Principal Technical Officer (Resident Advisor) - African Epidemic Services (AfCDC) at African Union(AU)

Purpose of Job

• The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide.
• The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a specialized technical institution of the African Union that supports Member States in their efforts to strengthen their health systems. Africa CDC was officially launched in January 2017, and is guided by the principles of leadership, credibility, and ownership, and delegated authority, timely dissemination of information, transparency, accountability, and value addition. The institution works with all African countries to strengthen the capabilities of their public health institutions for disease surveillance, emergency response, prevention and control, including the capacity to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats. It also serves as a platform for Member States to share and exchange knowledge and lessons from public health interventions.
• Effective public health interventions/actions require an adequately staffed, highly skilled, diverse and interdisciplinary workforce. Given the diminishing ratio of the African Public health workforce to the dual burden of disease on the continent, there is need to strengthen and build capacity of public health workforce in the continent to meet the current responsibilities. 
• To facilitate its objective of developing and strengthening the Public Health Workforce on the Continent, Africa CDC is looking to recruit a qualified Principal Technical Officer (PTO)/Resident Advisor (RA) to support the Africa CDC Africa Epidemic Services (AES) programme, located at Africa CDC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The RA will be responsible for providing guidance, support, coordination, and mentorship for the Africa Epidemic Services programme as well as participate in the fellowship initial planning and design process.
• The Principal Technical Officer (PTO) – African Epidemic Services (AES) is responsible for providing guidance, support, coordination, and mentorship for the three tracks (Epidemiology, Public Health Informatics, & Laboratory Leadership) of the AES as well as participate in the fellowship initial planning and design process. The PTO will assist Africa CDC to develop cadres of highly specialized fellows in line with the Africa CDC New Public Health Order and African Union Agenda 2063. Under the direct supervision of Head of the Division of Public Health Institutes and Research, the PTO will work closely with the colleagues in the Public Health Institutes and Research division to strengthen the health workforce capacity of the continent. 

Main Functions

• Serve as the technical lead to develop cadres of AES graduates who can practice evidence-based public health, outbreak investigation and response, strengthened national disease surveillance, strengthen laboratory systems and networks, public health informatics.
• Work with others within the AES programme as well as technical staff at Africa CDC, and other partners to lead strategic planning for the programme, including the development, oversight and review of related materials (e.g., training materials, guidance for projects).

Specific Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the development, improvement, and delivery of the African Epidemic Services curriculum.
• Serve as the technical lead for the development and implementation of Advanced epidemiology training program to build evidence-based Epidemiology capabilities and develop Epidemiology leaders. 
• Lead in the design and implementation of applied epidemiological program aimed at developing more effective public health interventions in all priority areas.
• Work with others within the fellowship program team as well as technical staff at Africa CDC, and other partners to lead strategic planning for the program, including the development, oversight and review of related materials (e.g., training materials, guidance for projects).
• Support the marketing and promotion of the program
• Lead and coordinate the recruitment of the fellows and onboarding, 
• Coordinate with other members of the project team to develop a network of mentors for each annual cohort.
• Provide training, individual mentorship to program participants, mentors, and supervisors, and expert advice on epidemiology track, as needed.
• Serve as the primary technical advisor for the field-based deliverables, including travel to field sites within the continent 
• Support host sites and recruitment of mentors in their role as primary advisors for the year-long practical placement of fellows
• Serve as a subject matter expert in Advanced Epidemiology and coordinate the provision of mentorship to fellows throughout the duration of the fellowship.
• Strengthen public health workforce capacity to effectively use science-based information for decision making by designing training programs that build competencies that lead to effective public health interventions using data and science.
• Coordinate the delivery of all projects and work conducted by trainees for scientific quality and appropriateness and ensure that all projects receive appropriate ethical approvals and clearances.
• Lead and contribute to scientific activities and presenting and publishing findings from the program.
• Coordinate the selection and training of graduates as mentors for future participants as well as ensuring graduates are integrated into a growing health informatics community of practice.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, project management or related field with 10 years of relevant experience 6 years at expert/specialist level 3 years at supervisory level.

Or

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, epidemiology or related field with 12 years of relevant experience 6 years at expert/specialist level 3 years at supervisory level.
• A PhD in relevant field is an added advantage
• The incumbent should have undertaken the EIS training of US CDC or the EPIET training of European CDC or equivalent
• Experience in running public health programs, with a hands-on experience of field-based epidemiology and outbreak responses.  
• Experience in supporting implementation of public health programmes with emphasis field-based investigation, outbreak response or public health laboratory. 
• Extensive experience of working in the field of Public Health workforce development in Africa, preferably in a multilateral organization
• Experience in teaching of field epidemiology and research programmes
• Proven track record of cross-team and cross organization collaboration 
• Ability to build and nurture key relationships and maintain effective network
• Experience in organizing and managing programs at a regional level and global level
• Experience in an organisation with complex stakeholder interactions and strategic engagement

Desirable:

• Demonstrable experience and an in-depth knowledge of operations of the Africa CDC, Regional Collaborating Centres and National Public Health Institutes is an added advantage.
• Understanding of the African Union’s way of working and managing associated relationships with Member States and partners is an asset.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrable technical expertise and experience in supporting and/or managing outbreak investigation and response.
• Demonstrable familiarity with accepted tools and techniques of Advanced Epidemiology training programs
• Demonstrable familiarity with accepted tools and techniques of Public Health Workforce development in Africa, preferably in a Multilateral organization  
• Excellent skills and abilities applied to translating technical information into presentations, briefings and report. 
• Demonstrable experience in organizing and managing programs at a regional level and global level
• Demonstrable experience in an organisation with complex stakeholder interactions and strategic engagement
• Demonstrable proficiency in using Microsoft word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access as well as the ability to use data management software’s including SPSS and Epi Info.
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace
• Experience of managing programs at a regional level and global level
• Experience of managing projects with multiple partners 
• Understanding of the African Union’s way of working and managing associated relationships with Member States and partners is an asset.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Building Partnerships
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation

Tenure of Appointment:

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables. 

Gender Mainstreaming

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Remuneration
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 110,951.49  (P4 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 92,867.97 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.