Laboratory LIMS/QMS Officer

Job Posting Organization:
FHI 360 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions for human development. Established in 1980, FHI 360 operates in more than 60 countries and has a diverse workforce of over 4,000 employees. The organization focuses on various sectors including health, education, and economic development, aiming to create a positive impact on communities worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Laboratory LIMS/QMS Officer is a technical expert responsible for enhancing laboratory information workflows, sample traceability, data exchange, and quality management systems in laboratories supported by STRIDES. This role involves translating agreed priorities into concrete improvements, mentoring laboratory data focal points, supervising corrective actions, and contributing to the sustainability of public systems. The position is specifically focused on LIMS/data workflows and the implementation of quality management systems (QMS). The overall laboratory strategy, management of laboratory activity hubs, coordination with partners, diagnostic network planning, procurement prioritization, and general technical oversight of the laboratory remain the responsibility of the senior laboratory advisor. This position provides a range of technical and administrative services of increasing complexity to support project implementation and proposal development, requiring a growing mastery of the relevant technical field.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Technical Requirements: LIMS, data quality, and laboratory-surveillance interoperability. Evaluate laboratory information workflows and develop prioritized improvement plans at the site level in collaboration with laboratory management and government system leads. Assist in the use and configuration of approved LIMS or interim tools for recording, tracking, orientation, test status, result authorization, and sample archiving, coordinating technical changes with approved IT teams. Standardize minimum data sets, identifiers, data dictionaries, and exchange rules; support secure interfaces or approved exchange mechanisms with surveillance platforms, including DHIS2 where applicable. Establish regular reconciliation of laboratory records and surveillance lists; identify and resolve issues related to missing, duplicate, non-concordant, or inconsistent records through authorized data leads. Monitor key timestamps from sample collection to authorized result communication, analyze bottlenecks, and produce concise exception lists and indicators to facilitate timely decision-making during outbreaks. Strengthen role-based access control, audit trails, backup/restoration, confidentiality, downtime procedures, and user support; train and mentor laboratory/data focal points.
• Quality Management Systems: Conduct initial and follow-up assessments of the quality management system using nationally adopted tools, including SLIPTA where applicable, and maintain practical corrective action plans with responsible parties and deadlines. Strengthen controlled documents and records, documentation related to sample acceptance/rejection and traceability chain, test traceability, non-conformance management, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions. Support internal quality controls, external quality assessments/tests, internal audits, management reviews, and monitoring of selected quality indicators. Assist in assessing competencies and mentoring laboratory staff, establishing sustainable quality focal points and review routines.
• Laboratory Safety in LIMS/QMS Workflows: Integrate biosafety and biosecurity requirements into LIMS/QMS improvements, including secure sample receipt/orientation, documentation, incident reporting, access control, secure storage, and waste/decontamination records. Identify safety-related non-conformities and report critical hazards to laboratory management and the senior laboratory advisor; specialized biosafety engineering, containment certification, and broader biosafety program management remain outside the primary role of this position.
• Coordination, Monitoring, and Transition: Maintain a targeted LIMS/QMS work plan aligned with priorities established by the senior laboratory advisor and laboratory/government pillar management. Collaborate with INRB, relevant laboratory structures within the Ministry of Health, provincial laboratories, surveillance/data teams, IT teams, and other technical partners through agreed coordination channels. Provide verified LIMS/QMS indicators and concise updates on progress, field visits, and corrective actions for project monitoring and reporting. Develop transition modalities for state takeover, including focal points, documentation, regular review mechanisms, and recurring system needs.
• Project/Program Reporting: Maintain the project indicators and activities database. Contribute to data collection for client reports. Compile and create technical content (e.g., reports, presentations, manuscripts). Assist in writing publications, web pages, and preparing presentations. Develop or write technical slips, reports, or other necessary materials to facilitate best practices, policies, and procedures. Prepare technical reports and papers summarizing results.
• Quality Assurance: Develop broader knowledge of quality standards through formalized systems that document processes, procedures, and responsibilities to achieve quality policies and objectives. Contribute to coordinating and leading activities to meet client/donor and regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications:
At least five years of relevant experience in public health or clinical laboratories, including hands-on experience with laboratory information systems/data flows and quality management system implementation; experience in outbreak response is strongly preferred. Proven experience in improving LIMS workflows, laboratory surveillance data quality, and result reporting safety in resource-limited environments. Hands-on experience with QMS assessments, controlled documentation, internal audits, quality control/EQA, non-conformance management, and corrective actions; knowledge of SLIPTA principles and ISO 1518

• Experience working with government laboratories and multidisciplinary surveillance, data, and IT teams, with strong mentoring and problem-solving skills. Professional proficiency in French and operational level English; ability to travel regularly as part of project safety measures.

Educational Background:
Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory sciences, biomedical sciences, laboratory informatics, or a closely related field; relevant master's degree preferred.

Experience:
Typically requires 5+ years of relevant experience managing data collection and providing technical assistance. Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private company.

Languages:
Professional proficiency in French is mandatory, with operational level English being good to have.

Additional Notes:
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities. Receives methods and procedures related to new projects and assignments. Typically reports to an associate director or director. The expected hiring salary range for this role is USD 28,000 - 40,000 annually for gross salary (basic and allowances) for national local hire. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, market pay, and budget. For internal candidates, salary placement will also follow FHI 360’s current promotional increase guidelines. This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.