Zoonotic Advisor

Job Posting Organization:
FHI 360 is a global organization dedicated to mobilizing research, resources, and relationships to ensure that individuals everywhere can access the opportunities necessary for leading full and healthy lives. Established over 50 years ago, FHI 360 has developed innovative solutions to address global challenges and has achieved measurable results through the application of scientific breakthroughs and research. The organization emphasizes collaboration with communities to enhance social and economic opportunities, improve health and well-being, and respond effectively to humanitarian crises. In Nepal, FHI 360 has been a trusted partner since 1977, working closely with the Government of Nepal, civil society, academia, and the private sector to transform the health and development landscape. The organization leverages a combination of global expertise and local insights to strengthen community capacities and institutional frameworks, ensuring sustainable impact across various sectors, including essential health services, procurement and supply chain management, global health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and air quality management.

Job Overview:
The Zoonotic Advisor position is crucial for providing applied technical leadership and implementation support for the STRIDES activities, which focus on the prevention, detection, and response to priority zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases. This role is centered on operationalizing multisectoral interventions on the ground, translating national strategies and technical guidance into practical actions at regional, local, and facility levels. The Advisor will work under the technical leadership of the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Technical Director and collaborate with other technical advisors and specialists to deliver zoonotic disease activities across various domains, including surveillance, laboratory systems, biosafety and biosecurity, emergency preparedness, and outbreak response. The emphasis of this role is on field implementation and coordination with local counterparts, ensuring that zoonotic disease interventions are coherent, timely, and operationally effective, rather than focusing on national policy formulation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Zoonotic Advisor will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including supporting the implementation of zoonotic disease prevention, detection, and response activities aligned with the STRIDES Nepal workplan. This includes operationalizing multisectoral approaches at national, regional, and local levels, strengthening coordination among human health, animal health, wildlife, and other relevant sectors through technical working groups and platforms. The Advisor will assist in harmonizing surveillance, outbreak response, and information sharing workflows with local agencies, support field-based surveillance and response activities at human-animal-wildlife interfaces, and provide technical and operational support to zoonotic disease surveillance activities. Additionally, the Advisor will facilitate the operational rollout of genomic surveillance activities, implement biosafety and biosecurity-related activities in laboratories, assist in mapping laboratories with multi-disease diagnostic capacity, support after-action reviews and documentation of implementation models, and contribute to capacity-building activities for regional and local counterparts. The role also involves coordinating closely with other technical teams to ensure integrated implementation of zoonotic activities and contributing technical inputs for workplans, reports, and presentations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the Zoonotic Advisor position must possess a Bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent in Public Health, Epidemiology, Allied Health, Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, or Infectious Diseases. Formal training in Field Epidemiology or One Health programs is preferred and considered an advantage. Previous experience in One Health or Animal Health is also preferred. A minimum of 6 years of experience working in health or any social development sector on project implementation is required. Candidates should have substantial experience working with government, private sector, and partners in supporting zoonotic disease detection, surveillance, and outbreak investigation. Practical experience in coordinating multisectoral and One Health initiatives is preferred, along with demonstrated experience in supporting surveillance and outbreak investigation activities related to infectious or zoonotic diseases. Experience in delivering capacity-building activities for national and subnational counterparts is essential, and experience in health emergency response projects is an advantage.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in relevant fields such as Public Health, Epidemiology, Allied Health, Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, or Infectious Diseases. Additional formal training in Field Epidemiology or One Health programs is highly preferred and would provide candidates with a competitive edge.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in health or social development sectors, particularly in project implementation. Candidates should have substantial experience working with government entities, private sector organizations, and partners in the context of zoonotic disease detection, surveillance, and outbreak investigation. Practical experience in supporting or coordinating multisectoral and One Health initiatives is preferred, as well as experience in delivering capacity-building activities for counterparts at various levels.

Languages:
Proficiency in English and Nepali is mandatory, with the ability to read, write, and speak both languages fluently. This bilingual capability is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the diverse contexts of the role. Additional language skills may be considered an advantage but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The Zoonotic Advisor position is a full-time role that may require domestic travel of at least 25%. The final deadline for application submission is set for 5:00 p.m. on February 22, 202

• FHI 360 offers a competitive benefits package, professional development opportunities, and policies that support a healthy work/life balance. The organization is committed to equal employment and affirmative action, ensuring that no discrimination occurs based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status. FHI 360 also emphasizes safeguarding against abuse, exploitation, and harassment in its work environments and programs.