Purpose of the position:
eHealth Africa's Laboratory System and Diagnostics Program strengthens health systems by enhancing diagnostic capacity, disease surveillance, and data-driven decision-making across Africa. The program supports improvements in laboratory infrastructure, virus detection and sequencing capabilities, antimicrobial resistance monitoring, and the development of digital health data systems. Efforts are focused on expanding access to quality laboratory services, improving outbreak response capabilities, and building sustainable public health infrastructure, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach areas. Collaboration with government agencies, donors, laboratories, and community organizations is central to achieving these goals, alongside a strong emphasis on sustainability and local ownership.
The Project Architect (Consultant) will support eHealth Africa's Laboratory System and Diagnostics portfolio by providing architectural design, planning, and implementation support for public health infrastructure projects. These include public health laboratories, medical supply hubs, and related facilities. S/he ensures that infrastructure upgrade works are fit-for-purpose, compliant with international best practices, and aligned with approved laboratory workflows, biosafety requirements, and donor standards. The Project Architect works closely with Project Managers, Engineers, laboratory stakeholders, and contractors to ensure quality delivery of architectural outputs from concept through construction and handover.
What you'll do
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned:
Develop architectural designs, drawings, schedules, and specifications for public health laboratories, surveillance facilities, medical supply hubs, and related infrastructure.
Produce 3D illustrations and visualizations to support design reviews, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory approvals.
Translate laboratory and diagnostic workflows into functional layouts, ensuring one-way flow of samples, personnel, and waste.
Integrate biosafety zoning and infection prevention and control (IPC) principles into all architectural designs.
Align designs with approved scope, constructability, and cost considerations, supporting accurate budget development.
Ensure architectural designs comply with national building regulations, statutory requirements, and applicable codes.
Apply WHO laboratory biosafety guidelines and international best practices for healthcare and laboratory environments.
Conduct feasibility studies and technical risk assessments, identifying design challenges and proposing mitigation strategies early in the project lifecycle.
Coordinate architectural inputs within multidisciplinary project teams, collaborating with MEP, HVAC, structural, and other engineers to deliver integrated solutions.
Engage Ministries of Health, regulatory authorities, donors, WHO, and implementing partners through technical meetings, design reviews, and presentations.
Provide technical oversight and coordination support to Site Coordinators across multiple project locations or countries, ensuring consistency and quality.
Participate in site visits, inspections, and preliminary assessments for proposed and active facilities.
Review construction works for compliance with approved architectural designs and specifications, supporting defect identification, snagging, and handover processes.
Prepare high-quality project documentation, including design reports, technical briefs, meeting records, monthly progress updates, and as-built drawings for handover.
Who you are
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to successfully perform this job.
Technical Expert - Demonstrate strong architectural competence in healthcare and laboratory infrastructure and apply biosafety, IPC, and regulatory standards effectively in complex environments.
Design & Systems Thinking - Translates operational workflows into practical architectural layouts that are compliant, safe, efficient, and sustainable.
Collaboration & Communication - Ability to work seamlessly within multidisciplinary teams and communicate technical concepts clearly to diverse stakeholders.
Delivery & Quality Focus - Manage multiple design tasks concurrently and uphold high technical and documentation standards with precision and attention to detail.
Innovation & Problem Solving - Adapt designs to evolving requirements and develop creative solutions that balance functionality, compliance, and resource constraints.
Reporting & Supervision
The consultant will report directly to the Project Manager and Project Engineer.
S/he will provide updates as requested all during and post design development
Attend internal coordination meetings, and work collaboratively with the project and cross-functional teams.
Qualifications and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Architecture or a related field. Master's Degree preferred.
Minimum of 5 - 7 years of progressive architectural design, preferably within health, laboratory, or institutional environments.
Experience working with government health agencies, international donors, and multi-country program implementation.
Demonstrated experience producing architectural drawings, specifications, and 3D visualizations.