Disease Surveillance Advisor (1 position)

Jhpiego Rwanda is hiring a Disease Surveillance Advisor for the USAID Tubeho Project in Rwanda.
The Disease Surveillance Advisor will be a subject matter expert in Outbreak preparedness and response. This individual will have experience in global health emergencies or related infectious diseases programs. In this role, The Disease surveillance advisor will report to the Senior Global Health Security Advisor of the USAID Tubeho Project and will be based in Kigali.
The Disease Surveillance Advisor will play a critical role in strengthening disease surveillance systems to ensure timely detection, reporting, and response to infectious disease outbreaks. This position involves collaborating with public health authorities, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of national and regional disease surveillance efforts. The Advisor will also support data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health information to guide public health interventions and policies.

Surveillance System Strengthening:

• Develop and implement strategies to improve the capacity of disease surveillance systems at the national and subnational levels.
• Provide technical guidance on surveillance methodologies, data collection, reporting, and analysis.
• Assess existing surveillance systems and identify gaps, recommending improvements to ensure comprehensive and real-time disease tracking.

Data Management and Analysis:

• Oversee data collection processes and ensure the accuracy and quality of surveillance data.
• Analyze disease trends and epidemiological data to identify patterns and early warning signs of outbreaks.
• Develop data visualization tools and dashboards to enhance the accessibility and usability of surveillance data.
• Contribute to the preparation and implementation of project’s work plans, budgets and technical quarterly and annual reports
• Work closely with the M&E team to track program implementation and surveillance efforts
• Document selected program activities to assess implications for the future

Outbreak Investigation and Response:

• Collaborate with the Rwanda Biomedical Center, epidemiologists, healthcare providers, and public health officials to support rapid outbreak investigations and response activities.
• Provide on-site or remote support for outbreak response activities, including case tracking, contact tracing, and coordination with relevant agencies.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of emergency response protocols and action plans.

Capacity Building and training:

• Design and deliver training programs for healthcare workers, public health staff, and community health workers on surveillance practices and protocols.
• Build the capacity of local teams in the use of digital tools and technology for disease reporting and monitoring.
• Provide mentorship and support to health staff involved in surveillance and outbreak response activities.

Stakeholder Coordination and Communication:

• Act as a liaison between Jhpiego, government health departments, NGOs, international health organizations, and other stakeholders involved in disease surveillance.
• Keep abreast of new developments and emerging issues that affect Rwanda and USAID‘s priorities and share relevant information and recommendations with USAID, USG and other technical counterparts
• Regularly report findings and updates to stakeholders, including policymakers, health facilities and community leaders.
• Develop and disseminate surveillance reports, fact sheets, and other materials to support data-driven decision-making.

Policy and Program Development:

• Assist in the development of policies and programs aimed at enhancing disease surveillance and public health response.
• Develop new/Review evidence-based clinical training materials, job aids and curricula, supervisory systems and other training materials needed for implementation of the USAID Tubeho project to meet the needs of USAID and the Government of Rwanda.
• Participate in policy discussions and provide expert advice to inform the creation of robust surveillance frameworks.
• Contribute to proposal writing and resource mobilization efforts to secure funding for surveillance and outbreak response initiatives.

Education:

• Masters Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Field Epidemiology, Health Informatics, or related fields.
• Experience: 7-8 years of relevant experience in Disease Surveillance, Public Health, or Epidemiology, preferably in low-resource settings or with international health organizations.

Technical Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of disease surveillance systems, infectious disease epidemiology, and outbreak investigation protocols.
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., SAS, SPSS, R) and GIS tools.
• Experience with digital health tools and platforms for surveillance (e.g., DHIS2, OpenMRS) is an asset.

Other Skills:

o Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and communicate complex data effectively.
o Excellent organizational and project management skills, with attention to detail.
o Ability to work in a multicultural environment and build collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.
o Strong verbal and written communication skills in English; knowledge of other languages relevant to the region is a plus.
o Experience with a mix of practical technical skills in GHS necessary for strengthening service delivery at the regional, national, clinical and community-level
o Experience working with Senior MOH Officials and dignitaries, executives of NGOs, FBOs, CBOs, No-Profit business community and senior members of the donor community;
o Demonstrated a depth understanding of Rwandan healthcare system, particularly the Public health system
o Experience in living and working in Rwanda preferred
o Language requirement: (Fluent) speaking/reading English, French and Kinyarwanda preferred
o Strong skills in Office 365
o Familiarity with USAID or other USG regulations and compliance and reporting procedures and systems;
o Ability to travel 50% of working time
o Rwandan nationals are strongly encouraged to apply

Preferred Attributes:

• Prior experience in global health security, One Health, or cross-border surveillance programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, with minimal supervision, and manage multiple priorities.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required, sometimes at short notice.

Application submission deadline: 19^th November 2024.

The position is on a national contract and only Rwandan are encouraged to apply. 

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Please apply at www.jhpiego.org/careers  (icims.com)

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include: cover letter, resume, and references.

For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

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