Senior Technical Consultant, Global TFA Laboratory Capacity Strategy

The Cardiovascular Health (CVH) team at RTSL provides technical assistance in developing cardiovascular disease prevention programs to help countries improve the heart health of their people. Working with our partners to improve the control of high blood pressure, reduce salt intake, and eliminate trans fats from the global food supply, the CVH team has helped save countless lives from cardiovascular disease.

Length of Engagement: Up to 9 months, approximately 150 days, with the possibility of extension

Location: Remote, with potential travel to program countries

Job Structure: Independent Contractor 

Position Summary

RTSL works to advance the elimination of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) from food supplies across low- and middle-income countries, as part of a broader agenda to prevent cardiovascular disease and reduce diet-related mortality. iTFA are estimated to contribute to approximately 278,000 deaths annually, according to recent WHO estimates. 

Effective elimination of iTFA requires strong regulatory frameworks and robust laboratory systems to monitor industry compliance, generate high-quality results, evidence, and support enforcement action. Over the past several years, RTSL and its partners have commissioned and supported laboratory capacity assessments in a number of countries, including India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Mexico.  

These assessments and the implementation experience gathered to date reveal that most countries lack the required laboratory capacity to support enforcement, which includes validated/standardized protocols, specialized columns, reference standards, trained analysts and quality management systems.

Core Tasks and Activities

RTSL is seeking to hire a consultant to translate the evidence and implementation experience into a coherent global strategy for strengthening laboratory capacity for TFA analysis in priority countries — grounded in existing evidence and informed by primary stakeholder engagement, supported by a practical training framework and analysis of sustainable financing mechanisms, to guide investment and program design over the next three to five years. 

The Consultant will be expected to: 

• Review and synthesize existing evidence on laboratory capacity gaps, barriers, and good practices across program countries, drawing on completed country assessments and relevant global literature. 
• Conduct structured stakeholder engagement — including key informant interviews with government counterparts, regulatory bodies, laboratory professionals, and technical partners to deepen understanding of country contexts and priorities. 
• Develop a global laboratory capacity strategy that sets out a clear vision, strategic priorities, and a phased approach to investment across program countries/regions 
• Develop (or identify experts to work on) a training framework /model for building and sustaining TFA laboratory capacity, including recommendations on delivery modalities and mechanisms for sustaining competency in collaboration with partners. 
• Identify bottlenecks and solutions for procurement challenges, and explore potential for standardizing processes and specifications to streamline procurement and delivery of materials; where feasible, assist partners in procurement of lab materials 
• Research and synthesize options for sustainable financing and supply chain mechanisms to address the recurring procurement and consumables challenges that undermine laboratory capacity across program countries, drawing on relevant models from global health and food safety. 
• Support RTSL research and activities on lab methodologies and capacity support as needed. 
• Travel to conduct reviews/stakeholder meetings and participate in any planned lab trainings during the consultancy period.  
• On request, support country-specific laboratory strengthening efforts in priority program countries. This may include providing technical input to national laboratories and regulatory agencies on analytical methods, quality management systems, and accreditation pathways; advising on equipment procurement and consumables supply chains; and contributing to the design and delivery of in-country capacity-building activities.

Contract Deliverables

• Report synthesizing existing assessments and results of stakeholder consultations 
• Global Lab Capacity Strengthening Strategy – Final/Draft Report – that covers, at a minimum 
  • Global, regional, country specific priorities for strengthening lab capacity 
  • Recommendations for service delivery, procurement, coordination and partnership 
  • Lab capacity training strategies and mechanisms 
  • Recommendations related to procurement standardization, vendor considerations, forecasting, supply continuity, and equipment maintenance/service models. 
• Travel to a selection of program countries may be agreed during the inception phase, subject to organizational approval, to support stakeholder engagement and, where feasible, site visits to key laboratories. Countries to be prioritized for in-country visits will be determined in consultation with the RTSL team during inception, based on strategic priority and logistical feasibility. The Consultant agrees to make up to 5 program country trips of up to 7 days each, as mutually agreed and necessary to complete the deliverables.
  • Trip reports with summaries of findings and key takeaways following any required travel.  
• Identify opportunities for sustainable financing and supply chain support 

Contract Management

The Independent Contractor will submit all deliverables to the Senior Technical Advisor, Trans Fat, who will manage this contract and monitor progress toward the deliverables. 

Qualifications

Education

• Advanced degree in public health, food science, food technology, analytical chemistry, laboratory science, or a related field.

Experience

• Demonstrated expertise in laboratory systems strengthening
• Demonstrated experience in building lab capacity for public health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income country contexts.  
• Track record of developing technical strategies, frameworks, or program plans in a global health or food safety context, with evidence of uptake by commissioning organizations.
• Familiarity with relevant international analytical standards and quality frameworks, including ISO laboratory accreditation standards, AOAC International methods and validation protocols, and AOCS official methods for fatty acid and lipid analysis, and their practical application in regulatory and food safety laboratory contexts.

Skills and Abilities

• Proven ability to conduct key informant interviews and stakeholder consultations with government officials, regulatory bodies, laboratory professionals, and international partners. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.  
• Ability to synthesize complex technical evidence into clear, actionable outputs for senior non-specialist audiences.  
• Ability to work independently and manage a multi-phase assignment with limited supervision, while maintaining regular communication with the internal RTSL team.  
• Ability to travel internationally to program countries as needed and agreed upon with prior approval by RTSL Contract Manager 

Nice to have

• Familiarity with analytical methods, including Gas Chromatography (GC - FID/GC - MS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and other methods for fatty acid analysis are an advantage.
• Experience working with international organizations, governments and public health agencies, regulatory agencies, WHO, or similar global health organizations is desirable

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter detailing their suitability for the role.