Consultant: Lab Specialist
Organizational Context
The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative's Office in Lebanon seeks a consultant to strengthen the national laboratory network. This role focuses on enhancing technical competencies, laboratory information management systems, and the integration of laboratory services with surveillance activities. The consultant will also support the development of a national strategy for External Quality Assessment (EQA) systems, aligning with Lebanon's Pandemic Fund investments for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
Job Purpose
The primary purpose of this consultancy is to significantly enhance Lebanon's national laboratory system. This will be achieved by strengthening technical capacities, improving digital integration of laboratory information management systems, bolstering quality assurance mechanisms, and fostering better coordination between public health surveillance and laboratory services. The role operates within the framework of the Pandemic Fund, aiming to improve Lebanon's preparedness and response capabilities for health emergencies. The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Public Health and the Central Public Health Laboratory to identify and address critical gaps, ensuring a more robust and responsive national laboratory network.
Responsibilities
The consultant will be responsible for strengthening laboratory technical competencies across the national network, with a focus on the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) and other public health laboratories. Key duties include developing and delivering updated training packages based on identified needs. The consultant will also assess and recommend improvements for laboratory information management systems, aiming to enhance data quality, interoperability, and integration with surveillance activities. This includes defining minimum data elements and developing data-sharing frameworks. Furthermore, the consultant will lead the development of a national strategy and implementation roadmap for strengthening External Quality Assessment (EQA) systems, including proposing enhancements for the National EQA Reference Laboratory and ensuring sustainability and integration with Pandemic Fund initiatives. The consultant will report to the WHO Team Lead.
Work Experience
A minimum of 5 years of experience in laboratory systems strengthening is required. This includes demonstrated expertise in laboratory quality management systems (LQMS) and assessment tools, strong knowledge of national laboratory systems (governance, referral, EQA), and experience in strengthening laboratory information management systems (LIMS), data management, interoperability, and lab-surveillance integration. Experience in fragile or resource-constrained settings is also valued. Prior experience with the Pandemic Fund, WHO, or CDC is desirable.
Skills
Laboratory systems strengthening, laboratory quality management systems (LQMS), laboratory assessment tools, national laboratory systems knowledge, laboratory governance, referral systems, External Quality Assessment (EQA) programs, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), data management, interoperability, laboratory-surveillance integration, training development and delivery, strategic planning, project implementation roadmap development.