|( Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

• Education: Bachelors Medical laboratory technology, biomedical science, microbiology, medicine, pharmacy, public health or another health-related field.
• Work Experience:
  • At least five years of professional experience in public health laboratory systems, laboratory networks or disease programme diagnostics, including at least three years working directly on specimen referral and transport.
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience in setting up, piloting or scaling up an integrated (multi-disease) specimen referral system at national or sub-national level. This includes designing referral pathways and transport routes, setting up courier or sample-transport arrangements, introducing referral logbooks, forms and specimen tracking, and monitoring turnaround time. Evidence is required in the CV and technical note.
  • Experience designing and delivering Training of Trainers and cascade training, and conducting supportive supervision of laboratory and health-facility staff at provincial and district levels.
  • Experience working with the Ministry of Health, NCLE, Provincial Health Offices or national disease programmes (e.g. TB, HIV, malaria, surveillance) in Lao PDR, and/or with UN agencies or donor-funded projects (e.g. Global Fund, Pandemic Fund).
• Language Requirements: Fluency in Lao and English (spoken and written) is required, including the ability to draft reports and correspondence in English and to translate accurately between Lao and English.
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
  • Sound knowledge of national and international requirements for the safe transport of infectious substances, including the WHO guidance, UN3373 / Category B, triple packaging, cold chain and spill management, and of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.
  • Good understanding of laboratory network functions and quality management: specimen collection, acceptance and rejection criteria, chain of custody, and result return and reporting.
  • Data skills: designing and using referral data tools, and analyzing turnaround-time and specimen-volume data. Working knowledge of DHIS2, LIMS or similar platforms, and advanced MS Excel.
  • Strong coordination, facilitation and report-writing skills. Able to bring together multiple departments, programmes and provinces, and to build trust with senior government officials.
  • Understanding of MOH structures and government planning, financial and administrative procedures in Lao PDR. Culturally sensitive, respects confidentiality and shows the highest standards of integrity.
• Desirables:
  • Master’s degree in public health, microbiology, laboratory management, epidemiology or a related field.
  • Certified training in shipping infectious substances (e.g. IATA Division 6.2 or WHO infectious substances shipping training).
  • Experience with sample transport networks for GeneXpert, TB or HIV viral load, or with laboratory formation and specimen tracking systems.
  • Experience with FIND – Diagnostic Network Assessment and mapping tool as well as Optimizaiton process
  • Experience with One Health specimen referral, including links with animal health laboratories.
  • Familiarity with UNICEF HACT/FACE procedures, Pandemic Fund results reporting, and JEE/SPAR indicator D1.1.