Senior Global Health Security (GHS) Advisor, DOS LEAP Global - Sierra Leone

ZemiTek LLC•Bethesda, MD

About The Position

The Senior Global Health Security (GHS) Advisor will primarily support the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) service delivery in full alignment with the U.S. Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) implementation plan. The primary focus of the Advisor will be 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 the appropriate multi-sectoral Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies - such as the Ministry of Health, Agriculture, and Environment- 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 Senior GHS 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). The Senior GHS Advisor will be based at the NPHA within the MOH. The Advisor will receive direction from the Executive Director of the NPHA, who will serve as the onsite Manager/Supervisor. Familiarity with USG programming and C/AOR experience are highly desirable as the Advisor is expected to support the implementation of the GHS portfolio. The Advisor will report to the U.S. Department of State on a weekly and monthly basis.

Requirements

Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Environmental Health, Health Policy, or a related field
Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in global health security, public health emergency preparedness and response, or related fields.
Demonstrated experience working with government ministries (e.g., Health, Agriculture, Environment) and international partners on multisectoral health security initiatives.
Proven track record in designing, implementing, and evaluating surveillance systems for human, animal, and environmental health, including community-based surveillance.
Experience supporting or leading cross-sectoral initiatives and multisectoral coordination platforms.
Experience in outbreak investigation, emergency response, and management of public health emergencies.
Experience with relevant global health security frameworks.
Experience in grant writing, donor reporting, and resource mobilization (e.g., Pandemic Fund, Global Fund, DOS, CDC, or similar).
Strong knowledge of infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, laboratory systems, and infection prevention and control (IPC).
Familiarity with digital health tools, data management, and information systems for surveillance and reporting.
Ability to develop and deliver training and capacity-building programs for diverse audiences.
Strong analytical, monitoring, and evaluation skills.
Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate multisectoral teams, including government, civil society, and international partners.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills.
Ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required.
Willingness to travel within Sierra Leone as needed.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a high degree of professionalism and integrity.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with US Government programming and reporting requirements is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Support multisectoral ministries in effective delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) through utilization of domestic and donors’ resources (e.g. the Pandemic Fund, Global Fund when relevant such as COVID-19 response funds).
Assist the relevant ministries with effective delivery of LHA GHS services, including but not limited: 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, including Emergency Management including Emergency Operating Centers (EOC) and Point of Entry Screening, Risk Communication and Community Engagement, Emergency outbreak response.
Provide technical support and actively engage with field work 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 in service delivery.
If relevant for the country, review and analyze performance reports submitted to the Pandemic Fund, Global Fund (GF), and other partners.
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 in identification of performance gaps, potential barriers and bottlenecks, and facilitate consensus on targeted interventions to improve performance on key indicators attributable to: A 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 to public health.
Support the implementation and expansion of best practices in GHS and outbreak response nationwide.
Support MOH and other relevant Ministries in routine review of service delivery processes and outcomes.
Promote the dissemination of best practices and effective models nationwide.
Promote prioritized interventions in effective community-based active surveillance, strengthening systems capacity for detecting priority diseases/threats, and data systems for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on threats;
Support the adoption of infection prevention and control (IPC), including commodities and WASH in healthcare facilities; case management;
Support and strengthen Emergency Management including Emergency Operating Centers (EOC) and Point of Entry Screening; Risk communication;
Support the relevant Ministries to rapidly and accurately report infectious diseases threats to the relevant, domestic and international system– such as the International Health Regulations (IHR) and World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) for quick responses to pandemic threats.
Assist the relevant multisectoral Ministers in emergency outbreak responses as needed.
Assist the relevant multisectoral Ministries to achieve the relevant GHS-related targets including the 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 information to State to prepare U.S. Government workplans and reports.
Support the relevant Ministries in effective utilization of Pandemic Fund grants, other donors’ resources, and emergency outbreak responses efforts.
Provide technical support to develop Pandemic Fund grant applications and support grant implementation review to ensure effective grant implementation and avoid duplication with US Government funded projects.
Consult 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 the relevant multisectoral stakeholders, Ministries, and donors, and State 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.
Regular conference calls with multisectoral stakeholders, US Embassy and GHSD Washington 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 US Embassy as requested.
The Advisor will provide monthly reports to US Embassy/U.S. Department of State
The Senior Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the U.S. Department of State at the end of each month. Additionally, the Advisor may be required to submit additional reports at the discretion of the U.S. Department of State and LEAP Global. The format for reporting may be adjusted with concurrence from the COR.