Family Health International, widely known as FHI 360, is one of the most respected international non-governmental organizations committed to improving lives through integrated health, education, and development solutions. The organization has a strong presence in Nigeria and is recognized for its long-standing contributions to public health, particularly in the areas of HIV prevention, care, and treatment. The position of Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services & QMS, based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, offers a rare and meaningful opportunity for experienced professionals who are passionate about laboratory science, systems strengthening, and public health delivery. This role is particularly ideal for individuals with a deep commitment to enhancing diagnostic capacity, promoting quality laboratory practices, and supporting the broader mission of saving lives through accurate and timely healthcare interventions.
As part of FHI 360’s Nigeria country office, the selected candidate will be expected to bring strong technical expertise in laboratory services with a specific focus on HIV-related diagnostics and quality assurance. The position requires hands-on experience in implementing and managing laboratory quality management systems (QMS), ensuring compliance with national and international standards, and building the capacity of laboratory personnel through structured mentorship and training. The Senior Technical Officer will work closely with key stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, implementing partners, donors, and healthcare facility teams to support the strategic goals of laboratory strengthening across Akwa Ibom and surrounding states. The individual must be well-versed in laboratory standards such as ISO 15189 and WHO/AFRO SLIPTA processes.
Job Overview
- Job Title: Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services & QMS
- Organization: Family Health International (FHI 360)
- Location: Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
- Job Type: Full-Time
- Reporting To: Senior Technical Advisor – Laboratory Services
The position of Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services & Quality Management Systems (QMS) at Family Health International (FHI 360) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom is a strategic role that directly contributes to the strengthening of Nigeria’s public health laboratory infrastructure. As a full-time team member reporting to the Senior Technical Advisor – Laboratory Services, this officer will play a pivotal role in ensuring that HIV-related diagnostic services are both accurate and compliant with national standards. The responsibilities go beyond daily lab operations; the role encompasses planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of quality assurance protocols across supported facilities in Akwa Ibom and possibly beyond.
The Senior Technical Officer will collaborate closely with facility laboratory personnel, government agencies, local partners, and FHI 360’s technical team to ensure alignment with global best practices in HIV laboratory testing, biosafety, specimen handling, equipment calibration, and documentation. They are expected to identify gaps in current lab practices, design corrective action plans, and mentor staff on standard operating procedures, external quality assessments, and accreditation readiness. By doing so, the officer helps safeguard the reliability of diagnostics and directly supports better treatment decisions for patients.
This position also entails direct involvement in training and supervision, ensuring that staff are competent, confident, and up to date with evolving technologies and policy changes in HIV diagnostics and laboratory management. The officer will be responsible for assessing laboratories against national quality standards such as SLIPTA or ISO 15189 benchmarks, and for implementing initiatives that elevate these labs to meet or exceed those thresholds. Additionally, the officer must maintain proper documentation, conduct regular audits, and generate insightful reports that guide programmatic decision-making at both state and national levels.
In terms of program alignment, this role reinforces FHI 360’s mission to deliver high-quality, data-driven, and evidence-based health solutions. The Senior Technical Officer will serve as a linchpin in integrating laboratory support with broader health system strengthening activities, including logistics management, data validation, and inter-facility networking. The candidate must be able to think strategically while also being comfortable with hands-on problem solving in complex, resource-limited environments.
Responsibilities
As a Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services and Quality Management Systems (QMS) at FHI 360, one of your core responsibilities will be to provide technical assistance aimed at strengthening laboratory systems at the state, facility, and community levels. This involves identifying gaps in diagnostic service delivery and designing practical, scalable solutions to improve laboratory functionality. You will be expected to work with health facilities and public health laboratories to ensure the implementation of high-quality diagnostic services, especially those related to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, viral load testing, and early infant diagnosis. The role also involves supporting the integration of laboratory services into broader public health programs to enhance efficiency and patient care. Your efforts will directly impact the accuracy of diagnostic services and the overall quality of healthcare delivery.
Another key responsibility of this position is to support the implementation of quality assurance systems for HIV diagnostics and other critical testing services. You will guide laboratories in adopting and complying with national and international laboratory quality standards, such as ISO 15189 and SLIPTA frameworks. This includes developing and reviewing standard operating procedures (SOPs), initiating internal quality control systems, and coordinating participation in external quality assurance (EQA) schemes. Your role will also require you to supervise and conduct laboratory audits, support corrective action plans, and ensure continuous improvement processes are in place. The goal is to create a sustainable quality culture across supported laboratories, reducing diagnostic errors and strengthening credibility in testing outcomes. This has a direct effect on clinical decision-making, especially in HIV management where diagnostic precision is crucial for treatment success.
