Public Health Specialist (Surveillance) at US Embassy

Announcement Number: Abuja-2021-090
Location: Abuja
Series/Grade: LE - 0540 11
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Promotion Potential: LE-11
Work Schedule: Full-time - 40 hours per week
Telework Eligible: No

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For USEFM - FP is 07.  Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.
  • Current Employees of the Mission - This includes U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs); Eligible Family Members (EFMs); Declared Members of Household (MOHs), dependents of U.S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) who are assigned under COM - All Agencies
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details:
• Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period
• Marketing Statement: We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

Summary

• The work schedule for this position is: Full Time (40 hours per week)
• Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (6 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required: 50% or less (Job holder will spend 25-30% of time on local and international travel for site visits, workshops, trainings and conference etc.) 

Duties
Basic Function:

• The incumbent under the supervision of the Lead, Epidemiology and Surveillance Team coordinates and manages assigned survey and disease surveillance activities in country.  These include the design of routine disease surveillance system with the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the conduct of large, complex surveys designed to measure HIV prevalence and other indicator of importance to evaluating the impact of HIV control programs.  
• S/he provides technical or managerial oversight include the MOH, national universities, and International NGOs and private sector partners. 
• The incumbent will participate in the PEPFAR Strategic Information (SI) Technical Working Group (TWG) to ensure that surveillance systems are meeting the needs of the national HIV/AIDS Program in Nigeria and that PEPFAR Nigeria program priorities are developed.  Additionally, s/he works in cooperation with GoN staff at all levels of government to apply case-reporting procedures, sentinel surveillance, and population-based surveillance methodologies to ensure that PEPFAR’s program’s objectives are met. 
• S/he plays an active leadership role in the Mission’s PEPFAR Technical Working Groups (TWG) and/or the Multisector Technical Groups

Qualifications and Evaluations
Experience:

• Seven (7) years public health experience in the management and development of epidemiological surveillance and /or large scale surveys of HIV/AIDS or other disease programs are required, inclusive of one year of experience at the managerial level is required.

Job Knowledge:

• Must have detailed knowledge of research methods and the collection, analysis and presentation of public health/epidemiologic data in order to plan, design, direct the implementation of and strengthen procedures for collection, analysis and dissemination of HIV/AIDS epidemiological data. 
• This includes knowledge of the principles, theories and practices of USG and internationally recognized standards for surveillance and survey regulations and procedures. 
• Detailed knowledge of the host government health care system and structures including familiarity with Ministry of Health policies, program priorities and regulations is required. 
• Good working knowledge of team management techniques to plan, organize and direct multidisciplinary project teams and activities, as well as good working knowledge of overall administrative requirements in development and support of grants, contracts, memoranda of understanding and cooperative agreements is required.       

Education Requirements:

• Medical Degree (MBBS/BMBch) or Master’s Degree in public health, medicine, epidemiology, or demography is required

Evaluations:

• This may be tested. Please specific your level of proficiency in the language listed.

Language:

• Fluency Speaking/Reading/Writing of English is required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong analytical skills to readily understand and discuss new surveillance program design, management, and implementation approaches are required.
• This include the development of evaluation designs, use of reliable and valid instruments, and methods for data collection, analysis and reports. 
• Excellent oral and written communications skills are required to develop and maintain effective, sustainable working relationships with national and international working partners and to prepare substantive and analytical reporting. 
• Strong management skills are required to operate independently with limited direct supervision of day-to-day activities and to lead results-driven project teams and workgroups.
• Excellent overall computer skills (keyboarding with both speed and accuracy) and advanced skill levels in use of at least one of the more common epidemiologic data analysis software (EPINFO, STATA, SAS, OR SPSS), as well as excellent numerical skills for manipulating and reporting statistical data is required.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO):  

• The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Qualifications:

• All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Other Information:
Hiring Preference Selection Process:

• Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below. 
• Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application.
• Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

Hiring Preference Order:

• AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
• AEFM / USEFM
• FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

Important

• Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), equivalent documentation, or certification. 
• A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant.
• The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
• This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
• For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.

Salary & Other Benefits

• USD38,056 (NGN6,455,212) annually
• Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Abuja, Nigeria may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.
• For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.
• The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.