Technical Officer, Laboratory Sciences

FHI 360 is a nonprofit organization that works to improve health, education, and economic opportunity so people can live healthy lives. The EpiC project supports HIV programs, strengthens global health security, improves maternal and child health, addresses malaria, and helps build strong health systems.

In Laos, FHI 360 has supported the Ministry of Health for many years, including HIV programming through the LINKAGES and EpiC projects. In 2026, EpiC Laos will continue to strengthen outbreak detection, expand field epidemiology training, improve laboratory and surveillance systems, enhance biosafety and biosecurity, and support coordinated response to public health threats.

Position Summary

The Technical Officer, Laboratory Sciences will work with the EpiC Laos team, government partners, and laboratory networks across the country. The role focuses on improving diagnostic services, strengthening specimen management and transport, and supporting  laboratory quality systems. The position will also support training, field supervision, and coordination across national, provincial, and district laboratories. The goal is to help improve timely detection, reporting, and response to infectious disease threats.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for the provision of technical assistance to strengthen laboratory services for the prevention, detection, and response to infectious disease threats.
• Provide technical support to national stakeholders for developing or updating national diagnostic network strategic plans, SOPs and policies.
• Support national, provincial, and district laboratories in updating specimen referral pathways, specimen collection and transport guidelines, and outbreak investigation procedures.
• Coordinate and facilitate training for health workers on specimen handling, quality assurance, laboratory standards, and communication of laboratory results.
• Support laboratory quality management activities to improve diagnostic readiness and service quality.
• Provide technical assistance for national laboratory accreditation, licensing, and external quality assessment programs.
• Coordinate maintenance of laboratory equipment and ensure proper management of laboratory commodities.
• Conduct field visits to provide quality assurance, quality improvement, and on-the-job training in diagnostic services, biosafety and biosecurity, and supply chain procedures.
• Support training activities for diagnostic facilities within the EpiC project and contribute to reporting on training outcomes.
• Support coordination across different levels of the supply chain for laboratory commodities.
• Assist with other tasks as assigned by supervisors.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, medical laboratory sciences, or another relevant discipline, or an international equivalent.
• Minimum of six years of relevant professional experience, including at least three years working in global health security or infectious disease laboratory programs under donor‑funded initiatives.
• Demonstrated familiarity with Laos health and development programs, including national laboratory protocols, guidelines, and health information systems.
• Proven experience in capacity building and providing supervision for laboratory facilities.
• Strong skills in report writing, data analysis, and professional communication.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to travel within Laos and internationally as needed.
• Advanced English language proficiency

Experience

• Prior involvement with programs supported by the United States Government.
• Working knowledge of the Laos public health sector and NGO landscape.
• Experience supporting laboratory strengthening activities at national or provincial levels.
• Experience with laboratory quality management systems including  biosafety and biosecurity
• Experience managing or coordinating specimen transport and referral systems.
• Experience working with laboratory information systems or basic digital reporting tools.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the main duties of the position. It does not limit tasks that may be assigned. Management may revise the description at any time.

FHI 360 offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. To view all open positions, please visit the FHI 360 Career Center.

The expected hiring salary range for this role is  indexed at USD 12,000 - 16,000 for annual  basic salary. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, market pay,  and budget. For internal candidates, salary placement will also follow FHI 360’s current promotional increase guidelines

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

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