Senior STRIDES Country Laboratory and Cold Chain Logistics Officer Full Time NEW

Job Summary:

The Senior Laboratory and Cold Chain Logistics Officer will support the implementation of laboratory and surveillance operations by ensuring the proper functioning, maintenance, and coordination of cold chain systems and specimen transport networks in Ethiopia, with a focus on monitoring and maintaining specialized equipment including cold rooms, vaccine refrigerators, freezers, and portable cold chain carriers to ensure the integrity of biological samples and related materials. The officer will coordinate and oversee the safe, timely, and compliant transportation of stool specimens and environmental samples from collection sites to designated national and reference laboratories for testing, working closely with surveillance teams, laboratory personnel, and regional health authorities to ensure adherence to established protocols for specimen collection, packaging, storage, and transport. S/He will provide technical and operational support to strengthen cold chain and specimen transport systems, identify bottlenecks in logistics and equipment performance, and support corrective actions to improve efficiency and reliability, while contributing to routine monitoring of cold chain performance, documentation of equipment functionality, and reporting on logistics operations to ensure continuity of surveillance and laboratory activities. The Laboratory and Cold Chain Logistics Officer will work in close coordination with the Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Regional Health Bureaus, and GPEI partners to ensure that laboratory and transport systems are aligned with national standards and support timely detection and response to priority diseases, and will also contribute to training and mentoring of relevant staff on cold chain management, biosafe handling, and specimen transport procedures to strengthen sustainable national capacity in these areas.

Accountabilities:

Technical Requirements:

• Provide technical and operational oversight for cold chain management and specimen transport systems supporting AFP and environmental surveillance, ensuring that stool and environmental samples are collected, stored, and transported in accordance with national and Global Polio Eradication Initiative standards to maintain specimen integrity and adequacy upon receipt at the laboratory.
• Monitor and maintain cold chain equipment—including cold rooms, refrigerators, freezers, and portable carriers—to ensure consistent temperature control, proper functionality, and compliance with established protocols for specimen handling and transport.
• Coordinate with surveillance teams, laboratory personnel, and regional health authorities to ensure timely and complete transport of specimens from collection sites to designated laboratories, with a focus on minimizing delays, preventing sample degradation, and ensuring that specimens meet adequacy requirements (timeliness, condition, and completeness) upon arrival.
• Establish and support systems for managing specimen transport logistics, including coordination of specimen couriers, tracking of shipments, and documentation of transport conditions to ensure accountability, traceability, and adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Support the development and implementation of operational procedures and tools to monitor specimen transport performance, including tracking turnaround times, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing corrective actions to improve efficiency and reliability.
• Ensure that specimen couriers and transport providers are appropriately supported and compensated in accordance with approved operational procedures, and that all transport-related expenditures are properly documented, tracked, and aligned with project financial management requirements.
• Work in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Regional Health Bureaus, and GPEI partners to align cold chain and specimen transport systems with national policies and surveillance priorities, ensuring integration within existing government-led systems.
• Provide technical support and on-the-job mentoring to relevant staff, including surveillance officers, laboratory personnel, and transport coordinators, on cold chain management, biosafe specimen handling, packaging, and transport procedures.
• Contribute to routine monitoring, reporting, and documentation of cold chain performance and specimen transport systems, including preparation of technical reports, operational updates, and recommendations for system strengthening.
• Support assessments of cold chain systems and specimen transport networks, including identification of gaps in equipment, logistics, and operational procedures, and contribute to the development of practical, context-appropriate solutions.

