Project Coordinator - Laboratory ( Chennai)

Jhpiego is a non-profit global health leader and Johns Hopkins University affiliate that is saving lives, improving health, and transforming futures. We partner with governments, health experts, and local communities to build the skills and systems that guarantee a healthier future for women and families. Jhpiego translates the best science and practices into moments of care that can mean the difference between life and death for women and families. The moment a woman gives birth; the moment a midwife helps a newborn to breathe. Through our partnerships, we are revolutionizing health care for the world’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people. In India, Jhpiego works across various states in close collaboration with national and state governments, providing technical assistance in the areas of family planning, maternal and child health, strengthening human resources for health, and non-communicable diseases.

 Jhpiego is seeking eligible candidates for the position of Project Coordinator - Laboratory  This position  will be responsible for end-to-end management of laboratory operations for Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) and Acute Diarrheal Disease (ADD) surveillance, ensuring high-quality implementation across patient enrolment support, specimen collection, transport, laboratory processing and testing, reporting, and data management.

The Project Coordinator will provide overall technical and operational leadership to ensure that the laboratory functions uninterrupted, adheres to approved protocols and diagnostic algorithms, meets turnaround time (TAT) expectations, and complies with quality management and biosafety standards. This position will work closely with clinicians, surveillance teams, the designated laboratory, and the IDSP Metropolitan Surveillance Unit (MSU) and Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) teams to strengthen laboratory support for AFI and ADD surveillance and ensure surveillance outputs are timely, complete, and usable for public health action.

1) Laboratory Operations and Technical Oversight

• Perform specimen processing and testing in alignment with standard protocols and defined diagnostic algorithms.
• Oversee all project-related laboratory activities, including patient enrolment, specimen collection workflows, transport, receipt, processing, testing, validation, and reporting.
• Ensure implementation of approved SOPs, diagnostic algorithms, and laboratory workflows for AFI/ADD surveillance.
• Ensure quality, accuracy, and timeliness of testing and results.
• Review and validate results prior to reporting, ensuring completeness, consistency, and compliance with protocol requirements.
• Ensure appropriate specimen storage, referral (if required), and disposal in line with protocols and institutional requirements.

2) Quality Management and Biosafety Compliance

• Ensure adherence to laboratory quality systems, including internal quality control procedures, documentation, traceability, and corrective action processes.
• Ensure compliance with biosafety requirements, standard precautions, and biomedical waste management as per institutional and regulatory norms.

3) Data Management, Documentation, and Reporting

• Ensure accurate and timely completion of all project documentation.
• Maintain all registers/logs for specimen receipt, processing, testing, and storage.
• Ensure data entry systems (registers and/or electronic platforms) are used consistently, and that records are complete and auditable.
• Ensure test reports are generated and shared in a timely manner through the appropriate platform(s) and with authorized stakeholders as per reporting workflows.
• Ensure data confidentiality, ethical compliance, and adherence to project data protection requirements.

4) Team Supervision, Capacity Building, and Performance Management

• Conduct on-the-job training for the lab technicians/ assistants
• Provide day-to-day supervision and mentorship to laboratory technician(s)/ assistant(s) and other supporting staff, ensuring role clarity and accountability.
• Plan staff rosters and ensure adequate coverage for peak workloads and continuity of operations.

5) Coordination, Stakeholder Engagement, and Communication

• Coordinate with clinicians and surveillance teams to ensure smooth enrolment and specimen flow, minimizing missed cases and improving completeness.
• Participate in review meetings; provide regular progress updates, including operational metrics (e.g., enrolment numbers, specimen volumes, positivity trends, TAT, data completeness, stock status, and key issues).
• Escalate critical issues (e.g., stock-outs, equipment failure, major delays, data discrepancies) promptly with a clear mitigation plan.

6) Inventory, Equipment, and Logistics Oversight

• Oversee inventory planning and ensure uninterrupted availability of consumables, reagents, kits, and PPE; prevent stock-outs through timely forecasting and requisitioning.
• Ensure equipment readiness, calibration/maintenance schedules (where applicable), and basic troubleshooting coordination with relevant teams/vendors.
• Ensure appropriate cold chain systems, storage capacity, and transport logistics are functional and monitored (e.g., temperature logs where required).

7) Project Timeliness and Troubleshooting

• Ensure laboratory activities are completed in accordance with project timelines and deliverables.
• Identify operational bottlenecks (laboratory, logistics, staffing, equipment, data flow) and implement corrective measures to restore performance.
• Perform any other project-related tasks as assigned by the Supervisor or Nodal Officer.

Essential

• Master’s degree in Microbiology, Laboratory Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of relevant experience in diagnostic laboratory settings, including responsibility for supervision or coordination of laboratory operations.
• Strong understanding of microbiology/serology workflows and laboratory documentation practices.
• Experience in Public Health Labs or Management of projects is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain high-quality outputs under operational constraints.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and comfort with electronic data/reporting platforms.
• Strong communication, coordination, and supervisory skills.

• Proficiency in Marathi and English (reading, writing, speaking), Hindi.

Other Requirements

• Willingness to travel locally as required for coordination, supervision, training, or operational troubleshooting.

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Women candidates are encouraged to apply.

Due to high volume of applications, only shortlisted applicants will receive a response from

Jhpiego HR.

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