Technical Officer, Global Health Security (GHS) Bayelsa and Rivers at FHI 360

Project Summary:  

The Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project is a global health initiative funded by United States Department of State (DOS) for the period of 2019–2027. The project delivers high-quality technical support at the community, health facility, district, regional and national levels, and builds relationships with relevant partners working to address integrated health programs and global health security issues. Our ability to respond quickly to program, technical and procurement needs leverages on our deep bench of country-based clinical, program, and community experts. Initially focused on achieving and sustaining HIV epidemic control, EpiC was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to support countries in preparedness, response, and health system strengthening, including oxygen systems.

In Nigeria, EpiC is supporting the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoH/SW) to strengthen the national Oxygen Ecosystem. Our contributions include optimizing pulse oximetry, expanding access to medical oxygen through LOX infrastructure, enhancing healthcare worker capacity on oxygen data management, and supporting the development of a national Quality Assurance and Compliance (QAQC) guideline for oxygen equipment.

The project received additional funding to build a more effective, resilient, and responsive primary healthcare system that can respond and address the persistent and severe public-health challenges, especially in Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent health (MNCH), Malaria, and Nutrition.

In addition, EpiC Nigeria has recently received Global Health Security (GHS) funding to strengthen global, regional, and local public health systems, building on broad experience and existing capabilities that align with GHS priorities and National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS) and US Government goals to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and strengthen health systems for Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Job Summary:

Under the supervision of the Senior Technical Officer - GHS, the Technical Officer - GHS, will provide technical and operational support to Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Lagos, Rivers, Plateau States for contact tracing and active case search of priority diseases. The Technical Officer, GHS will also support emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases’ data gathering, analysis, and sharing among FHI 360, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the state government, and relevant partners. S/he will work closely with the State Epidemiologist and State Disease Surveillance Notification Officers (DSNOs) to coordinate surveillance activities within the state and ensure alignment with national public health strategies.

This position helps EpiC Nigeria provide capacity building (technical assistance and training) at the state level in Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Lagos, Rivers, Plateau states for the four components that EpiC will work through:   (1) IHR Coordination Focal Point function and Advocacy; (2) Outbreak Response – Case Management and Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM); (3) Infection Prevention and Control (inclusive of Antimicrobial Resistance, Biosafety and Security at health facilities); (4) Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE). The position will also help in the design, implementation, monitoring, and improvement of GHS strategies, approaches, and intervention designs towards the improvement of outbreak preparedness, response and resilience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the State Epidemiologist and DSNOs to strengthen surveillance systems, including contact tracing and active case search.
• Support the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, ensuring data quality and timeliness.
• Provide technical assistance to state-level stakeholders to improve disease surveillance and reporting mechanisms.
• Facilitate coordination between FHI 360, NCDC, state agencies, and other partners to enhance data sharing and alignment of surveillance activities.
• Develop and deliver capacity-building initiatives, including training for state and local surveillance officers on emerging and re-emerging infectious disease protocols.
• Assist in the development and adaptation of tools, templates, and materials for surveillance and data management.
• Monitor the implementation of emerging and re-emerging surveillance activities and provide regular progress reports to the Senior Technical Officer, GHS.
• Support outbreak investigations and response activities as required, including field deployments.
• Promote adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures during surveillance and contact tracing activities.
• Establish and maintain productive collaborative relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, DOS, the MOH and relevant agencies, MOA, MOE, multi-lateral partners such as WHO, FAO and UNICEF, IFRC, and donors such as the World Bank, and civil society groups and local and iNGOs
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Senior Technical Officer, GHS and Associate Director, Technical.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with a job.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes:

• Strong knowledge of public health principles, particularly in disease surveillance and field epidemiology.
• Familiarity with Nigeria’s public health systems and disease surveillance frameworks, including Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR).
• Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting tools, such as SORMAS, DHIS2 and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work independently, assess priorities, and manage a variety of activities while communicating, connecting, and collaborating with HQ and field office staff, subcontractors, and a broad coalition of government, NGO, and international project partners
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent writing, editorial, training, and communication skills, including strong presentation skills
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team and under minimal supervision.
• Ability to travel in Nigeria minimum of 25%.

Qualifications and Requirements:

•  Bachelor's Degree or its International Equivalent in Civil Society, Communication and Social Marketing, Economic Development, Education, the Environment, Gender, Health, Nutrition, Research, Technology and Youth or Related Field.
•  Typically requires 4+ years of relevant experience managing data collection and technical assistance experience.
• Demonstrated experience in emerging and re-emerging infectious disease surveillance activities.
• Extensive public health field experience in designing, implementing, monitoring, and reporting on capacity building in more than one component (policy and advocacy, interpersonal communication and community mobilization, mass communication, strategic collection and use of data).
• Familiarity with GHS indicators and activities, especially data collection, analysis, strategic data use, and report-outs.
• Familiarity with international donor organizations, Nigerian public sector health systems, and non-governmental organizations.
• Familiarity with Nigerian public sector health systems, international donor organizations, NGOs and CBOs is required.
• Experience in SORMAS and IDSR is essential and added advantage
• Demonstrated success in multicultural environments is required

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements:

• 10% - 25%