Senior Principal Technical Advisor - Laboratory & Diagnostics

Overview

The GHS Sr PTA provides technical excellence and senior technical leadership for laboratory systems and diagnostics across Jhpiego’s Infectious Disease and Global Health Security portfolio. This is a cross-cutting role supporting multiple GHS-funded projects and cooperative agreements — including CDC, RISE, and other current and future awards. The Sr PTA is accountable for transforming conceptual insights on laboratory and diagnostic systems strengthening into plans and strategies that effectively mobilize, execute, and turn goals into reality across the portfolio. As a senior principal technical expert in laboratory systems and diagnostics, the Sr PTA designs and defines new approaches and establishes metrics to measure success against program goals and public health impact, guiding the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of programs that strengthen country and regional laboratory capacity to detect and respond to infectious disease threats and other public health emergencies, in alignment with the International Health Regulations (IHR), the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) laboratory core capacities, CDC’s Detect-Notify-Respond (DNR) framework and 7-1-7 targets, and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).

The Sr PTA provides leadership, expertise, and high-level technical and program support for the implementation of laboratory and diagnostics projects. This includes support for policy adoption, updating of laboratory guidelines and standards, building laboratory workforce capacity, scaling genomic sequencing, continuous quality improvement (e.g., laboratory quality management systems and accreditation), facilitating data use for decision-making, and documentation of best practices and lessons learned. The Sr PTA assesses, determines, and ensures the level of readiness of country laboratory systems and Jhpiego programs to adopt and institutionalize transformative diagnostic approaches and technologies into regular practice.

The Sr PTA represents Jhpiego globally as a recognized technical leader in laboratory systems and diagnostics for health security, helping position Jhpiego as a global leader in this space, and leads the development of opportunities and relationships that grow critical aspects of Jhpiego’s GHS laboratory and diagnostics portfolio to support organizational objectives

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Quality Programming

• Provide senior-level, high-quality technical leadership and quality assurance across assigned ID&GHS projects for laboratory systems strengthening and diagnostics, combining industry knowledge, best practices, and strategic program expertise.
• Provide technical leadership and implementation support across core laboratory and diagnostics programmatic areas, including: laboratory quality management systems and accreditation (e.g., SLMTA/SLIPTA, ISO 15189); specimen referral and transport networks; laboratory information systems (LIMS) and data integration; biosafety and biosecurity; point-of-care and molecular diagnostics (e.g., GeneXpert, PCR platforms); pathogen genomics and sequencing; and national and regional reference laboratory networks.
• Ensure technical activities align with donor frameworks (e.g., CDC, AFGHS), IHR laboratory core capacity requirements, 7-1-7, GHSA, and host-country priorities, and are evidence-based and responsive to country and donor needs.
• Conceptualize, design, and develop plans for the seamless integration and implementation of laboratory and diagnostics activities and initiatives in alignment with Jhpiego’s vision, strategic plan, and organizational priorities.
• Advise country teams on evidence-based approaches and best practices to advance laboratory and diagnostic capacities aligned with National Action Plans for Health Security and improve key metrics (e.g., 7-1-7, JEE, SPAR, GLASS/AMR indicators).
• Lead the development of guidance and learning resources and act as lead for defining and testing new tools and innovations — including digital diagnostics, next-generation sequencing platforms, and integrated specimen referral systems — to accelerate achievement of laboratory strengthening results.
• Lead the design of implementation research that promotes the future adoption of new and transformative laboratory and diagnostic innovations.
• Guide the development and testing of emergency preparedness plans, laboratory surge capacity protocols, simulation exercises, and after-action reviews.
• Provide technical leadership for laboratory and diagnostic response activities during disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
• Identify and actively seek opportunities to integrate laboratory and diagnostics priorities across Jhpiego’s technical units and country programs, working with country colleagues to operationalize strategic objectives and activities across different country settings.
• Continuously assess global health security risks and disease trends and formulate policies and guidance to strengthen laboratory and diagnostic preparedness and response to pandemics, outbreaks, bioterrorism, climate-related health threats, and zoonotic diseases.
• Support the use of data analytics, genomics, and epidemiological information to inform laboratory and diagnostics decision-making and strategy.
• Develop and review technical and clinical training materials and digital learning content for laboratory workforce development.

