Senior Technical Advisor – Laboratory Services

About the role

The Senior Technical Advisor, Laboratory Services will provide expert technical guidance to strengthen laboratory systems that support HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and related diagnostics under the EpiC Project in Tanzania. The role focuses on improving quality, capacity and data use across Police and Prison health facilities and public‑sector HIV care sites.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance for HIV and TB laboratory services in police, prison and public‑sector facilities.
• Support implementation of diagnostic algorithms, specimen collection, processing, referral and result communication.
• Strengthen facility readiness, workflow optimization and client‑centered service integration.
• Introduce and oversee point‑of‑care testing platforms and advanced HIV disease laboratory packages.
• Implement and monitor internal quality control, external quality assurance, proficiency testing and corrective actions.
• Conduct routine laboratory quality assessments and ensure compliance with national and project standards.
• Mentor laboratory staff on good laboratory practices, biosafety and continuous quality improvement.
• Facilitate collaboration between laboratory, clinical, TB and pharmacy teams to improve client flow and continuity of care.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in laboratory strengthening for HIV and TB programs.
• Proven ability to work with ministries, national laboratory agencies and implementing partners.
• Strong understanding of national laboratory standards and guidelines.
• Excellent communication and capacity‑building skills.

Required skills

• Laboratory quality management systems
• Point‑of‑care testing platforms
• HIV diagnostic algorithms (viral load, early infant diagnosis, CD4)
• TB diagnostic tools (including Xpert MTB/RIF)
• Cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) screening
• Internal quality control and external quality assurance