National Expert for Standardization of Laboratory Infrastructure, Instrument Calibration, and Test Methods Standards (2 Experts)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) titled “Improving Food Quality of Animal Origin, Animal Health, and Services through Laboratory Accreditation of the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI)”, aims to support Sri Lanka in securing international accreditation for key veterinary laboratories to ensure availability of safe food of animal origin, animal and fish health and other regulatory services. This accreditation will enable the VRI to meet globally recognized standards in quality assurance and regulatory compliance, particularly in veterinary diagnostics and food safety. 
To achieve this goal, FAO is engaging local experts to assist in developing a comprehensive accreditation framework aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

In a global landscape where markets are increasingly regulated and quality-conscious, aligning national laboratory systems with international benchmarks is imperative. For Sri Lanka, this alignment is not only essential for safeguarding public and animal health but also for enhancing the credibility, safety, and export potential of animal-origin products, including biologicals and vaccines.
To this end, the VRI must sustain modern laboratory infrastructure and ensure the continuous delivery of reliable, high-quality diagnostic services. Keeping pace with technological advancements and strengthening the technical capacities of laboratory personnel through ongoing training are critical components of this effort.
Currently, the VRI operates five specialized laboratories, each playing a pivotal role in the national veterinary and food safety systems:
•     Central Veterinary Investigation Centre (CVIC): Provides animal disease diagnostics and conducts microbiological quality testing of meat, milk, eggs, and other animal-based products.
•     Dairy Technology Laboratory (DTL): Conducts comprehensive quality testing of milk and dairy products.
•     Animal Virus Laboratory (AVL): Specializes in the diagnosis of viral diseases and the development of viral vaccines.
•     Animal Nutrition Laboratory (ANL): Performs nutritional analysis of animal feed and food of animal origin, including testing for aflatoxins, antibiotic residues, and mineral composition.
•     Aquaculture Laboratory (AL): Certifies live fish for export in compliance with standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

These laboratories serve a broad range of stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector enterprises, and farming communities. Their collective contribution supports national efforts in animal health, food safety, and trade facilitation.
Under the provisions of Sri Lanka’s Food Act, the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) is the designated authority responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of animal-origin food products. Thus, attaining international accreditation for the VRI’s laboratories is both a regulatory requirement and a strategic priority. It is essential for expanding global market access and advancing the country’s agenda for sustainable agricultural and livestock sector development.

This assignment will contribute to the establishment of a robust, internationally accredited veterinary laboratory system in Sri Lanka, supporting national objectives related to food safety, trade facilitation, and sustainable agricultural development. Furthermore, the continued operation of accredited laboratory testing will help build trust among consumers and trading partners, ensuring the safety and quality of animal-origin products. This, in turn, will promote fair trade practices and expand opportunities for Sri Lanka in international markets.

Reporting Lines

The National Expert for Standardization of Laboratory Infrastructure, Instrument Calibration, and Test Methods will provide technical guidance to ensure the laboratory’s infrastructure, calibration protocols, and testing methods meet the necessary standards for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, thereby enhancing the reliability, consistency, and quality of laboratory results. The expert will work under the overall administrative leadership and supervision of the FAO Representative in Sri Lanka (FAOR), and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Programme) and the TCP Operational Specialist.

Technical oversight will be provided by the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) at the Office of the ADG/Regional Representative, in collaboration with the International Expert on Accreditation for Animal Product Safety and Laboratory Upgrading. The expert is also expected to work in close coordination with the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) to ensure the successful implementation of the accreditation framework.

Technical Focus

The National Expert on Accreditation and Livestock Food Safety Standards will play a key role in achieving the outputs and targets under Expected Result 1 – “Number of laboratories with accredited facilities for required tests.” Specifically, the expert will be responsible for ensuring the laboratory’s infrastructure, calibration protocols, and testing methods meet the necessary standards for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, thereby enhancing the reliability, consistency, and quality of laboratory results.

Tasks and responsibilities

The expert will be responsible for:

•     Conductan assessment of the existing laboratory infrastructure and identifying areas for improvement in line with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.
•     Support the design and setup of laboratory spaces to meet international standards for biological and chemical testing.
•     Be involved in developing and validating standard procedures for instrument calibration and maintenance.
•     Support the standardization of test methods to ensure repeatability, accuracy, and traceability, reference culture maintenance.
•     Assist in the development of documentation and records for calibration and testing, in compliance with ISO/IEC 17025.
•     Provide technical guidance to laboratory personnel on best practices in infrastructure management, calibration, and testing.
•     Supporting preparations for accreditation audits and assessments.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Advanced University degree in Laboratory Science, Engineering, Veterinary Science, Food Science, or a related technical field.
•     Minimum 5 years of proven experience supporting laboratories in implementing quality management systems and achieving ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
•     Prior experience working with biological and chemical laboratories is essential.
•     Strong knowledge of international best practices for laboratory infrastructure setup, calibration protocols, and test method validation.
•     Working knowled English, Sinhala or Tamil
•     Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
•     A National of Sri Lanka.

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria

•     Past proven examples of standardization of test methods to ensure repeatability, accuracy, and traceability, reference culture maintenance of the laboratories in similar context.
•     Past proven experience of obtained ISO/IEC 17025 status to laboratories in Sri Lanka or elsewhere.