Laboratory Support Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) in Papua New Guinea operates under the International Health Regulations, which mandate the country to maintain functional laboratory capacities for public health. CPHL serves as the national reference laboratory, playing a crucial role in outbreak detection, surveillance verification, and emergency response across various priority diseases. The laboratory is integral to the national health system, ensuring that public health events are detected and managed effectively. CPHL supports laboratory confirmation for diseases such as poliovirus and measles, and it is essential for maintaining the quality and reliability of public health surveillance in the country. The organization is committed to enhancing laboratory readiness and response capabilities, especially in light of recent public health challenges.

Job Overview:
The Laboratory Support Officer position at CPHL is designed to provide essential laboratory support, ensuring timely testing, secure handling of specimens, and adherence to quality and biosafety standards. The role involves working closely with the WHO Laboratory Technical Officer and the VDI Team Lead, contributing to the laboratory's mission of supporting public health surveillance and outbreak response. The officer will be responsible for various laboratory functions, including environmental surveillance, serology testing, and molecular diagnostics. This position is critical in maintaining the integrity of laboratory operations and ensuring that public health responses are timely and effective. The officer will also play a key role in specimen management, quality assurance, and coordination with national health authorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Laboratory Support Officer will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including:

• Supporting environmental surveillance activities by managing sample receipt, preparation, and processing in accordance with established SOPs.
• Coordinating the shipment of environmental samples to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, ensuring compliance with international shipping regulations.
• Maintaining updated databases for environmental surveillance testing and monitoring inventory of consumables and reagents.
• Assisting in serology testing for measles, rubella, and other pathogens, as well as supporting PCR testing and sample preparation.
• Encoding laboratory results and ensuring that testing and reporting timelines are consistently met.
• Managing specimen receiving, verification, and documentation, as well as supporting local and international specimen shipments.
• Conducting routine temperature monitoring of specimens and escalating any cold chain breaches.
• Supporting the implementation of laboratory quality management systems and ensuring compliance with biosafety standards.
• Contributing to laboratory surveillance summaries and coordinating with national surveillance units and health authorities. 1
• Performing additional tasks as assigned by supervisors to support outbreak response and routine operations.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Laboratory Support Officer position should possess the following qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field such as Medical Laboratory Science, Microbiology, Biology, Public Health, or other relevant health sciences.
• A degree in Medical Laboratory Science or equivalent laboratory-focused training is highly preferred.
• At least one year of experience working in a diagnostic or public health laboratory, with a preference for experience in serology testing.
• Familiarity with molecular diagnostics, including PCR techniques, is desirable.
• Experience handling clinical or surveillance specimens, including their reception, storage, documentation, and shipment, is an advantage.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality management systems, biosafety procedures, and cold chain management is desirable.
• Experience working in public health surveillance or national reference laboratories will be considered an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field, such as Medical Laboratory Science, Microbiology, Biology, Public Health, or other relevant health sciences. A degree specifically in Medical Laboratory Science or equivalent laboratory-focused training is highly preferred, as it provides the necessary foundation for the technical and operational aspects of the role.

Experience:
The position requires at least one year of relevant experience in a diagnostic or public health laboratory setting. This experience should preferably include work in serology testing, as well as familiarity with molecular diagnostics and PCR techniques. Candidates with experience in handling clinical or surveillance specimens, including their reception, storage, documentation, and shipment, will have an advantage. Additionally, familiarity with laboratory quality management systems and biosafety procedures is desirable, as is experience in public health surveillance or national reference laboratories.

Languages:
Fluency in English is essential for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within the laboratory and with international partners. A working knowledge of Tok Pisin is desirable, as it may facilitate communication with local health authorities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is based at the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The incumbent may be required to travel to various provinces within Papua New Guinea to support surveillance activities, laboratory coordination, specimen shipment, and outbreak response as necessary. The monthly remuneration for this position is PGK 9,000.42, equivalent to the NO-A level, and the contract duration is from April 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds. Candidates should be aware that this vacancy notice may also be used to identify candidates for other Affiliate contract types at the same level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be used as part of the screening process. Candidates selected for interview will need to provide scanned copies of their educational qualifications in advance. The WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States.