Technical Adviser: Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response G7 at British High Commission

Main purpose of job:

The post-holder will be a combined role leading aspects of public health emergency preparedness, resilience, and response (EPRR) in Nigeria, as well as a liaison role to ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) under the direction of the Senior Public Health Advisor/Country Lead.

The post holder will play a crucial role in delivering the various priorities within the EPRR workplan at country level, agreed with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other partners supporting the coordination and delivery of identified EPRR outputs for the International Health Regulations Strengthening Project (IHR-SP).  Additionally, the role will involve liaison and coordination of EPRR input and output for the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) which is located in Abuja.

This post is suitable for someone experienced in health protection and ideally with experience and knowledge of public health emergency management systems.  The role will include supporting technical and organisational development activities and building and managing key partnerships and networks.

The post-holder will provide key in-country and regional situational awareness for the UK based EPRR team and on the ground day-to-day project delivery. Ensuring the maintenance of key stakeholder relationships and providing in-person representation for EPRR relevant meetings, workshops, or ad-hoc events. Diplomatic skills and cultural intelligence are critical, as engaging with senior leadership, ministers, senior government officials and other donor or development agency representatives will be critical to the role. We are seeking an individual with both EPRR technical knowledge and international relations capability, able to demonstrate both UKHSA’s and Civil Services competencies and ways of working.  Key to this is the ability to influence and negotiate to manage key relationships with local and other international stakeholders.

This post offers an excellent opportunity to gain exposure and experience of working in a fast paced and innovative environment and is an ideal chance for someone looking to advance their career in Public Health project delivery and coordination.

The ideal candidate must have a flexible approach to meet the needs of the service, be able to work to tight deadlines, be a good multitasker and be able to handle several competing priorities at any one time.

This post will be based in Abuja with possible travel to other areas of Nigeria and West Africa as relevant.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Coordinate IHR-SP EPRR input to bi-lateral and multi-lateral activities as appropriate at country level
• Maintain key stakeholder relationships
• Provide in-person representation for EPRR relevant meetings, workshops, or ad-hoc events
• Provide technical input to the design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of activities to strengthen EPRR capability in Nigeria, including but not limited to:
• Supporting the effective functioning of sub-national Public Health Emergency Operations Centres
• Supporting the establishment and delivery of a national EPRR simulation exercise programme
• Supporting the development, testing, and validation of EPRR policies, plans, and SOPs
• Maintain key in-country EPRR situational awareness and keep UK based EPRR team informed of relevant activity and opportunities
• Contribute to IHR-SP EPRR activities with the ECOWAS RCSDC to strengthen EPRR capability in the region.
• The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Country Lead.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan.  Attending internal / external training events
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience 

• Degree qualification or equivalent experience in a health-related topic
• Demonstrable experience of working in at least one area of emergency preparedness, resilience, and/or response, ideally in public health
• Knowledge of, and a keen interest in the health sector and cultural context in Nigeria
• Demonstrable experience of good stakeholder management and working with government departments and agencies
• Experience of delivering presentations, training, or participating in emergency response exercises.
• Understanding of and demonstrable experience of applying monitoring and evaluation principles to project delivery
• Understanding of global health including the health challenges of low- and middle-income countries and the international health architecture.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
• Experience of organising and managing events.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills on complex matters, often requiring persuasion and influence.
• Demonstrate commitment to own Continued Professional Development (CPD)
• Ability to analyse and interpret information and recommend appropriate actions.
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales.
• Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
• Excellent computer skills and proficient in excel, word, outlook, PowerPoint.
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience 

• Qualification or equivalent experience in the field of emergency preparedness, resilience, and response.
• Previous experience in similar role in public sector or with bilateral/multilateral organisations.
• Understanding of UKHSA.