TERMS OF REFERENCE
Laboratory Quality Manager
Position: Consultant- Laboratory Quality Manager
Number of positions :01
Duty station: New Delhi, with travel to project locations as required
Duration :12 months; anticipated 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027 (fixed-term consultancy)
Organization Society for Health Allied Research and Education, Hyderabad (SHARE INDIA)
About SHARE INDIA
Society for Health Allied Research and Education, Hyderabad (SHARE INDIA) was formed and registered in 1986 as a research society and is recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. SHARE INDIA works to strengthen health systems, improve access to quality health services, and build capacity for public health innovation and research. Its portfolio includes technical assistance to government institutions, workforce development, implementation support, and public health research undertaken with national and international partners.
About the BOLSTER Surveillance Project
Under the BOLSTER Surveillance Project, supported through collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), SHARE INDIA works with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), and other government partners to strengthen laboratory-based surveillance, diagnostic services, and outbreak detection and response. The project provides technical assistance to identified public health laboratories and supports development and adaptation of guidelines, standard operating procedures, technical tools, and training materials; laboratory quality systems; specimen referral; diagnostic readiness; data quality and reporting; workforce capacity-building; mentoring; and implementation support. Activities are undertaken in accordance with priorities identified jointly with relevant government stakeholders.
Purpose of the Position
The Laboratory Quality Manager will lead implementation of a structured laboratory quality improvement package across identified public health laboratories. The assignment will focus on reducing turnaround time for priority tests, strengthening quality systems, improving reporting practices, and enabling facility teams to design, implement, and sustain measurable quality improvement projects.
Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities
• Adapt and operationalize a structured quality improvement package appropriate for identified public health laboratories.
• Conduct baseline assessments of workflow, turnaround time, quality indicators, reporting practices, documentation, internal quality control, external quality assurance, biosafety, equipment, inventory, and corrective-action systems.
• Work with each participating laboratory to select high-priority, measurable turnaround-time and quality improvement areas and establish baselines, targets, indicators, and data-collection plans.
• Design and deliver quality improvement training using practical methods such as process mapping, root-cause analysis, Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, indicator tracking, corrective and preventive action, and change management.
• Guide facility teams in developing project charters and implementing facility-led quality improvement projects without substituting for laboratory ownership.
• Provide structured on-site and virtual mentoring; review data quality, identify bottlenecks, document agreed actions, and follow up on implementation.
• Support development or revision of SOPs, quality manuals, forms, registers, audit tools, dashboards, and reporting templates required for the selected improvement areas.
• Promote alignment with applicable national quality standards and ISO 15189 principles, including document control, occurrence management, risk management, internal audit, and management review.
• Prepare periodic performance summaries for SHARE INDIA, CDC and participating laboratories and document lessons for scale-up.
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
• Postgraduate degree in Medical Laboratory Technology, Medical Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Quality Management, or a related field; or MBBS with relevant laboratory quality-management training.
• At least three years of relevant laboratory experience, including at least two years supporting laboratory quality management, quality assurance, accreditation readiness, or structured quality improvement.
• Demonstrated experience with laboratory documentation, quality indicators, internal audits, corrective and preventive action, and staff training/mentoring.
Desirable
• Training or certification as an internal auditor/assessor for ISO 15189, NABL, NQAS, or an equivalent laboratory quality standard.
• Experience in public health laboratories, government health programs, or multi-site laboratory improvement initiatives.
• Formal exposure to quality improvement methods, Lean, Six Sigma, or implementation science.
Required Skills and Competencies
• Strong command of laboratory quality management systems and practical quality improvement methods.
• Ability to interpret performance data, identify root causes, and coach multidisciplinary laboratory teams.
• Excellent facilitation, mentoring, report-writing, presentation, and stakeholder-coordination skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, including development of simple monitoring dashboards.
• Excellent written and spoken English; working knowledge of Hindi is desirable.
Reporting, Coordination and Travel
Each selected consultant will report to the Program Lead/Project Director, SHARE INDIA, with technical coordination with CDC. Regular progress updates and timely submission of agreed outputs will be required. The consultant will coordinate with relevant project, government, laboratory, and technical counterparts as applicable. Travel within India may be required for consultations, assessments, trainings, mentoring visits, and implementation reviews.
Contract Period and Remuneration
This is a full-time, fixed-term consultancy engagement for an anticipated period of 12 months, up to 30 September 2027. Continuation throughout the stated period will be subject to satisfactory performance, project requirements, and availability of funds. The engagement does not imply automatic renewal beyond the stated end date.
Remuneration will be competitive and commensurate with the selected candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, and last drawn remuneration, in accordance with SHARE INDIA policies.
Last date for receipt of applications: September 22, 2026.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send an updated curriculum vitae and a concise cover letter explaining their suitability for the position to hr@shareindia.org. The email subject line should use “Application for Laboratory Quality Manager”. The application deadline and any additional submission requirements will be as specified in the vacancy announcement. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Additional Note
SHARE INDIA is an equal opportunity organization. Selection will be based on merit and suitability for the assignment. Canvassing in any form may result in disqualification.