Technical Advisor I-Surveillance at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Through the anticipated CDC-PEPFAR health systems strengthening project, you will deliver expert guidance and hands-on support to government ministries, departments, and agencies to strengthen health systems through provision of technical advisory on Surveillance. This includes facilitating and coaching facility-based quality improvement teams, driving rapid learning cycles, supporting the development and implementation of effective measurement strategies and change packages, and fostering collaborative learning environments that advance high-quality health outcomes within Nigeria’s health sector.  

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and expert advisory support for surveillance systems. Guide and advise on the development and implementation of national surveillance strategies, guidelines, and SOPs, ensuring these align with global standards and national priorities for disease detection and reporting.
• Provide advisory support to design and improve surveillance platforms and workflows. Recommend user-friendly, scalable solutions tailored to local needs. Advise on integrating EMRs, lab data, and other sources, ensuring interoperability and data security. Guide best practices for real-time data capture and reporting to enhance surveillance capacity.
• Strengthen Event-Based and Case-Based Surveillance. Support implementation of systems for real-time reporting of cases and events, including HIV/TB case surveillance. Develop workflows for timely notification, investigation, and response.
• Build Capacity for Surveillance at All Levels. Develop and deliver training for health workers, surveillance officers, and data managers on case reporting, outbreak detection, and response protocols. Provide mentorship and supportive supervision to ensure sustainability.
• Ensure Data Quality and Timeliness. Establish mechanisms for data validation, completeness checks, and routine audits. Promote timely reporting and integration of surveillance data into dashboards for rapid decision-making.
• Coordinate Stakeholders and Harmonize Surveillance Efforts. Engage with government, donors, and implementing partners to align surveillance indicators, reporting timelines, and data systems. Represent surveillance priorities in technical working groups and national forums.
• Monitor and Evaluate Surveillance System Performance. Track progress of surveillance strengthening activities against work plans and indicators. Document lessons learned, best practices, and innovations for scale-up and continuous improvement. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
• Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in surveillance. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in project design and proposal development. Experience in writing content for proposals.
• Knowledge of capacity-strengthening best practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based civil society partners. Understanding partnership principles. 
• Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
• Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Good technical writing skills
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Informatics, Biostatistics, or related health data sciences is an advantage. 

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Informatics, Biostatistics, or related field or related health data sciences required.
• Minimum of eight to ten (8-10) relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in Surveillance. 
• Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in HIV/AIDS programming and surveillance. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.