Senior Strategic Advisor to the Director General, NCDC at Resolve to Save Lives

Position Purpose

• RTSL is seeking a Senior Strategic Advisor to the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). This role will provide high-level support to the Director General (DG) in advancing organizational strategy with a focus on interdepartmental coordination and cross-sectoral collaboration for Collaborative Surveillance implementation in Nigeria. The Senior Strategic Advisor will serve as a key thought partner to the DG, offering strategic guidance on public health priorities, policy implementation, and institutional strengthening.
• This position will be based within the Office of the DG, NCDC. The role will primarily report to the DG NCDC with matrix reporting to the Executive Director, RTSL, Nigeria. As part of their routine duties, the incumbent will also collaborate with RTSL’s Prevent Epidemics team via regular meetings, reporting, and for technical support, as needed. This is a fixed-term appointment through December 2026.

Core Duties And Responsibilities

The Senior Strategic Advisor will support the advancement of the DG NCDC's health security management blueprint as part of the broader Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) with a focus on delivery of NCDC’s priorities for Collaborative Surveillance which will require cross-departmental collaboration for planning, execution, and monitoring. Additionally, the incumbent will support the DG’s engagement with government agencies, international partners, and key stakeholders, ensuring alignment between NCDC’s strategic objectives for epidemic preparedness, detection, and response as they relate to Collaborative Surveillance.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide direct strategic guidance to the DG on data use initiatives and related work for systems, governance, financing and workforce enhancement for Collaborative Surveillance, including technical support for interventions at the level of the Office of the DG including policy, legislation, and finance
• Under the guidance of the Director General and working closely with the senior leadership of the NCDC and coordinating with relevant departments, provide strategic oversight for delivery of the Collaborative Surveillance workplan priorities and related initiatives
• Facilitate inter-departmental collaboration to enhance efficiency, synergy, and alignment across NCDC’s various units and divisions for delivery of the Collaborative Surveillance workplan priorities and related initiatives
• Provide regular briefings to the DG NCDC on emerging disease outbreaks, epidemiological trends, and global health security threats
• Support the DG in streamlining internal processes, governance structures, and strategic planning efforts
• Support the DG in the development of policy briefs, official statements, and strategic communications
• Provide strategic level support and aid in stakeholder engagement for new or existing initiatives to improve data governance and coordination
• Identify opportunities to enhance leadership, governance, and institutional capacity at NCDC
• Support leadership development programs and capacity-building initiatives for NCDC’s senior management team
• Coordinate departmental monitoring and evaluation for Collaborative Surveillance and synthesis of findings for reporting requirements to the DG, RTSL, and other partners and funders
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the DG, NCDC and RTSL

Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s or PhD in Public Health, Global Health, Public Policy, Health Administration, or a related field
• 15+ years of experience in public health with at least 5 years serving in roles focused on organizational and/or programmatic strategy, public health leadership, policy development, and / or intergovernmental coordination.
• Experience working with high-level government officials, international organizations, and donor agencies
• Proven track record in organizational strategy, program design, and stakeholder engagement
• Experience with global health security frameworks, including International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), IHR monitoring and evaluation (IHRMEF), and One Health approaches
• Leadership experience in surveillance and response to public health emergencies

Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of global health security, epidemic preparedness, and the health policy landscape
• Exceptional strategic thinking and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and diplomacy skills, with the ability to engage at the highest levels of government and international health institutions
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into actionable recommendations
• Excellent technical report writing, presentation and interpersonal skills for engaging and influencing non-governmental partners, donors, and multilateral agencies
• Results and impact-oriented, with a problem-solving attitude and attention to detail
• Ability to work in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, particularly during public health emergencies
• Excellent leadership and team management skills

Other

• Fluency in English is required
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with government leadership on strategy development and alignment on commitments and timelines is desirable
• Experience working in low-resource or emergency response settings