Project Design/Implementation:

• Supports the design, implementation, and optimization of cold chain and specimen transport systems to ensure stool and environmental samples are collected, stored, and transported in compliance with national and GPEI standards, with a focus on maintaining specimen integrity and adequacy upon receipt at the laboratory.
• Serves in a seconded capacity to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), working within national systems and structures to strengthen coordination, ownership, and sustainability of laboratory and specimen transport operations.
• Collaborates with project management teams, surveillance officers, laboratory personnel, subcontractors, and government stakeholders to ensure cold chain and specimen transport activities are effectively integrated into project implementation and aligned with national surveillance priorities.
• Contributes to the development, implementation, and monitoring of project work plans and related budgets, with responsibility for technical and operational components related to cold chain logistics, specimen transport, and equipment maintenance.
• Monitors performance of cold chain systems and specimen transport networks using established indicators, including timeliness of delivery, condition of specimens upon arrival, and equipment functionality, and ensures compliance with standard operating procedures.
• Identifies operational challenges and performance gaps related to logistics, transport systems, and equipment, and recommends and supports implementation of practical solutions to improve efficiency, reliability, and service delivery.
• Supports the establishment and oversight of systems to track specimen transport activities and associated costs, ensuring that courier services are coordinated effectively, compensated in accordance with approved procedures, and that all expenditures are accurately documented and compliant with financial management requirements.
• Maintains accurate records and documentation related to cold chain performance, specimen transport, and logistics operations, and contributes to routine technical reporting, performance monitoring, and internal documentation processes.
• Proactively identifies risks, delays, and implementation challenges related to cold chain and specimen transport systems and escalates issues to project management, supporting timely corrective actions and continuous improvement of operations.

Client/Funder Support:

• Builds productive working relationships internally and externally by fostering collaboration with national and international organizations, government agencies, academia, and other relevant entities.
• Assists with the preparation and drafting of work plans, presentations, and reports for the donors, MOH and other key stakeholders.
• Participate and represents the project in meetings and forums as required.

Operations Management (Finance, HR, etc.):

• Ensures project activities are on track with work plans, with technical expertise informing project implementation.
• Oversees project timelines and budgets. This includes monitoring of project activities to ensure they are on track with approved work plans, spending on technical scope under broad supervision, and the collection of data for financial and technical reporting.
• Monitors project activities, results, and deliverables and regularly reports to management.

Project/Program Reporting:

• Prepares reports and papers summarizing project results and analysis of data sets including technical assessment findings.
• Establishes and maintains SOW and budget tracking systems.
• Creates technical content (e.g., summary reports, presentations, manuscripts) related to project activities, results, and outcomes.

Quality Assurance:

• Develops in-depth knowledge of quality standards through a formalized system that documents processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives.
• Coordinates and directs activities to meet donor and regulatory requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of laboratory and diagnostic-related concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Experience developing scopes of work with deliverables for subcontractors, consultants, etc.
• Broad knowledge of laboratory-related quality assurance and biosafety/biosecurity standards.
• Proficiency with database management software and online search tools required.
• Has sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas.
• Articulate, professional, and able to communicate in a clear, positive manner with clients, partners, and staff.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Excellent and demonstrated project management skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with others.
• Demonstrated proficiency with using Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors, and prepare reports.
• Ability to solve problems and implement corrective action as needed.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak fluent in Amharic
• Ideally able to read, write, and speak English

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Works on problems of moderate to complex scope that require a review of various factors.
• Exercises good judgment selecting methods and techniques to determine appropriate action.
• Identifies and raises issues with management.
• Networks with key internal and external personnel.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Reports to Project Director

Education:

• Bachelors degree in microbiology or its international equivalent in biological sciences within a clinical or diagnostic discipline or specialty.
• Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.

Experience:

• Typically requires 6+ years of relevant experience working with infectious disease diagnostics and/or in laboratory systems strengthening. Work in POLIO Surveillance and case investigation preferred
• Prior work experience with USG-funded projects and familiarity with USG regulations and reporting requirements is preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of laboratory practices, diagnostic techniques, quality assurance systems, and laboratory information management systems in human, veterinary, and/or environmental health sectors.
• Knowledge and understanding of infectious diseases, their transmission, and the application of methods and procedures to safely control infectious materials.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and manage laboratory strengthening initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity-building activities such as training and mentoring laboratory personnel.
• Proven experience working with government agencies is highly desirable to support strategy development, implementation plans, and decision-making.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Fluency in English and Amharic language is required.
• Proficiency in English language preferred

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screens and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 40% local and regional travel

The expected hiring salary range for this role is indexed at USD 21,33 to USD 30,000 annually for basic salary. 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.

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.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

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FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.