Training and QMS Lead

FIND; New Delhi; On-site; INR 1,400,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

FIND is seeking a Training and QMS Lead to design and deliver training content and QMS across the IDSP-based DPHL project in India. You will work with the Senior Microbiologist, program managers, and state teams to develop SOPs, job aids, and competency assessments, ensuring quality processes are embedded in routine workflows.

The role requires experience in laboratory quality systems (IQC/EQAS/ILC), curriculum design, and webinars, with willingness to travel to Assam, Jharkhand, and

Qualifications

• MD Microbiology / PhD in Microbiology with a minimum of 5 years of experience in laboratory quality management systems (IQC/EQAS/ILC) and/or training content development and delivery.
• Postgraduate degree (M.Sc.) in Microbiology with a minimum of 8 years of experience in laboratory quality management systems (IQC/EQAS/ILC) and/or training content development and delivery.
• Demonstrated experience designing training curricula, SOPs, job aids, and competency assessments for laboratory or public-health staff.
• Strong knowledge of laboratory quality management systems — IQC, EQAS, ILC, corrective/preventive action, and root-cause analysis.
• Experience conducting webinars/virtual trainings and in-person workshops, including designing pre- and post-test assessments.
• Experience working within national or state public-health programs (e.g., IDSP, NHM, NABL accreditation processes, or similar).
• Familiarity with laboratory biosafety, good laboratory practices (GLP), and laboratory supply chain/inventory management.
• Good coordination, stakeholder-liaison, and report-writing skills.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, with the ability to translate technical content into accessible training material.
• Strong team orientation, with the ability to work across multiple states alongside State Coordinators, the Senior Microbiologist, and government stakeholders.
• Good computer knowledge (MS Office - Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and comfort with virtual training/webinar platforms.
• Willingness to travel to project states (Assam, Jharkhand, Maharashtra) as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and adaptation of training content, SOPs, and job aids across all technical domains of the project laboratory management, supply chain, QMS, epidemiology & surveillance, clinical-lab liaison, and environmental/water testing in coordination with the Senior Microbiologist and technical experts.
• Support online orientation meetings with State Surveillance Units (SSUs) on the DPHL baseline assessment process and checklist.
• Modify/adapt upskilling material and SOPs for laboratory management, covering sample collection; internal and external sample transport; pre-examination, examination, and post-examination processes; good laboratory practices and biosafety; inventory management; and forecasting/ordering cycles.
• Plan and coordinate facilitation of webinars for DPHL staff (lab technicians, microbiologists, hospital managers, store in-charges) across Assam, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra on laboratory management and supply chain, including pre- and post-test assessments, and compile training activity reports.
• Develop training material on Quality Management Systems Internal Quality Control (IQC), External Quality Assurance (EQAS), Inter-Laboratory Comparison (ILC), test-, equipment-, and HR-level quality control, corrective and preventive actions, and root-cause analysis.
• Plan and conduct webinars on quality control for DPHL technicians, and separately for state microbiologists and quality consultants, including virtual pre- and post-test assessments to track improvement in technical know-how.
• Develop forms and formats for daily, weekly, and monthly quality-control recording at DPHLs.
• Compile training and activity reports (slide decks, participant demographics, pre/post-test scores, feedback, attendance) for submission to FIND, NCDC, and donors.
• Support State Coordinators in preparing for on-site QMS coaching visits for example, the first round of inter-laboratory sample transport for ILC so that quality-control monitoring becomes embedded in routine DPHL workflows.
• Contribute to the project's sustainability roadmap, including budgetary provisions for training, quality control, and refresher activities, and prepare the final training/QMS toolkit (standardized SOPs, work instructions, strategic communication material) for handover to SSUs and NCDC.
• Support consolidated project closure reporting, including training- and QMS-related achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations.
• Any other task assigned from time to time.

Job description

FIND accelerates equitable access to reliable diagnosis around the world. We are working to close critical testing gaps that leave people at risk from preventable and treatable illnesses, enable effective disease surveillance, and build sustainable, resilient health systems. In partnership with countries, WHO and other global health agencies, we are driving progress towards global health security and universal health coverage. We are a WHO Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Strengthening and Diagnostic Technology Evaluation. For more information, please visit www.finddx.org

Work Model: Hybrid (3 days in office and 2 days WFH per week)

Project Background

A responsive, accessible, and pandemic-resilient public health system depends on early detection, accurate testing, and timely reporting. Under India's Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), District Public Health Laboratories (DPHLs) are a critical link between clinical care and disease surveillance — supporting early identification of febrile-illness clusters, water-borne disease events, and other public health threats. In partnership with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and TIFA, FIND is supporting a multi-state initiative to strengthen DPHL capacity across Assam, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.

The project works with State Surveillance Units (SSUs) and DPHLs to: (1) conduct a baseline gap assessment of infrastructure, human resources, equipment, biosafety, and quality processes; (2) strengthen laboratory management, supply chain, and Quality Management Systems (QMS); (3) upskill DPHL and SSU staff on epidemiology, outbreak surveillance, and timely reporting on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP); (4) build capacity for environmental/water testing as part of outbreak preparedness; and (5) support integration of these systems into routine state health functions through a sustainability roadmap. Standardized training content, SOPs, and a robust Quality Management System are central to all of these workstreams.

