Project Officer (Laboratory Systems Strengthening)

Family Health International; Makati; On-site; PHP 420,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

FHI 360/Philippines, through STRIDES, seeks a Project Officer (Laboratory Systems Strengthening) to provide administrative and technical support for laboratory systems initiatives. The role involves coordinating with STRIDES HQ and local staff, developing activity documents, and facilitating diagnostics and network strengthening activities to improve disease detection and surveillance in the Philippines.

The individual will manage logistics requests, contribute to technical resources, and build

Qualifications

• Experience with infectious disease programs or laboratory strengthening.
• Ability to develop scopes of work for subcontractors and consultants.
• Fluency in English and Tagalog is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day support for STRIDES laboratory systems strengthening and coordinate with national to local stakeholders.
• Develop documents for administrative and logistics requests.
• Contribute to technical briefs, reports, and activity design.
• Support laboratory network strengthening activities and data management.
• Assist with preparation of program reports and action tracking.
• Represent the project in meetings and forums as required.

Skills

Infectious disease programs

Monitoring tools

Data analysis

Microsoft Office

Communication with stakeholders

English and Tagalog

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health

Tools

Laboratory information management systems

Job description

FHI 360/Philippines (www.fhi360.org) through Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) project in the Philippines is seeking applications for a Project Officer (Laboratory Systems Strengthening).

ABOUT FHI 360

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, public health threats, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research, technology, communication, and social marketing – creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 50 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

FHI 360 has worked in the Philippines for over 30 years. Since 1994, we have taken a comprehensive approach providing holistic and cutting-edge solutions to help address the country’s health and development challenges. Leveraging a blend of global expertise and local insights, we have consistently strengthened community capacities, enhanced systems, and reinforced institutional frameworks for a sustainable impact. In partnership with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, academia, and the private sector, FHI 360 delivers integrated programs across critical sectors. Our initiatives have spanned essential health services – including HIV and epidemic control (COVID-19 and TB), health system strengthening, and global health security. The U.S. government’s (USG) Global Health Security (GHS) program provides life-saving assistance to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats which pose risks for public health outbreaks that could cost lives. As part of the USG’s GHS program, the Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) Activity advances cross-sectoral efforts to successfully identify, manage, and respond to infectious disease threats; detect and prevent further outbreaks; and instill confidence and trust in a country’s disease detection and surveillance structures and services.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Project Officer (Laboratory Systems Strengthening) provides administrative and technical support in the implementation of STRIDES’ laboratory systems strengthening initiatives. The Project Officer works closely with the Laboratory Systems Strengthening Advisor, other Laboratory Technical Specialists, in‑country staff, and STRIDES Headquarters (HQ) teams to support coordination, collaboration, and communications with relevant stakeholders at the national, regional, and local levels. His/her responsibilities also include development and facilitation of administrative and logistics requests for the conduct of laboratory systems’ strengthening team’s initiatives, planning and contribution in the development of technical documents and resources including but not limited to activity design and activity/technical reports, and execution of selected laboratory activities (i.e. Diagnostic Network Assessment, Discussions on Laboratory information sharing mechanisms) in close coordination with other technical staff.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides day-to-day support for the STRIDES laboratory systems strengthening component focused on coordination, collaboration, and communications with relevant stakeholders at the national, subnational, and local levels to ensure effective and efficient implementation of initiatives.
• Develops documents for administrative and logistics requests to implement laboratory systems strengthening initiatives and submits formal requests through FHI 360’s official system.
• Contributes to the development and writing of technical briefs, reports, or other necessary materials to facilitate diagnostic and systems assessments, policy development, and documentation of procedures.
• Supports the conduct of laboratory network strengthening activities, including specimen referral systems and network reviews and workshops, quality management system, laboratory information management system implementation and data management activities, as well as other capacity building activities.
• Supports diagnostic network and laboratory capacity assessments including development of tools and finalization of reports and implements follow-up actions.
• Supports the preparation of reports summarizing project results and analyzing data sets, including technical assessment findings.
• Contributes to the development of technical resources (e.g., reports, presentations, manuscripts) related to project activities, results, and outcomes.
• Builds productive working relationships internally and externally by fostering collaboration with national, subnational, local, and international organizations, government agencies, academia, and other relevant entities.
• Assists with the preparation and drafting of work plans, presentations, and reports for the U.S. DoS and other key stakeholders.
• Participates and represents the project in meetings and forums as required.
• Coordinates with regional, provincial, and local focal persons to plan, schedule, and facilitate the implementation of laboratory systems strengthening activities in selected sites.
• Tracks site-level preparations, implementation progress, and follow-up actions, and promptly escalates operational issues requiring technical or management support.
• Ensures that provincial and regional activities are aligned with approved work plans, partner commitments, and national laboratory systems strengthening priorities.
• Others as may be assigned by Supervisor or Project Director

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Extensive working knowledge on project implementation of infectious disease and/or GHSrelated initiatives
• Experience developing technical assessment and monitoring tools for program evaluation
• Ability to develop scopes of work for subcontractors, consultants, etc.
• Sensitive to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas.
• Articulate, professional, and able to communicate in a clear, positive manner with clients and staff.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency with using Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors, and prepare reports.
• Ability to solve problems and implement corrective action as needed.
• Has no supervisory responsibility but may provide guidance to lower-level personnel.
• Reports to STRIDES Philippines Laboratory Systems Strengthening Advisor.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Medical Technology, Nursing, Biology,or other allied health sciences. A postgraduate degree is an advantage.
• At least 4 years of relevant experience working with infectious disease programs, and/or laboratory systems strengthening.
• Prior work experience in a non-government organization (NGO), or any Philippine government agency particularly in the Department of Health or any local government unit working on infectious disease and/or GHS-related programs.
• Prior work experience with USG-funded health projects particularly on infectious diseases or global health security (GHS), and familiarity with USG regulations and reporting requirements is preferred
• Knowledge of laboratory aspects including laboratory information management systems in human and animal health sectors.
• Knowledge and understanding of infectious diseases, their transmission, and the application of methods and procedures to safely control infectious materials.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and support laboratory strengthening initiatives.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Fluency in English and Tagalog language is required

WORKING CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Typical office environment
• Technology to be used is Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment)
• 10-25% local and regional travel