In line with improving laboratory systems, you will ensure that all laboratory documentation is complete, accurate, and up to date. This means monitoring daily laboratory logs, specimen tracking forms, inventory records, equipment maintenance schedules, and biosafety checklists. You will be expected to work closely with laboratory staff to build capacity in proper documentation and help introduce digital tracking tools where possible. Good documentation is not only important for internal monitoring and auditing but is often a requirement for meeting donor reporting standards and regulatory compliance. Accurate and traceable records support evidence-based decision-making and protect patients from unnecessary delays or repeat testing due to misplaced or incorrect results.
As part of your duties, you will also be responsible for coordinating effectively with external partners, stakeholders, and relevant government agencies. These may include the State Ministry of Health, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), and donor organizations such as USAID and PEPFAR. Collaboration in this context means participating in technical working group meetings, presenting laboratory performance data, contributing to policy discussions, and aligning project goals with national strategies. You will act as a representative of FHI 360 and must therefore maintain professionalism, integrity, and clarity when interacting with stakeholders. This coordination is essential for securing buy-in, synchronizing efforts across programs, and ensuring sustained impact beyond the life of specific donor projects.
Mentorship and capacity building will form a critical part of your job. You will be tasked with training laboratory personnel on advanced diagnostic techniques, quality improvement practices, biosafety procedures, and proper equipment handling. Capacity building may take the form of in-person workshops, hands-on demonstrations, or virtual knowledge-sharing sessions. You will need to assess the current skill level of staff, design targeted interventions, and measure the impact of these training efforts through follow-up assessments and performance reviews. Your mentorship will help instill a culture of excellence and continuous learning, empowering laboratory staff to handle complex diagnostic challenges independently and confidently. Moreover, by building strong local capacity, your work contributes to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the healthcare system.
Overall, the Senior Technical Officer role demands a high level of collaboration, leadership, and technical expertise. It is not just about knowing laboratory procedures but about using that knowledge to improve systems, train others, manage resources, and influence health outcomes. You must be able to work in a multidisciplinary team environment where clinical, data, and program teams intersect. Your success will be measured not just by individual technical outputs but by your ability to drive systemic improvements and measurable quality enhancements in laboratory services. If you have the right combination of technical competence, interpersonal skills, and a strategic mindset, this role offers an excellent platform to make a lasting impact in public health.
Qualifications and Requirements
To be considered eligible for the Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services and Quality Management Systems position at FHI 360, applicants must meet a set of well-defined academic and professional benchmarks that reflect the technical demands and leadership scope of the role. Firstly, candidates should possess a minimum of a Master’s degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences or a closely related field such as Public Health Microbiology, Clinical Chemistry, Molecular Biology, or Medical Virology. This advanced academic qualification must be supported by seven to nine years of verifiable professional experience in laboratory practice, with particular emphasis on diagnostic services related to HIV, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases. Alternatively, applicants with a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in any of the aforementioned or related laboratory disciplines may apply with a minimum of five to seven years of relevant postdoctoral experience, provided that their expertise includes laboratory program coordination, diagnostic algorithm development, and technical support to laboratory networks.
Beyond academic qualifications, the applicant must demonstrate a minimum of five years of direct work experience in a functioning laboratory setting, with at least three years spent in a leadership or technical role on a donor-funded HIV laboratory program. This includes projects funded by major health donors such as PEPFAR, USAID, Global Fund, CDC, or the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Experience in implementing laboratory strengthening initiatives under such programs is highly valued, as is familiarity with the complex reporting, auditing, and accountability requirements of donor-backed initiatives. Candidates should also have a strong background in HIV diagnostic procedures, including early infant diagnosis (EID), viral load monitoring, CD4 enumeration, and HIV rapid testing algorithms. Furthermore, deep understanding and hands-on experience in quality assurance systems, including internal quality control (IQC), external quality assessment (EQA), laboratory accreditation protocols, and biosafety standards are required for effective performance in this role.
In addition to technical qualifications, applicants must possess comprehensive knowledge of Nigeria’s national health policies and laboratory guidelines, especially those relating to HIV/AIDS management and diagnostics. Familiarity with frameworks such as the Nigeria National Laboratory Strategic Plan, National Quality Management Guidelines, and international standards like ISO 15189 is essential. Proficiency in laboratory data systems, including Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), electronic medical records, and Excel-based reporting templates is also a key requirement. The role further demands excellent interpersonal communication, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills, as the selected candidate will frequently interface with state ministries of health, laboratory focal persons, implementing partners, and facility staff across various tiers of the health system. Candidates with certifications in laboratory quality management, project implementation, or professional licenses recognized by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) will be given added consideration.