Objective and Primary Outcome:

The main objective of this position is to lead the design and delivery of training content and Quality Management Systems (QMS) across the project, ensuring DPHL and State Surveillance Unit (SSU) staff have the skills, tools, and quality processes needed for sustained outbreak preparedness. The project intends to lead to the following outcomes:

• Standardized training content, SOPs, and job aids developed/adapted across all technical areas of the project laboratory management, supply chain, QMS, epidemiology & surveillance, clinical-lab liaison, and environmental/water testing.
• Strengthened Quality Management Systems (QMS) at DPHLs covering Internal Quality Control (IQC), External Quality Assurance (EQAS), and Inter-Laboratory Comparison (ILC) embedded into routine workflows.
• Improved technical competency of DPHL technicians, state microbiologists, and quality consultants through structured webinars and in-person trainings, with measurable pre- and post-test improvement.
• A consolidated training and QMS toolkit (SOPs, work instructions, capacity-building material) handed over to SSUs and NCDC for continued use beyond the project period.

Job Description

The Training and QMS Lead (TQL) will work closely with the Senior Microbiologist, Program Manager, State Coordinators - Microbiology, Data Analyst, and the project team at FIND, as well as State Surveillance Unit (SSU) officials, NCDC, Delhi counterparts, and external subject-matter experts. The specific activities and responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Lead the development and adaptation of training content, SOPs, and job aids across all technical domains of the project laboratory management, supply chain, QMS, epidemiology & surveillance, clinical-lab liaison, and environmental/water testing in coordination with the Senior Microbiologist and technical experts.
• Support online orientation meetings with State Surveillance Units (SSUs) on the DPHL baseline assessment process and checklist.
• Modify/adapt upskilling material and SOPs for laboratory management, covering sample collection; internal and external sample transport; pre-examination, examination, and post-examination processes; good laboratory practices and biosafety; inventory management; and forecasting/ordering cycles.
• Plan and coordinate facilitation of webinars for DPHL staff (lab technicians, microbiologists, hospital managers, store in-charges) across Assam, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra on laboratory management and supply chain, including pre- and post-test assessments, and compile training activity reports.
• Develop training material on Quality Management Systems Internal Quality Control (IQC), External Quality Assurance (EQAS), Inter-Laboratory Comparison (ILC), test-, equipment-, and HR-level quality control, corrective and preventive actions, and root-cause analysis.
• Plan and conduct webinars on quality control for DPHL technicians, and separately for state microbiologists and quality consultants, including virtual pre- and post-test assessments to track improvement in technical know-how.
• Develop forms and formats for daily, weekly, and monthly quality-control recording at DPHLs.
• Compile training and activity reports (slide decks, participant demographics, pre/post-test scores, feedback, attendance) for submission to FIND, NCDC, and donors.
• Support State Coordinators in preparing for on-site QMS coaching visits for example, the first round of inter-laboratory sample transport for ILC so that quality-control monitoring becomes embedded in routine DPHL workflows.
• Contribute to the project's sustainability roadmap, including budgetary provisions for training, quality control, and refresher activities, and prepare the final training/QMS toolkit (standardized SOPs, work instructions, strategic communication material) for handover to SSUs and NCDC.
• Support consolidated project closure reporting, including training- and QMS-related achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations.
• Any other task assigned from time to time.

Qualification and Experience Required:

• MD Microbiology / PhD in Microbiology with a minimum of 5 years of experience in laboratory quality management systems (IQC/EQAS/ILC) and/or training content development and delivery.
• Postgraduate degree (M.Sc.) in Microbiology with a minimum of 8 years of experience in laboratory quality management systems (IQC/EQAS/ILC) and/or training content development and delivery.
• Demonstrated experience designing training curricula, SOPs, job aids, and competency assessments for laboratory or public-health staff.
• Strong knowledge of laboratory quality management systems — IQC, EQAS, ILC, corrective/preventive action, and root-cause analysis.
• Experience conducting webinars/virtual trainings and in-person workshops, including designing pre- and post-test assessments.
• Experience working within national or state public-health programs (e.g., IDSP, NHM, NABL accreditation processes, or similar).
• Familiarity with laboratory biosafety, good laboratory practices (GLP), and laboratory supply chain/inventory management.
• Good coordination, stakeholder-liaison, and report-writing skills.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, with the ability to translate technical content into accessible training material.
• Strong team orientation, with the ability to work across multiple states alongside State Coordinators, the Senior Microbiologist, and government stakeholders.
• Good computer knowledge (MS Office - Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and comfort with virtual training/webinar platforms.
• Willingness to travel to project states (Assam, Jharkhand, Maharashtra) as required.

Nature of Appointment: This is a full-time position with an initial contract term until 31 March 2027, renewable subject to performance and project needs.

• Please note that due to the high volume of applications, ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted. FIND is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued. FIND is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. FIND does not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, disability status, political ideology, military status, or any other attribute protected by applicable law.