Epidemiology and Surveillance Officer

Job Posting Organization:
FHI 360 is a non-profit organization dedicated to human development, committed to sustainably improving living conditions by providing integrated and contextually appropriate solutions. Established with a mission to address interconnected development challenges, FHI 360 employs experts across various fields including health, public health threats, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, youth, research, technology, communication, and social marketing. This diverse expertise allows the organization to tackle complex issues effectively. FHI 360 operates in multiple countries, focusing on enhancing health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security and addressing public health threats through programs like the Global Health Security (GHS) initiative funded by the U.S. government, which aims to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats that pose risks to public health.

Job Overview:
The Epidemiology and Surveillance Officer, also referred to as the Field Epidemiologist, will provide technical support, manage personnel, and oversee activities aimed at strengthening epidemiological surveillance as part of the STRIDES (Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems) initiative funded by the U.S. Department of State in Côte d'Ivoire. The officer will work closely with local ministries related to health, agriculture, and environment, assisting in the development and/or updating of infectious disease detection and surveillance strategies. This role involves leading the planning and implementation of activities to enhance the quality and performance of epidemiology and surveillance services, providing technical support and guidance on identified issues and strategies to improve the quality of STRIDES program implementation. The officer will contribute technically to the annual work planning at the national level, lead the development of guidelines and policies for epidemiology and surveillance strengthening activities, participate in technical meetings, and provide informed leadership at the national level. Collaboration with STRIDES teams both in-country and at headquarters will be essential for assessing program effectiveness, providing technical support, and delivering technical evaluation reports.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The primary responsibilities include contributing to the public health epidemiology and surveillance component of the project in coordination with other technical areas, supporting the design and implementation of technical activities aimed at establishing or strengthening event-based and indicator-based surveillance as well as community surveillance for priority pathogens. The officer will provide technical expertise in preparing training materials, standard operating procedures, and tools, and will conduct training for epidemiologists, disease surveillance officers, project staff, and partners. Responsibilities also include monitoring and updating protocols, instruments, technical tools, datasets, manuals, training materials, and reports related to the technical area of expertise. The officer will work closely with national counterparts and teams to provide necessary technical assistance to achieve national objectives and targets, particularly those related to strategies, policies, plans, and procedures for epidemiological surveillance of emerging and priority zoonotic infectious diseases. Additional duties involve developing technical notes, reports, or other documents to facilitate assessments, best practices, policies, and procedures, analyzing project implementation to identify areas for improvement, and proposing appropriate technical strategies and guidelines. The officer will coordinate closely with the global STRIDES surveillance team to ensure synergies and sharing of experiences within and between countries involved in global health security. On-site and field technical assistance will be provided to epidemiologists and others as needed, as part of global capacity strengthening and continuous improvement programs. The officer will also support efforts to enhance real-time data communication, data quality, data sharing, and the linkage between surveillance data and laboratory data, as well as assist in strengthening the connection between epidemiological data and laboratory surveillance data, data analysis, and interpretation. Collaboration with project management and technical teams will be necessary to define, develop, implement, monitor, and adjust technical work plans, budgets, presentations, and reports, utilizing evidence-based methods and best practices for implementing work plan activities. The officer will assist in implementing the technical components of the project plan, participate in meetings with clients and stakeholders, and prepare reports and presentations as required.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master's degree or equivalent in epidemiology, public health, or a related health field relevant to the job functions. A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in epidemiology and public health programs related to infectious disease control, health analysis, and statistics is required. Previous work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization is essential. Experience in developing or managing international or national programs (U.S.) is preferred. The candidate should have a strong background in quality assurance, data analysis, and interpretation. Relevant training in epidemiology and surveillance, acquired through formal education or participation in field epidemiology training programs (e.g., advanced, intermediate, or frontline courses), is desirable. Knowledge and experience in implementing multisectoral health approaches, including experience in managing zoonoses, strengthening health systems, and intersectoral collaboration, are preferred. Proven knowledge and experience in implementing infectious disease surveillance methodologies, including analyzing epidemiological survey data using new methodologies or existing techniques, are required. The ability to analyze current public health surveillance systems and develop and plan innovative and appropriate solutions for their improvement is essential. The candidate should demonstrate creative problem-solving skills and have experience in training and mentoring staff and others. Experience collaborating with government representatives is also necessary. Previous work experience on U.S. government-funded projects and a good understanding of U.S. government reporting regulations and requirements are preferred.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree or equivalent international qualification in epidemiology, public health, or a related health field is required for this position. This educational background should be complemented by relevant training in epidemiology and surveillance, which can be obtained through formal education or participation in specialized training programs such as field epidemiology training courses.

Experience:
The position requires more than 6 years of relevant experience in the field of epidemiology and public health programs related to infectious disease control, health analysis, and statistics. Candidates should have prior professional experience in an NGO, government agency, or private organization, with a preference for those who have experience in developing or managing international or national programs, particularly in the U.S. Additionally, experience in quality assurance, data analysis, and interpretation is essential.

Languages:
Proficiency in both English and French is required for this position. The ability to communicate effectively in both languages is crucial for collaboration with local and international stakeholders, as well as for the preparation of reports and documentation.

Additional Notes:
The working conditions involve a classic office environment, with the capacity to spend long hours in front of a computer screen and perform repetitive tasks at the keyboard. The candidate should be able to remain seated or standing for extended periods and lift/move up to 5 pounds. The technologies used include personal/laptop computers, Microsoft applications (such as Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), mobile technology, and standard office equipment. The position may require up to 40% travel within the country. The expected hiring salary range for this role is XOF 20,000,000 to 26,000,000 annually for basic salary. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 considers multiple factors, including relevant years of experience and education, internal equity, market pay, and budget. This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job and does not prescribe or restrict the exact tasks that may be assigned. FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation, and harassment in its work environments and programs.