Technical Advisor

Description:

The Senior Technical Advisor will provide technical leadership and project oversight in the area of Surveillance Monitoring, Evaluation and Research for an upcoming five-year $25-50 million USAID Global Health Security (GHS) activity in Pakistan. The goal of the Activity is to build Pakistan’s capacities to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to new and emerging infectious diseases. The GHS activity will strengthen existing Pakistan’s One Health systems, entities, structures, all towards building a resilient, sustainable response to emerging infectious disease threats. In line with USAID’s vision for Health System Strengthening 2030, the activity will work on strengthening existing health systems that uphold equity, optimize resources and efficiency and ensure quality.

The Senior Technical Advisor will lead and design surveillance systems strengthening interventions to impact global health security in collaboration and coordination among key stakeholders including the Department of Health (DoH).

This position is contingent upon award from USAID.  All qualified persons are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Responsibilities

 Working in collaboration with the Technical Director provide leadership and strategic inputs and direction to ensure programmatic integrity and technical guidance to the project on the design and implementation of project activities to reach project goals, in event and indicator-based surveillance design, implementation, and evaluation, and provide inputs in the design, development or strengthening of data systems and digital solutions that support national and subnational emergency responses. 
 Ensure a robust working knowledge of the local epidemiological context, to quickly analyze epidemiological trends, including drawing upon global data and trends, identify gaps, and develop responsive action plans. 
 Work effectively and collaboratively with local and national government counterparts, and engage in local level planning. 
 Foster a culture of data for decision making across all project teams, partners and local stakeholders; 
 Ensure all activities are evidence-based, adapted to local context, and reflect state-of-the-art knowledge and best practices. 
 Develop and maintain strong working relationships with USAID and Government of Pakistan Departments and related Ministries (including those in the One Health space e.g. animal health/dairy, agriculture, environment); public health partners, and local research institutions to share knowledge, maximize resources and avoid duplication of effort; 
 Provide guidance and support for capacity strengthening efforts for national government counterparts; 
 Improve capacity of local government health authorities to conduct evidence-based and epidemiological analysis of local health systems for decision-making to inform strategic and programmatic direction; 
 Work with Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) staff to develop M&E frameworks and effectively track data/results; 
 Mentor, supervise and manage performance of a team of technical professionals, ensuring high-quality implementation of all project activities, and ensure timely feedback; 
 Ensure project activities are aligned with the project goal and objectives and national policies and frameworks; 
 Work with the Technical Director on annual work planning and provide strategic inputs including on the Performance monitoring plan; 
 Work closely with the MEL Advisor and M&E team to analyze data, adjust implementation and put in place course corrections. 
 Represent the project in public and professional circles through meetings, conferences, and presentations and act as an active member of relevant technical groups. 
 Work with project and financial staff to prepare and track progress of project and activity budgets 

Required Qualifications

 An advanced degree in epidemiology, statistics, implementation science or similar 
 At least 10 years’ experience implementing in monitoring and evaluating progress towards target in infectious diseases 
 Demonstrated experience in establishing surveillance monitoring and evaluation systems and training others in their usage and implementation. 
 Skilled in at least two or more of the following technical areas: indicator-based surveillance, event-based surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of service delivery projects, or implementation science, geospatial mapping. 
 At least 7 years of relevant experience with USAID or other USG or donor-funded health programs. 
 Professional experience interacting with host country governments and counterparts; international donor organizations; civil society; and the private sector. 
 Demonstrated strong management, coordination, teamwork and planning skills with proven ability to function effectively with multiple host-country counterparts in both the public, NGO and private sectors 
 Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with USAID, host-country counterparts and representatives from other key stakeholders such as NGOs, CSOs, and the private sector 
 Demonstrated strategic thinking, organizational, team-building, and representational skills 
 Excellent skills in facilitation, team building, and coordination 
 Excellent verbal, written interpersonal and presentation skills 
 Proficiency in Microsoft Office365 operations 
 Ability to travel nationally as needed.