Capacity Building

• Conceptualize global technical strategies and approaches that transform the delivery and implementation of laboratory and diagnostics interventions across the organization.
• Provide thought leadership for the development of Jhpiego’s global technical strategy and approaches for laboratory systems and diagnostics, based on knowledge of donor trends, technology innovation, stakeholder needs, and priorities across the organization.
• Lead implementation of priorities identified in the global technical strategy and workplan, and identify strategic opportunities to apply, integrate, or test new approaches to strengthen future positioning.

Program Management, Reporting & Coordination

• In coordination with Project/Program Directors and country GHS focal points, lead or contribute to annual work planning, ensuring effective resource planning and utilization in collaboration with donors, Ministries of Health, and key stakeholders.
• Contribute to the preparation and timely submission of quality technical reports to donors.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with donors, Ministries of Health, National Public Health Institutes, public health partners, professional associations, private health care networks, civil society organizations, and research institutions.

Strategic Growth and Partnerships

• Serve as technical design lead and support business development activities, including identifying and supporting new opportunities and leading the technical design of new laboratory and diagnostics projects with the new business development team.
• Negotiate partner and stakeholder relationships to design high-quality, feasible technical approaches responsive to donor requirements and stakeholder needs.
• Serve as design lead on laboratory and diagnostics opportunities, facilitating alignment among partners and stakeholders on technical approach.
• Develop and grow professional relationships with donors and partners worldwide to expand Jhpiego’s GHS laboratory and diagnostics portfolio and impact.

Knowledge Management & Learning

• Support the realization of external communication priorities, including the development of success stories, blogs, and other program and technical communication materials that demonstrate Jhpiego’s technical expertise, results, and programming excellence in laboratory and diagnostics.
• Support field staff to present and disseminate learning from country implementation.
• Contribute to the development of peer-reviewed publications and technical guidance documents.

Mentor

• Mentor technical staff within the laboratory team, as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Medical degree or advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in Laboratory Sciences, Medical Technology, Microbiology, Public Health, Epidemiology, Global Health, Medicine, or a related field required.
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in global public health, health security, outbreak preparedness, surveillance, epidemiology, or emergency response, including international field-based programs.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience managing and mentoring multidisciplinary technical teams required.
• Deep technical expertise in laboratory systems and diagnostics, including laboratory quality management systems and accreditation (e.g., SLMTA/SLIPTA, ISO 15189), specimen referral and transport networks, laboratory information systems, biosafety and biosecurity, and molecular or point-of-care diagnostic platforms.
• Demonstrated recognition in laboratory, diagnostics, or GHS technical areas (e.g., relevant publications, membership on GHS or laboratory scientific/technical committees).
• Experience leading or supporting multi-country technical assistance programs, with proven expertise in strategic program planning, implementation, and management.
• Demonstrated experience working with donors (CDC, DOS, and others), Ministries of Health, National Public Health Institutes and Reference Laboratories, and international health partners; understanding of USG and other donor systems, structures, and processes.
• Strong change management, results-oriented approach, and decision-making skills; strategic thinker with a record of developing and operationalizing vision and strategy for laboratory systems or diagnostics programming.
• Strong understanding of health systems and laboratory systems challenges globally, with particular familiarity with countries in Africa, Asia, and/or Latin America.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, partnership management, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively in multicultural and challenging LMIC settings.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills in English.
• Proven ability to work in a complex, fast-paced, multicultural environment with multiple tasks and short deadlines.
• Ability to travel internationally up to 30% of time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification or specialized training in laboratory quality management systems (e.g., SLMTA/SLIPTA assessor), biosafety and biosecurity, or molecular diagnostics/pathogen genomics.
• Experience with laboratory information systems (LIMS) implementation and digital health data integration
• Fluency in French, Spanish, Portuguese, or another major national language

The salary range for this role is expected to be: $127,874 - $162,786

Total Rewards:

The referenced salary range is based on Johns Hopkins University’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/

Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines:JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.**Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate’s conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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RECRUITMENT SCAMS & FRAUD WARNING

Jhpiego has become aware of scams involving false job offers. Please be advised:

• Recruiters will never ask for a fee during any stage of the recruitment process.
• All active jobs are advertised directly on our careers page.
• Official Jhpiego emails will always arrive from a @Jhpiego.org email address.

Please report any suspicious communications to [email protected]

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