Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK)
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Job Summary
The Senior Program Officer, Laboratory Systems Strengthening will provide overall technical leadership, coordination, and oversight of laboratory systems strengthening activities across the fifteen (15) counties supported by the CHAK Daraja Project. Working under the CMAT® county mentorship and transition model, the position will focus on sustaining timely, quality-assured HIV and TB diagnostics; ensuring uninterrupted availability of laboratory commodities; strengthening laboratory quality management systems; and progressively transferring laboratory leadership, quality improvement, and diagnostic network oversight to County Laboratory Coordinators and County Health Management Teams (CHMTs). The role reports to the Senior Technical Advisor – Health Systems Strengthening & Transition and contributes directly to the project's milestone-based results under the Fixed Amount Award.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Provide overall technical leadership, coordination, and oversight of laboratory systems strengthening across the 15 counties supported by the CHAK Daraja Project, in line with Objective 2 of the project's Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Support county integrated specimen referral system operations, including use of the KenyaEMR e-manifest to track sample movement, monitor turnaround time (TAT), and reduce specimen rejection rates.
Coordinate last-mile delivery of viral load (VL) sample collection materials, Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) kits, laboratory commodities, and External Quality Assurance/Proficiency Testing (PT) panels to supported facilities.
Support county-level forecasting, quantification, and budgeting for laboratory and sample-collection commodities, working through county commodity allocation committees to maintain adequate testing supplies and prevent stock-outs.
Strengthen laboratory quality management systems through internal quality control, participation in External Quality Assurance (EQA)/PT schemes, Rapid Testing Continuous Quality Improvement (RTCQI) and Laboratory Continuous Quality Improvement (LCQI), and support facilities to prepare for laboratory accreditation.
Support pooled, site-based training of laboratory personnel on point-of-care diagnostic platforms, including CD4 Visitect, HIV/syphilis/Hepatitis B rapid test kit panels, and m-PIMA Viral Load and EID-PCR testing.
Sustain equipment functionality through planned preventive maintenance schedules, biosafety cabinet certification, and county-led super-user mentorship for GeneXpert, TrueNat, and other molecular diagnostic platforms.
Lead biosafety and biosecurity capacity building, including staff orientation on safe sample handling, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) monitoring, laboratory waste management, and occupational exposure reporting through county IPC structures.
Work in close collaboration with County Laboratory Coordinators to progressively transfer leadership for specimen referral, equipment management, quality improvement, and diagnostic network optimisation to county health systems, consistent with the project's CMAT® model.
Monitor and report on laboratory systems performance indicators and milestone deliverables, ensuring data-driven decision-making and timely, accurate reporting to the Senior Technical Advisor – Health Systems Strengthening & Transition and the DOS Grants Officer Representative (GOR), as required.
Represent CHAK in county Technical Working Groups (TWGs), laboratory technical forums, and coordination meetings with County Health Management Teams (CHMTs), the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board (KMLTTB), and national reference laboratories.
Travel frequently to supported health facilities across the project's 15 counties to provide on-site technical support, supervision, and mentorship to facility- and county-level laboratory personnel.
Qualification and Experience
Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field; a Master's degree in Public Health or a related discipline is an added advantage.
Current registration and a valid practising license with the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board (KMLTTB).
A minimum of seven (7) years' progressive experience in laboratory systems strengthening, quality management, or diagnostics within HIV/TB programs, at least three (3) of which in a technical leadership or supervisory role.
Demonstrated experience working on a USG- or other donor-funded HIV/TB program, with hands-on knowledge of PEPFAR laboratory quality standards and reporting requirements.
Working knowledge of national laboratory information and data systems, including KHIS, LIS, DHIS2, and TaifaCare/KenyaEMR.
Practical experience with molecular diagnostic platforms (GeneXpert, TrueNat) and point-of-care testing technologies.
Familiarity with External Quality Assurance/Proficiency Testing (EQA/PT) schemes, RTCQI/LCQI processes, and laboratory accreditation preparation (e.g., SLIPTA).
Prior experience mentoring county- or facility-level laboratory personnel and working with County Health Management Teams (CHMTs) and County Laboratory Coordinators is strongly preferred.
Valid driving license and willingness to travel frequently and extensively to field sites, consistent with the position's split Nairobi–Meru duty station and 15-county coverage area.
Required skills and competencies
Strong technical writing, data analysis, and report-writing skills.
Excellent interpersonal, mentorship, and stakeholder-engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with county government officials, FBO facility leadership, and national reference institutions.
High level of integrity, sound judgement, and commitment to CHAK's mission and values.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet milestone-linked deadlines under a results-based (Fixed Amount Award) funding model.
Strong computer literacy, including proficiency with laboratory and health data systems and standard office software.