Senior Technical Officer Diagnostic Products Manufacturing (Africa CDC)

Organization Information

Reports to: Director, Manufacturing 
Directorate/Department: Local Manufacturing of Health Commodities 
Division: Vaccines and Biologicals Manufacturing 
Number of Direct Reports:
Number of Indirect Reports:
Number of Positions: 1
Job Grade: P3
Contract Type: Appointment for Limited duration (ALD)

Purpose of Job

In line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) established the Platform for Harmonized African Health Products Manufacturing (PHAHM) to coordinate and strengthen continental efforts toward sustainable African health products manufacturing (vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics).

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became evident that Africa’s diagnostic manufacturing capacity must be strengthened to ensure sustainable access to quality-assured in vitro diagnostics (IVDs), rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and molecular and immunological assays. The Platform works to enable development, technology transfer, market shaping, and industrial scale-up of diagnostics production in Africa.

To achieve these goals, Africa CDC seeks to recruit a Senior Technical Officer – Diagnostic Products Manufacturing (P3) to support the implementation of strategic interventions that enhance the African diagnostics manufacturing ecosystem.

Main Functions

The Senior Technical Officer will provide high-level technical, analytical, and coordination support to strengthen diagnostic manufacturing capacity and implement market access strategies for African-produced diagnostics.

The expert will support implementation of the African Diagnostics Manufacturing Strategy focusing on validation of new diagnostic tests, GMP/QMS alignment, ISO 13485 certification readiness, local industry capacity building, and coordination of partnerships and investments.

This job involves the following main functions that are generally applicable for this category:

• Provide technical support to diagnostics development and manufacturing ecosystem in Africa, including validation of new tests, technology transfer, manufacturing readiness, regulatory alignment, commercialization, and market entry.
• Facilitate coordination and alignment among manufacturers, National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), procurement agencies, partners, and Member States to accelerate product approval and access.
• Support development of strategic partnerships and commercialization pathways to strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of African manufacturers.
• Support the implementation of the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM) for inclusion of African made diagnostics into the APPM.
• Support implementation of Africa CDC/PHAHM initiatives related to diagnostics manufacturing.

Specific Responsibilities

• Support the development and validation of diagnostics tests.
• Conduct and/or coordinate manufacturing readiness assessments and gap analysis.
• Conduct technical and QMS compliance assessments of diagnostic manufacturers against ISO 13485, WHO Prequalification, and ML3 reliance benchmarks.
• Provide targeted technical assistance for quality management system (QMS) implementation, risk management, design and development controls, and product validation.
• Review and advise on technical documentation (Design Dossiers, DMR, CAPA plans, internal audits, process validation, etc.).
• Support manufacturers in achieving ISO 13485 certification, WHO PQ, or African regulatory reliance eligibility.
• Develop and implement capacity building programs for diagnostic manufacturers, regulatory staff, and testing laboratories on QMS, manufacturing processes, and regulatory standards.
• Organize regional training workshops, mentorship programs, and technical exchanges on diagnostic production and quality control.
• Collaborate with AMA, WHO, and regional NRAs to harmonize regulatory requirements for diagnostics.
• Support adoption of reliance frameworks for diagnostic evaluations and approvals, facilitating faster access to quality-assured locally produced IVDs.
• Support identification of feasible technologies for local production through partnership mapping and technology matchmaking.
• Conduct analyses of market demand, cost competitiveness, and supply security for selected diagnostics.
• Coordinate pilot projects for tech transfer, scale-up, and validation of priority diagnostic platforms.
• Track progress of diagnostic manufacturing initiatives and prepare technical reports, policy briefs, and donor updates.
• Contribute to the training of diagnostics manufacturing experts through the Africa CDC Northern Africa RCC

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Masters Degree in Laboratory Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, or related field, and 7 years of relevant experience

OR

•  Bachelor’s Degree in Laboratory Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology or related field, and over 10 years of relevant experience.

Required:

• Strong understanding of the diagnostics development and/or manufacturing ecosystems, including validation, manufacturing operations, commercialization pathways, and procurement mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience working in the diagnostics manufacturing industry.
• Experience in manufacturing gap assessment and in delivering capacity building programs for manufacturers or within a diagnostics manufacturing operation, quality systems, regulatory standards, and technology transfer.
• Experience in conducting manufacturing readiness assessments and technical gap analyses.
• Experience in delivering capacity building programs for manufacturers, quality systems, regulatory standards, and technology transfer.
• Strong technical writing, presentation, and communication skills for both technical and high-level audiences.
• Experience working in African diagnostics manufacturing and public health environments is highly desirable.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of two or more of African Union working languages (English, French, Arabic or Portuguese) is an added advantage.

Required Skills

• Demonstrable skill in diagnostics development, validation, and/or manufacturing.
• In-depth understanding of diagnostic manufacturing processes, QMS, and regulatory frameworks (ISO 13485, WHO PQ, and ML3 reliance).
• Demonstrable technical expertise and experience in the development of policies and processes for diagnostics manufacturing.
• Coordination and management abilities and experience. Being pro-active and solutions-oriented with initiative to achieve desired outcomes.
• Ability to apply effective leadership and interpersonal skills through use of strategic thinking, team and project leadership, decision-making skills.
• Proven experience in presenting oral communication in international congresses, conferences, and seminars in the vaccine sector and or pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
• Work experience in the field in an African country is an asset.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Insight ….
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies

• Building Relationships
• Foster Accountability Culture..
• Learning Orientation ….
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation ….

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The Appointment will be for a period of Eleven (11) Months, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

Africa CDC is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

LANGUAGES:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

REMUNERATION:

The salary attached to the position for the eleven month period is US$  88,844.56  (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 68,255.99 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applications must be submitted no later than July 24, 2026 11h59 p.m. EAT.

-Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.

-Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.

-The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

-Candidates from less represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.

These countries include: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.