Epidemiology and Surveillance Advisor Full Time

Background:

Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, has strengthened public health programming for over five decades in several countries through evidence-based, quality-focused public health interventions.

Jhpiego seeks an Epidemiology and Surveillance Advisor to lead the implementation of epidemiological and surveillance strategies under the USAID’s Reaching Impact, Saturation, and Epidemic Control (RISE) project in Sierra Leone. This position supports national efforts to strengthen outbreak preparedness and enhance disease surveillance.

This role will closely collaborate with the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) and other national partners to improve detection, response, and data-driven decision-making for infectious disease threat

Responsibilities:

• Support NPHA in improving the detection and reporting of Mpox and other priority disease outbreaks.
• Provide technical assistance in strengthening community-based surveillance (CBS) systems in priority districts.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of enhanced surveillance systems, particularly around Mpox contact tracing performance.
• Lead efforts to improve data quality, analysis, visualization, and interpretation for action at national and subnational levels.
• Provide mentorship and on-the-job training to national and district surveillance officers and epidemiologists.
• Collaborate with the Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) to: Monitor and support progress towards 7-1-7 targets (detection, notification, response), Conduct Intra-Action and After-Action Reviews (IAR/AAR) for outbreak response improvement, enhance data systems and refine situation report templates.
• Provide technical guidance to strengthen Points of Entry (PoEs), including cross-border collaboration on surveillance, building capacities of personnel.
• Represent Jhpiego at key technical working groups (TWGs), national surveillance task forces, and donor or partner coordination meetings.
• Documentation of lessons learned, best practices, and innovations, and support the development of knowledge products such as technical briefs, case studies, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Provide timely program updates to Chief of Party, relevant departments, and US-based backstopping teams
• Prepare regular program reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure that project reports and publications are of high quality and produced on time in line with agreed deadlines

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, or a related field. (Advanced FETP graduate a plus)
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in disease surveillance, outbreak response, or public health emergency management.
• Strong knowledge of health information systems (e.g., DHIS2 Event Management, EWARN).
• Demonstrated experience supporting community-based surveillance and CHW programs.
• Experience with Points of Entry (PoE) health measures and cross-border surveillance is an asset.
• Proven capacity to work collaboratively with government agencies and global health partners.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Work experience in USG-funded projects would be preferred
• Willingness to travel within the country regularly

Tagged as: Jhpiego, Sierra Leone