Senior Global Health Security (GHS) Advisor (DOS/LEAP Global) - Vietnam

ZemiTek•Bethesda, MD

About The Position

The Senior Global Health Security (GHS) Advisor will support the Health Security Unit (HSU) in the Economic Section of U.S. Embassy Hanoi to carry out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) in full alignment with the America First Global Health Security Strategy and relevant Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives. The primary focus of the Adviser will be to provide technical support with a special emphasis on preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats which impact public health. The Senior GHS Advisor will support multi-sectoral Government of Vietnam (GVN) departments and agencies in the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE)for the effective adoption and implementation of life-saving interventions focusing on preventing, detecting and responding to infectious disease threats with public health potential, such as zoonotic diseases. The advisor might also support universities in this work. The Senior GHS Advisor will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical support and facilitation of efforts supported by Department of State-funded and (where applicable). The Senior GHS Advisor will be based within an appropriate Ministry or with an implementing partner (IP) for a U.S. Department of State-funded health assistance activity. The Advisor will receive technical direction from the entity or entities whom the Advisor is supporting, as assigned by the Health Security Unit of U.S. Embassy Hanoi.

Requirements

Advanced degree (MPH, MD, PhD, DVM, or equivalent) in public health, epidemiology, medicine, or a related field.
Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in Animal Health, Public Health, or Epidemiology.
Strong knowledge of GHS, infectious disease surveillance, outbreak response, and health systems strengthening.
Prior experience working with a bi-lateral or multilateral donor in development programming.
Extensive understanding of infectious diseases, health systems, and development issues, with specific insight into the cultural and work environment in Vietnam.
Proven ability to interact effectively with senior executives, government officials, and mid-level technical staff, as well as with technology entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators.
Experience in working with diverse stakeholders across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Strong management, negotiation, collaboration, team building, networking, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
High level of technical, analytical, and quantitative skills for scientific approaches and policy analysis.
Excellent written and oral communication abilities, including the capacity to produce professional-quality analytical reports and deliver effective presentations.
Ability to work well as part of a team and develop productive relationships at all organizational levels.
Outstanding leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively as both a leader and a team member in diverse, multi-disciplinary, and multi-cultural environments.
Skilled in achieving consensus on policies and influencing relationships positively.
Experience with U.S. Government funded public health programs.
Professional fluency in English.

Nice To Haves

Professional fluency in Vietnamese.
Knowledge of local culture is a plus.
Relevant technical experience in Vietnam.

Responsibilities

Support multisectoral ministries in effective delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA).
Assist GVN counterparts with effective delivery of LHA GHS services, including but not limited to: Community-based active surveillance, Systems capacity for detecting priority diseases/threats, Data systems for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on threats, Infection prevention and control (IPC), including commodities and WASH in healthcare facilities, Case management, Emergency Management including Emergency Operating Centers (EOC) and Point of Entry Screening, Risk Communication and Community Engagement, Emergency outbreak response.
Provide technical support to and actively engage with to implement programmatic and response interventions at national and sub-national levels.
Assist in monitoring the progress of GHS program implementation and provide recommendations for improvements of service delivery.
Help organize regular discussions among the multisectoral stakeholders and partners to ensure alignment of technical approaches in the respective GHS portfolio.
Provide support to the appropriate multisectoral ministries to identify performance gaps, potential barriers, and bottlenecks, and facilitate consensus on targeted interventions to improve performance on key indicators attributable to: Reduction in incidence and mortality for epidemic and pandemic prone diseases; Strengthening systems to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats; Rapid and effective responses to infectious disease outbreaks which are threats for public health.
Support the implementation and expansion of best practices in GHS and outbreak response nationwide.
Support GVN counterparts in routine review of service delivery processes and outcomes.
Promote the dissemination of best practices and effective models nationwide.
Promote prioritized interventions to enhance community-based active surveillance, strengthen system capacity for detecting priority diseases and threats, and develop data systems for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on these threats."
Support adoption of infection prevention and control (IPC), including commodities and WASH in healthcare facilities;; Support and strengthen Emergency Management including Emergency Operating Centers (EOC) Point of Entry Screening; and Risk communication.
Support ministries to rapidly and accurately report infectious disease threats to relevant domestic and international systems– such as the International Health Regulations (IHR) and World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) to facilitate quick response to pandemic threats.
Assist ministries’ emergency outbreak responses as needed.
Assist ministries to achieve the relevant GHS-related targets including the WHO Joint External Evaluation (JEE); IHR States Parties Self-Assessment (SPAR); and the Pandemic Fund Framework which includes reporting on the 7-1-7 target (7 days to detect, 1 day to report, 7 days to complete the initial response)
Assist and provide technical inputs to the Department of State to prepare implement the America First Global Health Strategy and to develop workplans and reports.
Support relevant ministries in effective utilization of Pandemic Fund grants; other donors’ resources, and emergency outbreak response efforts.
Provide technical support to develop Pandemic Fund grant applications and support grant implementation review to ensure effective grant implementation and avoid duplication with U.S. Government funded projects.
Consult with relevant stakeholders on required technical assistance.
Assist in monitoring the progress of grant implementation.
Review and analyze performance reports submitted to the Pandemic Fund and other partners.
Help organize regular discussions among relevant stakeholders, ministries other donors, and U.S. Government officials to ensure alignment of technical approaches in the respective GHS portfolios.
Support emergency outbreak response including assisting with mobilizing resources, coordination of efforts, and technical support for efforts to contain and respond to the outbreak.
Communications: Regular conference calls with multisectoral stakeholders in Vietnam, U.S. Government officials at U.S. Embassy Hanoi and in Washington, D.C. to review progress, discuss activities and address emerging issues. The GHS Technical Advisor should provide information and avail him/herself for calls/meetings with the U.S. Embassy as requested.
The Advisor will provide monthly reports to the appropriate points of contact at U.S. Embassy Hanoi and the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
REPORTING: The Senior Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the appropriate points of contact at U.S. Embassy Hanoi and the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. by the 5th day of the following month. Additionally, the Advisor will submit a bulleted progress report on a bi-weekly basis to appropriate points of contact at U.S Embassy Hanoi and participate in bi-weekly calls/meetings to present in greater detail on successes and challenges.