Senior Specialist, Surveillance

Job Posting Organization:
FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Established with a mission to address interrelated development challenges, FHI 360 employs experts across various fields including health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, youth, research, technology, communication, and social marketing. The organization operates in over 50 countries and all U.S. states and territories, focusing on creating sustainable solutions that enhance the quality of life for individuals and communities. The Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project, which is part of FHI 360, is an eight-year global health initiative funded by the U.S. Department of State as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This project addresses critical public health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, pandemic preparedness, and global health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, with a significant presence in Ukraine, where it aims to strengthen public health systems and capacities.

Job Overview:
The Senior Specialist, Surveillance, will play a crucial role in supporting the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (UPHC) in developing and operationalizing epidemiological surveillance systems. This position is essential for enabling timely detection of priority diseases and emerging health threats. The Specialist will contribute to multisectoral data integration and analysis across human and animal health systems, focusing on enhancing early warning and response capabilities. Responsibilities include designing and implementing sentinel surveillance procedures for antimicrobial resistant pathogens, improving data management systems, and fostering collaborative surveillance efforts with the animal health sector. The role also involves integrating surveillance outputs into the Incident Management System of the Public Health Emergency Operations Center, ensuring alignment with EpiC project objectives and reporting requirements. The position requires a proactive approach to support the UPHC team in achieving its public health goals and enhancing the overall effectiveness of the surveillance systems in place.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Specialist, Surveillance, will be responsible for a variety of tasks including: establishing functional public health surveillance systems capable of detecting priority diseases and emerging threats; ensuring project implementation adheres to the EpiC Ukraine approach; developing and implementing procedures for sentinel epidemiological surveillance of antimicrobial resistant pathogens; strengthening UPHC staff capacity in early warning surveillance systems; improving data management systems for infectious disease detection and reporting; facilitating integration of surveillance outputs into the Incident Management System; informing the EpiC Ukraine Technical Advisor of advancements in surveillance systems; ensuring alignment of surveillance activities with project objectives; contributing to documentation of lessons learned and success stories; developing technical briefs and reports; and conducting analyses of project implementation to identify areas for improvement.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s Degree or its international equivalent in Public Health or a related field, or a Bachelor’s Degree with equivalent professional experience in public health programming in Ukraine. Additionally, a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in epidemiological surveillance, infectious disease monitoring, or epidemiological data analysis is required, preferably within government or donor-funded programs. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively with national Ministry of Health personnel, academic institutions, local public health authorities, NGOs, and international partners. Experience in field-based surveillance methodologies for outbreak investigation and control is essential, along with knowledge of the Global Health Security field and relevant international frameworks. Proven skills in mentoring, supervision, training, and quality improvement approaches are also necessary.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s Degree or its equivalent in Public Health or a similar field. Alternatively, candidates with a Bachelor’s Degree accompanied by substantial professional experience in public health programming will also be considered. The educational qualifications should reflect a strong foundation in public health principles, epidemiology, and data analysis, which are critical for the effective execution of the role's responsibilities.

Experience:
The position requires at least 6 years of relevant experience in the field of epidemiological surveillance, infectious disease monitoring, or data analysis. Candidates should have a demonstrated history of working in government or donor-funded programs, with specific experience in implementing field-based surveillance methodologies for outbreak investigation and control. Familiarity with the Global Health Security framework and experience working with USG or PEPFAR-supported programs are highly desirable. The ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently and effectively, while maintaining a high level of organization, is crucial for success in this role.

Languages:
Professional proficiency in written and spoken English is mandatory, along with fluency in Ukrainian. These language skills are essential for effective communication within the team and with various stakeholders involved in public health initiatives. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required for this position.

Additional Notes:
This position is open to Ukrainian nationals who are currently residing in Ukraine or are willing to relocate. The role is based in Kyiv, Ukraine, and may require travel within the country and internationally as needed. The job is full-time, and the typical physical demands include working in an office environment, spending long hours at a computer, and the ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs. FHI 360 is committed to equal opportunity and affirmative action, ensuring a non-discriminatory hiring process. The organization also emphasizes safeguarding against abuse and harassment in its work environments and programs.