Laboratory Quality Mentor

Position title:  Laboratory Quality Mentor

Duty station:  Malawi

Reports to: Project Officer

Contract Term: ending 30^th September 2025 (renewable in line with budget year)

ASLM Background

The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) is a Pan‐African professional body, working to advocate for the critical role and needs of laboratory medicine and networks throughout Africa. Africa is rapidly growing but faces major health challenges including epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, and new priorities such as Ebola and other global health security threats. Strengthened laboratory capacity and surveillance in Africa are critical to overcoming the burden of disease and ensuring a healthy future for the continent. ASLM addresses these challenges by working collaboratively with governments, local and international organizations, implementing partners, and the private sector.

Purpose of the role

We are seeking a highly experienced Laboratory Quality Mentor to lead and support our laboratory team in implementing and maintaining a robust quality management system. The successful candidate will have a strong background in laboratory quality management, excellent communication skills, and the ability to mentor and train laboratory staff. The laboratory mentors will be responsible for implementation of ASLM’s laboratory quality strengthening activities in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement laboratory quality management systems: Establish and maintain a quality management system that meets international standards and regulatory requirements including ISO 15189, ISO 17025 and ISO 17011.
• Mentor and train laboratory staff: Provide training and mentorship to laboratory staff on laboratory quality management systems, equipment calibration and in best practices.
• Conduct audits and assessments: Conduct regular audits and assessments to ensure compliance with quality standards and identify areas for improvement.
• Develop and implement quality procedures and guidelines: Develop, implement, and maintain quality procedures and protocols to ensure laboratory operations meet quality standards.
• Collaborate with laboratory staff: Work closely with laboratory staff to identify and address quality issues, and implement corrective actions.

Qualification

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., laboratory science, quality management).
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in laboratory quality management, with a proven track record of implementing and maintaining quality management systems.
• Knowledge: Laboratory quality management (e.g., ISO 15189, ISO 17025, ISO 17011) is highly desirable.
• Skills: Excellent communication, time management, report writing, interpersonal, and mentoring skills.

Equal opportunity

• ASLM is an equal opportunity employer and we recruit and select staff on the basis of their demonstrated ability, qualifications and suitability for work.