Technical Officer – Laboratory Services

About the role

The Technical Officer – Laboratory Services will strengthen laboratory quality management systems and RAS+ activities in supported health facilities across Kagera and Tabora regions. Reporting to the Senior HIV/TB Sustainability Manager, the role provides technical assistance for HIV viral load, early infant diagnosis, TB diagnostics, HIV drug resistance, HPV DNA testing and related laboratory functions.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct needs assessments, develop and customize SOPs, manuals and guidelines to improve laboratory services.
• Provide on‑site mentorship, training and case‑management support to laboratory staff and health‑care workers.
• Monitor laboratory equipment functionality, commodity stocks and sample referral processes, ensuring timely testing and result return.
• Support implementation and maintenance of ISO 15189:2022 quality management systems, internal QC, external proficiency testing and corrective actions.
• Scale up point‑of‑care technologies for viral load and early infant diagnosis according to Ministry of Health rollout plans.

Required profile

• Laboratory Scientist/Technologist with a degree or 3‑year diploma; registration with the Tanzanian Medical Laboratory Council.
• Minimum four years of bench laboratory experience in clinical testing, including HIV viral load, CD4, molecular PCR, HIV‑DR and TB diagnostics.
• Knowledge of national laboratory guidelines and experience with quality management systems.

Required skills

• Molecular biology testing (viral load/DNA‑PCR).
• HIV drug‑resistance testing.
• TB diagnostic platforms (GeneXpert, TrueNat).
• Implementation of ISO 15189:2022 laboratory quality management.
• Data analysis and reporting using MS Excel.
• Basic proficiency with MS Word and internet applications.