building capacity across the network.
• Conduct laboratory capacity assessments and report findings with recommendations.

Required profile

• Demonstrated expertise in laboratory and diagnostic services within public health programs.
• Experience collaborating with government and multi‑sectoral stakeholders.
• Ability to develop technical guidelines, policies and training materials.

Required skills

• Laboratory information management systems (LIMS)
• Quality assurance and quality control
• Specimen referral and transport logistics
• Biosafety and biosecurity practices
• Diagnostic network design and implementation
• Antimicrobial resistance testing
• Zoonotic disease diagnostics
• Scale‑up of new diagnostic tools