Senior Advisor – Microbiology, Laboratory Information Systems, and Antimicrobial Stewardship, DOS LEAP Global - Moldova

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

The Senior Advisor – Microbiology, Laboratory Information Systems, and Antimicrobial Stewardship will support the Ministry of Health in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) in full alignment with the U.S. Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives.  The primary focus of the Adviser will be technical support with a special emphasis on the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other high-threat pathogens that pose a significant risk to global health security.  

The Senior Advisor will support the appropriate multi-sectoral Government Departments and Agencies - such as the Ministry of Health,  the National Agency for Public Health and The National Food Safety Agency for the effective adoption and implementation of life saving interventions focusing on the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other high-threat pathogens that pose a significant risk to global health security. The Senior Advisor will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical support and facilitation of effort through the GHS projects and Pandemic Fund (where applicable). Specifically, the Adviser will focus on bridging the gaps that persist in laboratory data integration, standardization, and use for decision-making. Addressing these gaps requires senior-level technical leadership that bridges microbiology, digital health, and stewardship practice, while supporting alignment with international standards such as GLASS, CAESAR, and IHR reporting requirements, The Senior  Advisor will be based within the Ministry of Health.  The Advisor will receive direction from the appropriate Ministry staff, who will serve as the onsite Manager/Supervisor.  The Advisor will report to the U.S. Department of State monthly. 

The Senior Advisor will provide high-level technical guidance and hands-on advisory support at the intersection of microbiology, laboratory information systems, data and digital solutions, and antimicrobial stewardship. Directed by the Ministry of Health, the Advisor will support two core workstreams: 

1. Strengthening Data and Digital Solutions, with a focus on laboratory data systems, interoperability, and use of microbiology and AMR data for surveillance and response. 
2. Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) at the hospital level, including laboratory-clinical integration, hospital-level stewardship systems, mentorship of hospital leaders and personnel, and alignment of microbiology data with stewardship decision-making. 

Overarching Responsibilities 

• Serve as a senior technical advisor to the Ministry of Health, the National Agency for Public Health, and The National Food Safety Agency, on microbiology, laboratory systems, AMR surveillance, and AMS. 
• Provide strategic guidance to ensure alignment of laboratory and stewardship activities with international standards. 
• Contribute to national policy discussions related to AMR surveillance, laboratory strengthening, and digital health systems. 
• Support procurement of laboratory equipment, reagents, and digital tools as needed. 

Strengthening Data and Digital Solutions 

• Provide expert input into the assessment, design, and strengthening of laboratory information systems (LIS) and their integration with national surveillance and emergency operations platforms. 
• Support interoperability between laboratory information systems for human health and animal health, hospital data systems, and national dashboards, including standardization of microbiology and AMR data elements. 
• Advise on data quality assurance, governance, and use of laboratory and AMR data for outbreak detection, monitoring, and decision-making. 
• Collaborate with EpiC Moldova’s Digital Solutions Advisor to ensure microbiology and AMR requirements are embedded in digital health architectures and dashboards. 
• Contribute to the development of standardized microbiology and AMR data dictionaries and coding systems. 
• Support the implementation of data validation and quality control mechanisms. 

Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) 

• Provide technical support for hospital-based antimicrobial stewardship initiatives and AMS committees, with a strong focus on the role of microbiology laboratories in stewardship decision-making. 
• Support the development and operationalization of AMS guidelines, SOPs, standard protocols, and reporting tools that integrate microbiology, antimicrobial consumption, and resistance data. 
• Strengthen laboratory–clinician collaboration for timely reporting, interpretation, and use of microbiology results in clinical care and outbreak response. 
• Support training, mentorship, and peer exchange activities for microbiologists, clinicians, pharmacists, and AMS committee members. 
• Promote sustainable approaches to laboratory system strengthening and AMS that can be institutionalized beyond the life of the project. 
• Support the development of antimicrobial consumption monitoring systems and benchmarking tools. 
• Conduct regular AMS program evaluations and continuous quality improvement activities. 

Performance Metrics and Deliverables 

Set Quarterly Performance Indicators to Strengthen Laboratory Systems and Other AMS Initiatives.  

• Deliver progress reports against milestones of technical workplans annually.  
• Ensure 100% compliance with international standards and reporting requirements.  
• Achieve metrics agreed upon with the Ministry of Health during onboarding. 

Travel and Field Work 

Most of the Senior Advisor’s responsibilities will involve engagement with agencies, ministries, and hospitals in Chișinău. There may be a need for the Senior Advisor to travel to regional hospitals outside Chișinău, but this travel will be limited. 

Reporting: 

The Senior Advisor will provide a monthly report to the U.S. Department of State submitted by the 5th day of the following month.  Additionally, the Advisor will submit a report to U.S. Embassy/Department of State (and participate in regular calls) to include a short paragraph about main successes. 

• Advanced degree such as PhD, MD, DVM, PharmD or MSc with significant experience in Microbiology or Clinical Microbiology is required. Additionally, a master’s in public health (MPH), Public Health Policy, or Public Health Management is preferred. 
• Minimum of twenty (20) years of progressively responsible experience in microbiology and laboratory systems strengthening in low- and middle-income country contexts. 
• Demonstrated experience strengthening laboratory information systems (LIS), laboratory data flows, and interoperability with national surveillance or digital health systems. 
• Strong technical expertise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), including hospital-based stewardship models. 
• Experience providing technical assistance across multiple countries, preferably in Europe and Eurasia. 
• Experience working for the Ministry of Health, NAPH, or regional surveillance networks (e.g., GLASS, CAESAR). 
• Familiarity with international standards, EU health data frameworks, and international AMR reporting requirements. 
• Strong understanding of healthcare system, public health system and national health information systems in Moldova 
• Proven experience integrating microbiology and AMR data into dashboards, decision-support tools, or emergency operations systems. 
• Experience with emergency response operations and surge capacity requirements. 
• Strong project management skills with ability to deliver results on time and within budget. 
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work independently in complex environments. 
• Strong facilitation, mentoring, and stakeholder engagement skills. 
• Strong written and spoken English; working knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian is required. 

Preferred Experience  

• Professional Certification (ISO 15189): Laboratory Management or Quality Management System (QMS) Certification.  
• Experience with Laboratory Information System (i.e, OpenELIS, DHIS2, LabVantage).  
• Publications in Peer Reviewed Journals within the Last Three Years on AMR, AMS, Laboratory Systems, or Digital Health.  
• Experience working with donor-funded projects and associated reporting requirements. 
• Knowledge of healthcare system and public health system in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.