Animal Health Advisor

Job Posting Organization:
FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization that has been dedicated to improving lives through integrated, locally driven solutions since its establishment. With a workforce comprising experts in various fields such as health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, youth, research, technology, communication, and social marketing, FHI 360 is uniquely positioned to tackle today's interrelated development challenges. The organization operates in over 70 countries and all US states and territories, having worked in Bangladesh for more than 45 years. Since 1975, FHI 360 has taken a comprehensive approach to transform the health and development landscape of Bangladesh, leveraging global expertise and local insights to strengthen community capacities and institutional frameworks for sustainable impact. In partnership with the Government of Bangladesh, civil society, academia, and the private sector, FHI 360 Bangladesh delivers integrated programs across critical sectors, including essential health services such as HIV and nutrition, tuberculosis, global health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and economic participation.

Job Overview:
The Animal Health Advisor will provide high-level technical leadership to strengthen animal health systems as part of the STRIDES (Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems) project in Bangladesh. This position is crucial in advancing the country’s Global Health Security agenda by supporting the prevention, early detection, and effective response to zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases through a One Health approach. The Advisor will contribute to the design and implementation of integrated animal health interventions aligned with STRIDES objectives, which include strengthening national and subnational surveillance systems, enhancing laboratory detection capacity, and improving data collection, analysis, and use for evidence-based decision-making. The role will specifically support multisectoral coordination between animal health and public health institutions, collaborating with government stakeholders such as the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MOFL), Department of Livestock Services (DLS), and One Health platforms. The position will also involve providing technical input to joint assessments, risk analyses, and system strengthening initiatives aimed at identifying gaps in zoonotic disease detection, laboratory functionality, biosafety and biosecurity, and surveillance systems. Additionally, the Advisor will support the development and review of technical guidelines, SOPs, and national frameworks to improve coordinated preparedness and response to priority zoonotic diseases.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Technical Leadership and Advisory: Provide technical leadership on animal health systems strengthening, zoonotic disease prevention, and control; offer technical advice on animal health surveillance systems, including improving data collection, analysis, and use; ensure alignment of animal health interventions with STRIDES objectives and national priorities; promote integration of One Health principles across all relevant activities.
• Surveillance Systems Strengthening: Support development and strengthening of event-based (EBS) and indicator-based surveillance (IBS) systems; contribute to multisectoral surveillance approaches for priority zoonotic diseases; support community-based surveillance initiatives and field-level implementation.
• Laboratory and Diagnostic Systems Support: Provide technical input to strengthen animal health laboratory systems and diagnostic capacity; contribute to joint assessments of laboratory systems, including identification of gaps and recommendations; support improvements in specimen referral systems, biosafety, and biosecurity practices.
• One Health Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement: Support integration and coordination between animal health and public health institutions; participate in and contribute to technical working groups, coordination meetings, and stakeholder forums; support joint risk assessments, technical discussions, and multisectoral coordination mechanisms.
• Technical Documentation and Knowledge Management: Review and contribute to technical documents, SOPs, guidelines, and policies related to zoonotic diseases; contribute animal health perspectives to training materials, workshops, and technical briefs; support documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and technical outputs.
• Capacity Building: Support design and delivery of training programs for veterinary professionals and relevant stakeholders; provide mentoring and on-the-job technical support to strengthen workforce capacity; contribute to development of training tools and materials aligned with project objectives.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL): Contribute to development and tracking of relevant indicators and performance metrics; support data analysis, interpretation, and reporting for program improvement; promote use of data for evidence-based decision-making.
• Outbreak Preparedness and Response: Provide technical support during outbreak investigations and response activities; support rapid response teams and coordination with emergency operations mechanisms; contribute to real-time training and capacity building during outbreak response.
• Compliance and Quality Assurance: Ensure activities comply with donor requirements and organizational policies; maintain high standards of technical quality, documentation, and reporting.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in Veterinary Science, Animal Health, or a related field. Candidates should have a minimum of 8–10 years of relevant experience in animal health, zoonotic diseases, or veterinary public health programs. Demonstrated experience in surveillance systems, laboratory strengthening, or One Health initiatives is essential. Experience working with government institutions and international development projects is also required. Strong experience in technical writing, SOP development, and documentation is necessary, along with experience supporting outbreak response and emergency preparedness being an asset. Excellent communication and report writing skills in English are mandatory.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in Veterinary Science, Animal Health, or a related field. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of animal health systems and zoonotic diseases, which are central to the responsibilities of the Animal Health Advisor role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8–10 years of relevant experience in animal health, zoonotic diseases, or veterinary public health programs. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in surveillance systems, laboratory strengthening, or One Health initiatives. Experience working with government institutions and international development projects is essential, as is strong experience in technical writing, SOP development, and documentation. Additionally, experience supporting outbreak response and emergency preparedness is considered an asset.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English, with excellent communication and report writing skills required. While not explicitly stated, proficiency in Bengali or other local languages may be beneficial for effective communication within the local context and with stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The expected hiring salary range for this role is BDT 3,900,000 - 5,000,000 annually for gross salary. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 considers multiple factors, including relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, market pay, and budget. The position is contingent upon funding from the Department of State (DOS). FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunity without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status. The organization also emphasizes safeguarding against abuse, exploitation, and harassment in its work environments and programs.