Animal Health and Laboratory Specialist - FHI 360

Job Summary:

The Global Health Security (GHS) Animal Health and Laboratory Specialist will provide technical leadership to strengthen animal health and laboratory systems in Ghana. The Specialist will lead animal health activities and support the GHS Technical Advisor to strengthen zoonotic disease surveillance through a cross-sectoral approach linking animals, human, and environmental sectors.

Key responsibilities include building workforce capacity to detect priority infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), supporting data collection and use for surveillance and response, and assisting the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD), Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD), MoH, EPA, NADMO, and other Cross sectoral health platforms to institutionalize district-level 7-1-7 monitoring and strengthen rapid detection and response through a combination of Training of Trainers (ToT) and trainings, simulations exercises (SimExs), and contingency planning at the national, and subnational levels.

The Specialist will support outbreak investigations, emergency response operations, and coordination with Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs) and incident management systems as needed. The Specialist will also support ISO 17025 accreditation readiness, proficiency testing, diagnostic quality improvement, surveillance and laboratory data systems (eg, DHIS2, LIMS) to improve data quality and support sample referral systems, while contributing to SOPs, monitoring and evaluation, and technical reporting to advance GHS outcomes in Ghana.

Accountabilities:

Technical Requirements:

• Provide technical leadership in animal health and zoonotic disease surveillance, detection, reporting, and response using a Cross-sectoral Health (One Health) approach.
• Provide technical guidance to the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) and partners to design, implement, and strengthen animal health laboratory systems at national, regional, and district levels.
• Support the development and updating of policies, guidelines, SOPs, and workflows for zoonotic surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and sample management in alignment with national IDSR, GHS, and international standards (eg, WOAH, FAO, WHO).
• Deliver hands-on training, mentoring, and supportive supervision to laboratory staff, field officers, district veterinarians, surveillance sites, and field teams to strengthen diagnostic capacity and rapid response using a ToT and sustainability-focused approach.
• Support integration of animal health data into national surveillance platforms and cross-sectoral information systems (eg, DHIS2, LIMS, event-based surveillance systems).
• Strengthen sample referral and transport networks and laboratory quality management systems for timely and reliable detection of priority zoonotic and AMR pathogens in line with ISO 17025 and biosafety/biosecurity requirements.
• Support contingency planning, simulations, and participatory workshops to enhance rapid detection, investigation, and response including outbreak investigation, emergency response, and after-action reviews (AARs).
• Lead implementation of project activities in line with approved work plans, SOPs, and technical standards.
• Track project indicators, analyze implementation data, and produce technical reports to support decision-making and continuous quality improvement including monitoring progress toward 7-1-7 targets.
• Identify and escalate technical challenges and propose solutions aligned with project objectives.
• Contribute to national and regional technical working groups, multisectoral coordination platforms, and collaboration with ministries, donors, and implementing partners including participation in Cross Sectoral Health coordination mechanisms and emergency operations structures such as PHEOCs.
• Identify issues/challenges and develop strategies for effective implementation of related work plan activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of related parts of required reports to FHI 360 and USG in compliance with reporting timelines and quality standards.

Project Design Implementation:

• Develop strategies and tools for the design and implementation of specific technical components based on risk assessments, gap analyses, and stakeholder consultations.
• Monitors project deliverables and reports to supervisors through regular progress updates and technical briefings.
• Lead technical project activities and sub activities and assist with project implementation including coordination with field teams, consultants, and government counterparts.
• May implement components of the technical portions of the project plan and provide surge technical support during outbreaks or public health emergencies, as required.
• Identify and raise issues to senior technical staff with evidence-based recommendations for corrective actions.
• Function as the technical lead with oversight of project technical administrative and finance compliance, technical deliverables, and team management, (including projects and consultants).

Applied Knowledge & Skills

• Expertise in zoonotic disease surveillance, AH laboratory strengthening, infectious disease diagnostics, and quality management systems including biosafety and biosecurity principles and practices.
• Strong understanding of GHS frameworks, AMR/AMU surveillance, and diagnostic network coordination including familiarity with IDSR, 7-1-7, Cross Sectoral Health, and multisectoral coordination mechanisms.
• Experienced in field-based surveillance, laboratory detection in animals, and technical support for outbreak investigations, and surveillance evaluations.
• Skilled in leading diagnostic networks and collaborating with governments, partners, and international stakeholders across animal, human, environmental health and other sectors.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to interpret data and implement corrective actions using performance indicators, root-cause analysis, and quality improvement approaches.
• Proficient in project management, including scopes of work, deliverables, and reporting.
• Competent in database management, data analysis, and productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Office) and a plus familiarity with surveillance and laboratory information systems (eg, DHIS2, LIMS).
• Effective communicator with facilitation, negotiation, and influencing skills; culturally and politically aware with experience supporting capacity building and stakeholder engagement in low-resource or complex settings.
• Fluent in spoken and written English, with professional and clear communication abilities and demonstrated experience producing high-quality technical reports and presentations.

Problem Solving & Impact

• Works on problems of moderate to complex scope that require review of various factors.
• Exercises good judgment with selecting methods and techniques to determine appropriate action.
• Decisions may cause delays and affect a work unit or area within a department.
• Identifies and raises issues to senior technical staff
• Networks with key internal and external personnel.
• Decision may cause delays or failure to achieve results that impact departmental goals.

Education

• Veterinary medicine (required), master’s degree in animal health, animal science, microbiology, laboratory sciences, or a related field. Registered veterinarian or veterinary technologist is preferred for AH roles; specialization in microbiology or clinical laboratory medicine is preferred for Laboratory Specialist roles.
• Project Management (PM) certification preferred.
• Additional training or certification in laboratory quality management, biosafety, infectious disease diagnostics, or genomic surveillance is an advantage.

Experience

• At least 6+ years of experience working in national/regional animal health infectious disease detection, surveillance and laboratory systems strengthening.
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization.
• Open to Ghanaian nationals of those residing in Ghana; expatriate allowances will not be provided.

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