Overall, FHI 360 is seeking a highly qualified individual with a blend of advanced academic training, substantial field experience, and proven capacity to manage high-impact laboratory projects in resource-limited and donor-sensitive settings. Applicants who meet these standards and can demonstrate a passion for health systems strengthening, laboratory quality improvement, and collaborative leadership will be well-positioned for success in this prestigious and high-impact technical role.
Travel Requirements
Applicants for the Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services and QMS position at FHI 360 must be fully prepared to undertake regular travel, which may constitute up to 25% of their working schedule. This level of mobility is not only an essential part of the job but a strategic requirement due to the decentralized nature of laboratory services and the scope of public health interventions in Nigeria. As part of the role, selected candidates will be expected to visit multiple health facilities, laboratories, and project sites across the country, particularly in states where FHI 360 supports HIV prevention, care, treatment, and laboratory strengthening programs. These trips may range from short-term technical support visits to extended stays for capacity-building activities, assessments, or stakeholder engagements.
Travel responsibilities include conducting on-site laboratory assessments, validating the implementation of quality assurance procedures, supervising testing protocols, mentoring laboratory personnel, and ensuring that local laboratory services are aligned with national guidelines and donor standards. In addition, applicants may be required to participate in training sessions, program launches, review meetings, or supportive supervisory visits, often in partnership with government officials, community organizations, or international collaborators. These travels serve not only to reinforce technical systems but also to foster accountability, data integrity, and sustainable quality improvement frameworks at the state and local government area (LGA) levels.
To succeed in this role, candidates must demonstrate the ability to work independently in new or challenging environments, and effectively manage both technical and operational tasks under minimal supervision. This means handling logistics planning, coordinating with local stakeholders, troubleshooting unexpected issues on the ground, and maintaining productivity while outside the central office. Organizational skills, flexibility, and a high level of emotional intelligence are essential, especially when dealing with diverse cultures, facility challenges, and infrastructural limitations.
Equally important is the applicant’s physical stamina and mental preparedness to adapt to field realities, including irregular power supply, travel delays, remote locations, and high workload periods, while maintaining the quality of their technical output. Prior experience with fieldwork in Nigeria’s public health sector is a strong asset and will be highly regarded during the recruitment process. In sum, the travel requirement is not just a logistical detail; it is a core component of the role’s mission, to strengthen diagnostic systems, reinforce best practices, and support real-time improvements in Nigeria’s HIV and public health response. Candidates unwilling or unable to meet this travel commitment will find it difficult to fulfill the expectations of the role effectively.
How to Apply
If you believe you are fully qualified and ready to take the next step in your public health career, applying for the Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services & QMS position at FHI 360 is your opportunity to make a significant impact on national health systems. To submit your application correctly, follow this carefully outlined step-by-step process to ensure that your documents are reviewed and your candidacy receives the attention it deserves.
First, navigate to the official FHI 360 careers portal, which is the only recognized channel for submitting your application. Use a secure and updated browser to visit the site, as outdated browsers may cause upload errors or disrupt your form submission. Once you’re on the careers homepage, use the internal search feature to find the vacancy by typing the full job title: Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services & QMS. You can narrow down the search further by filtering by location (Uyo, Nigeria) or job category (Laboratory Services).
After locating the job listing, read through the job description once more to confirm that your qualifications, experience, and interests align with the expectations. Then proceed to the online application form. The form will typically request your personal information, education history, professional experience, and availability. Ensure that every section is filled accurately and completely. Avoid using abbreviations or technical jargon unless specified by the form.
When prompted, upload a professionally formatted CV (in PDF or Word format) that emphasizes your laboratory technical expertise, program management experience, and past roles within donor-funded HIV programs. Your CV should reflect your ability to provide technical leadership, implement quality assurance systems, and train laboratory personnel across multiple locations. Avoid generic resumes, tailor the content to the job description using keywords such as “quality assurance,” “QMS implementation,” “HIV diagnostics,” and “health systems strengthening.”
Click here to apply via FHI 360 Careers
Next, upload a compelling cover letter. This is your chance to express, in clear and concise language, why you are passionate about this role, how your previous roles prepared you for this responsibility, and how you can contribute to FHI 360’s mission in Nigeria. Use the cover letter to humanize your application, go beyond the CV to highlight leadership examples, field experience, and your adaptability in supporting decentralized health programs.
Finally, double-check your entries and attachments for accuracy and completeness. Once submitted, make a note of your application confirmation and monitor your email inbox, including your spam folder, for any follow-up communication from FHI 360. Interviews may be scheduled shortly after the application deadline, so stay accessible and prepared.
