Senior Technical Officer, Disease Control And Prevention at African Union(AU)

Requisition ID: 841
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reports to: Head, Division of Disease Control and Prevention
Directorate / Department: Africa CDC
Division: Disease Control and Prevention
Number of Direct Reports: 0
Number of Indirect Reports: 1
Job Grade: P3
Number of Positions: 2
Contract  Type: Regular 

Purpose of Job

• The Senior Technical Officer for the Division of Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC will be responsible for providing technical assistance to advance African CDC strategic priorities and initiatives through engagement with Member States and relevant regional implementing partners to:
  • Strengthen and enhance implementation of the existing NCD prevention and control programme,
  • Support a variety of technical and programme management and implementation activities in the area of endemic and neglected tropical disease epidemiology and
  • Surveillance and Community Health services.
• These programs and activities are designed to improve the health of the people of Africa through the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCD), Endemic and neglected Infectious Diseases and building capacity to reduce disease burden in the continent.
•  In carrying out the work of the Division, the Senior Technical Officer supports the implementation of public health surveillance and epidemiologic activities, workforce development, strengthening of information systems, laboratory networks, and other related health systems strengthening activities focused on the prevention and control of NCDs and Endemic Diseases.
• Division activities will build on existing public health surveillance systems and activities to generate data and reporting against targeted diseases to yield routine monitoring information for the Africa CDC, including its Regional Collaborating Centres (RCC) and Member State constituencies, and its core public health partners.  
• The Division will also build related technical capacity of its constituent base through training and delivery of technical assistance.

Main Functions

• Provide technical support in the preparation and implementation of programmes developed out of the Division’s strategic plan
• Ensure effective coordination and implementation at various levels
• Liaise with Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and other stakeholders on relevant matters
• Prepare and develop reports, budget and work programmes related to the functioning of the Division
• Provide technical support for the development of resource mobilization strategy with stakeholders coordination
• Manage and supervise employees under his/her supervision with regard to organization and performance evaluation.
• Conduct complex analysis and generate accurate reports in a timely manner for the Division and AU’s internal use.
• Liaise with the various Departments/Units of the Commission for coordination and alignment purposes
• Prepare budgets for the Division in accordance with relevant frameworks. Support the promotion of the activities of the Division including preparing leaflets, guidelines and fact sheets as may be required.
• Actively contribute in the development of strategies, policies, programmes and plans

Specific Responsibilities
The Senior Technical Officer shall:

• Provide technical assistance to ensure the vision, mission and guiding values of the Africa CDC are developed, communicated, and implemented by Africa CDC Regional Collaborating Centres (RCC) and implementing partners as appropriate; 
• Provide expert advice and consultation to Member States, RCCs, NPHI’s, key stakeholders and partners regarding implementation of Africa CDC NCD strategic objectives, activities and programmes. 
• Support the implementation of inter-country collaboration on NCD surveillance monitoring and reporting, including data sharing and use and promote engagement of countries regional and inter-regional prevention and control activities and programmes
• Support the implementation of Africa CDC policies to strengthen the control of endemic infectious diseases like AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis among Member State
• Support the processes of strengthening quality of data collection, management, analysis and reporting
• Working with Member States, support the process of improving Africa CDC access to health-related data through coordination, collaboration and technical assistance
• Support the implementation of Africa CDC activities to strengthening community health programmes in Member 
• Provide technical leadership/support/facilitation for the implementation of Africa CDC policies to strengthen existing endemic and NTDs surveillance and prevention and control programs in Member States and ensure linkages with animal, agriculture and environmental sectors where relevant.
• Support other strategic initiatives and programmes, e.g., Events Based Surveillance (EBS), strengthening disease monitoring and surveillance and laboratory systems and health information systems, workforce development and other activities through the regional integrated surveillance and laboratory networks (RISLNET);
• Facilitate and coordinate development of standard operating procedures and monitoring and reporting mechanisms for strengthening regional and national NCD surveillance systems;
• Facilitate and coordinate the development of tools and systems for the analysis, interpretation, and use of surveillance data for public health policy making and to guide decisions on the prevention and control of NCDs and allocation of public health resources;
• Facilitate and coordinate development of planning tools and reference guidance for regional NCD prevention and control capacity strengthening, working in collaboration with the NHPIs;
• Under the direction of the designated Africa CDC Incident Commander, provide technical services delivery in support of Africa CDC Emergency Response activities as appropriate and assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Masters’ Degree in Public Health or a related discipline such as but not limited to, eEpidemiology, Health-services Research, Health outcomes Research, Biostatistics, Environmental Science or Decision Sciences with seven (7) years relevant experience out of which three (3) years should be at expert level
• OR
• Bachelor’s Degree in a related discipline such as, but not limited to, Public Health, Epidemiology, Health-services Research, Health Outcomes Research, Biostatistics, Environmental Science or Decision Sciences with ten (10) years relevant experience, out of which three (3) years should be at expert level.
• Technical expertise and experience in supporting and/or managing complex, public health programmes related to disease prevention and control, epidemiology and surveillance and other health information systems.  
• Familiarity with the administrative and management practices and processes typically employed by public health and other public sector programmes.
• Relevant experience* in implementing public health programmes, with special emphasis on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.  Experience in epidemiology and surveillance or other public health programme and/or health sciences and outcomes research in any setting, including a governmental agency, academic institution, research organization or a life-sciences company is also desired.
• Clear understanding of health systems on the African continent and fair knowledge of operations of the Ministry of Health in Member States.
• Knowledge of public health programmes, health sciences research and health systems strengthening, and experience in supporting projects and programmes under government ministries and external donors. 
• Knowledge of public health issues in Africa, and previous experience working in Africa.
• Relevant experience is defined as implementing/supporting public health preparedness and response and/or emergency management activities and programmes, epidemiology and surveillance or other public health programmes and/or health sciences research.

Required Skills:

• Functional Skills:
• Sound technical writing skills, in addition to narrative and financial reporting skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills and a proven ability to deliver under tight deadlines and works well under pressure. 
• Excellent skills and abilities applied to translating technical information into presentations, briefings and report and funding proposals for both technical and lay audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work in a multicultural environment
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and good presentation skills, provide programme consultation, and credible response to inquiries.
• Excellent technical and scientific writing skills, in addition to narrative and technical reporting skills. 
• Resourceful and skilled at collecting, analyzing and using data to recommend, make and communicate decisions of a technical nature for both technical and lay audiences.
• Excellent computer skills, including office administration and statistical software applications and online digital information systems.

Personal Abilities: 

• Ability to work under pressure, stay on track and meet deadlines
• Good analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to use clear, concise language in correspondence as well as including content fitting for the purpose and audiences when preparing written briefs and reports
• Ability  to work in a multicultural environment 
• High level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team-spirit 
• Adaptive, patient, resourceful, resilient and flexible 
• Pro-active and solutions oriented 

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight.
• Developing others.
• Change Management.
• Managing Risk.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship.
• Foster Accountability Culture.
• Learning Orientation.
• Communicating with Influence.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking...
• Job Knowledge and information sharing...
• Drive for result...
• Continuous improvement orientation.

Tenure of Appointment:

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Gender Mainstreaming:

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

Language:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of US$ 37,453.00 (P3 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 22,292.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.