The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries, while strengthening the capabilities of governments and the private sector in those countries to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance. For more information, please visit: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

CHAI has partnered with the Government in Lao PDR since 2014, supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) across several health programs including Procurement and Supply Management, Malaria Elimination, HIV and TB Access, and Maternal and Child Health. CHAI Laos has also supported the MoH’s COVID-19 response since the beginning of the pandemic.

Program Overview

The ability to make accurate diagnoses is crucial to the control of infectious diseases that have a high public health impact, including HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and COVID-19. CHAI has over 15 years’ experience in providing support across more than 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia on Diagnostic testing implementation, diagnostic network optimization and systems strengthening. CHAI has a global team of technical experts for both the supply and demand sides of diagnostics.

CHAI has recently secured funding as part of a consortium for Laboratory system strengthening in Southeast Asia. Through this, CHAI will support the MoH and its National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE) to strengthen national laboratory systems to improve COVID-19 and other molecular testing programs. Proposed activities:

• Conduct national assessment of laboratory capacity to identify gaps and opportunities for laboratory systems strengthening investments, in collaboration with ongoing investments and partners (WHO, SEALAB)
• Design roadmap for laboratory systems strengthening investments in support of MoH goal to reach 100% of provinces with RT PCR capacity
• Provide financial and technical support for lab systems strengthening investments in line with the roadmap
• Support adoption and roll out of context-appropriate COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Tests

The Program Manager, Laboratory Systems will lead a diverse team to support the MoH to improve COVID-19 molecular and antigen testing programs and other diagnostic services including for HIV, TB and Malaria. The Program Manager will provide both strategic and technical direction for the program, overseeing its development and assuming responsibility for high quality delivery. The Program Manager will build a strong relationships with key stakeholders in the Laboratory space, including with the Ministry of Health, subnational level laboratories and testing sites and health partners. The position will be based in Vientiane, Lao PDR, with regular domestic travel expected, as conditions allow.

Working together with and supported by the CHAI Lao PDR leadership team, the Laboratory Systems Program Manager will be responsible for:

Program Leadership

• Lead the development and refinement of the laboratory program’s strategic initiatives, ensuring ongoing alignment with the MOH strategic goals and priorities
• Translate objectives provided by the government, donors, and other partner organizations into clear activity plans, and provide guidance to laboratory team on prioritization of initiatives
• Lead the laboratory team in Laos to meet established program objectives under MoH and NCLE guidance  
• Identify strategic areas for expansion and guide proposal development needed for future program development

Stakeholder Coordination

• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders in the Laboratory space, including with the Ministry of Health, subnational level laboratories and testing sites and health partners and other relevant actors that play a role on diagnostics and testing services particularly on HIV, TB, COVID-19 and Malaria
• Ensure communication and alignment of activities across government and partner stakeholders efforts and across other CHAI programs in Lao PDR to ensure coordination and successful execution of the laboratory program
• Collaborate with internal CHAI global and country teams to facilitate access to key information and stakeholders, provide updates, and leverage core competencies of the various CHAI teams

Donor Relationship Management

• Coordinate with donor organizations to provide progress updates, performance metrics, and other reporting requirements
• Manage the laboratory program budget and liaise with appropriate CHAI internal and donor teams to meet all mandated requirements

Perform other duties that may be assigned by country leadership.

Required

• Bachelor's degree in a related field with a minimum of 5 years of work experience in a demanding and fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • Planning and execution of demanding projects, including strategy development, budgeting and activities planning and prioritization
  • Team management, specifically mentoring and shaping diverse teams
  • Thinking strategically, handling ambiguity, and problem solving in a fast-paced, limited-structure and multicultural environment
  • Managing numerous work streams simultaneously in high-pressure situations
  • Building and maintaining collaborative, senior-level relationships and working with multiple stakeholders
• Familiarity with global health issues, particularly HIV, TB, COVID-19 and Malaria
• Exposure to health care and/or health systems strengthening and/or experience working on public sector projects and programs under government ministries and external donors
• Excellent analytical (qualitative and quantitative) skills and communication (written and verbal) skills, including the ability to prepare and present compelling presentations and program planning and memo documents
• Technical proficiency with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Fluency in English

Advantages

• Lab and diagnostics-related experience, either in a programmatic or clinical setting
• Knowledge and experience in supporting national laboratory systems and networks
• Familiarity with laboratory support systems (e.g. supply chain management, lab information system and effective use of DHIS2, Ag-RDT quality assurance program, specimen transportation)
• Experience working in pharmaceuticals, management consulting, investment banking, or a similar fast-paced, results-oriented environment
• Experience working in resource-limited settings
• Fluency in Lao or Thai language

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