In conclusion, approaching the application process with professionalism, accuracy, and strategic alignment to the role will significantly increase your chances of moving forward in the recruitment process. Take your time to polish every detail, as this role could open the door to long-term growth within an internationally respected health organization.
Ensure your resume clearly outlines your laboratory experience, donor-funded program involvement, and qualifications. Use a professional format to increase your chances of selection.
Why Join FHI 360?
Joining FHI 360 as a Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services & QMS is not only a strategic career move, but also an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s healthcare transformation. FHI 360 has built a global reputation for delivering innovative, evidence-based solutions across health, education, and development. In Nigeria, their work in HIV/AIDS control, reproductive health, and health system strengthening has positively impacted millions of lives. For professionals who are deeply committed to improving diagnostic systems and implementing sustainable quality assurance protocols in laboratory science, this role offers a platform to lead real change.
What sets FHI 360 apart is its collaborative and mission-driven culture. Team members are encouraged to share knowledge, innovate, and work across disciplines to solve complex problems. As a Senior Technical Officer, you will be working alongside global health experts, national health officials, donor agencies, and frontline workers to implement lab systems that meet international standards. Your contributions will help improve the accuracy and accessibility of HIV testing services across Akwa Ibom and surrounding regions.
The organization also prioritizes continuous learning and professional development. Employees benefit from structured training, leadership development programs, global best practice exchanges, and mentoring from senior professionals. This ensures that your technical expertise is not only maintained but constantly enhanced. In addition, FHI 360 supports internal mobility, allowing high-performing staff to transition into senior roles across programs, sectors, and even global offices.
Another major advantage is the opportunity to work on critical, high-impact projects. In this role, you will directly influence how laboratories are managed, how diagnostic tools are used, and how patients are diagnosed and monitored. You will be implementing standards that improve reliability, reduce error margins, and ultimately save lives. This kind of work is both technically fulfilling and socially meaningful—ideal for professionals who want their skills to count for something larger than individual career success.
Furthermore, FHI 360 is a values-driven organization that recognizes and rewards integrity, diligence, and leadership. The experience you gain here is internationally recognized, making it easier to advance your career both within and beyond the development sector. Whether you aim to rise into program management, policy advising, or international consultancy, this position places you on a credible and competitive path.
For professionals in the laboratory sciences who aspire to influence health outcomes at scale, especially in the context of HIV/AIDS and public health, this role at FHI 360 offers both purpose and growth. If you are ready to be part of a mission where your technical skills directly contribute to saving lives, strengthening systems, and advancing healthcare equity, then now is the time to step forward.
Final Thoughts
This opening for the Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services & QMS at FHI 360 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, is more than just a job listing, it’s a rare and strategic opportunity for experienced laboratory scientists who are committed to transforming Nigeria’s healthcare delivery systems, particularly within the context of HIV diagnostics and quality assurance. If you have the qualifications and experience outlined in the job criteria, this could mark a pivotal milestone in your professional journey.
FHI 360 does not merely offer employment; it provides a platform where professionals are empowered to lead, innovate, and create measurable impact in public health. As a Senior Technical Officer in Laboratory Services, you’ll be deeply involved in optimizing laboratory operations, implementing robust quality assurance frameworks, and mentoring the next generation of medical laboratory professionals. Your contributions will have ripple effects, extending from improved diagnostic accuracy at local clinics to enhanced trust in national health systems. This role allows you to apply your scientific knowledge in a way that directly influences health outcomes and strengthens institutional capacity across the state.
If you are driven by both purpose and performance, and you thrive in settings where both technical mastery and strategic collaboration are essential, then this is a perfect match for your skill set. The role involves working with stakeholders at multiple levels, including government agencies, international donors, and local implementing partners. Your ability to lead projects, coordinate trainings, and support national HIV/AIDS strategies will be critical in shaping the success of ongoing interventions.
Moreover, FHI 360’s culture of learning, excellence, and inclusion means you will be continuously supported to grow. From internal learning platforms to mentorship programs and global best practice exchanges, you will be part of an ecosystem that recognizes talent, nurtures leadership, and rewards high-impact performance. You will not only gain exposure to cutting-edge tools and systems but also develop strategic insight into the workings of one of the world’s most respected public health institutions.
So, if you are ready to elevate your impact in the lab science field and bring your technical expertise to a global mission that aligns with your values, this is your call to action. Take the next step today, submit your application and position yourself for a future that blends professional growth with meaningful societal contribution.
Apply now for the Senior Technical Officer – Laboratory Services & QMS role at FHI 360.
Your next big opportunity in global health leadership could begin with this decision.