POSITION SUMMARY: 

Project Officer – Health Security and Emergency Preparedness will be responsible for supporting the planning and implementation of strategies to respond to public health crises at the national, regional and district levels.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the emergency response activities consistent to approved work plans, including supporting events-based surveillance (EBS), integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR), threat and hazard identification risk assessment (THIRA), and emergency operations centers (EOCs); closely liaise with key stakeholders at the subnational level from MOHCDGEC, PORALG, and others.
• Support implementation of integrated disease surveillance, event-based surveillance and emergency response plans and ensure that all deliverables are achieved.
• Assist with facilitating the capacity building, training, and mentoring of stakeholders and service providers (e.g. frontline responders, community health workers, surveillance officers), on emergency preparedness and response with emphasis on epidemic-prone infectious diseases and pandemics.
• In close collaboration with the government authorities and national coordinating bodies, support the creation of mechanisms to strengthen event based surveillance and intensify response efforts, case investigation, case-finding, contact tracing, epidemiologic and laboratory analysis, infection prevention control, program evaluation, social mobilization, community engagement, and psychosocial care at sub national levels.
• Support the continuity of non-outbreak-related public health activities in line with national emergency preparedness and response strategy.
• Participate in the development, improvement, and dissemination of procedures, guidelines, policies and other standard operating procedures (SOPs) on surveillance, emergency preparedness and response.
• Support establishment and functioning of sub-national EOCs.
• Support and capacitate health care workers and surveillance teams through remote learning networks focused on implementing effective surveillance and emergency response activities.
• Conduct monitoring, evaluation, and quality assurance needed to ensure that emergency response deliverables are on track and adhere to donor and key stakeholder requirements

Education: 

• Degree holder in public health, social sciences, medicine, nursing or other relevant health-related fields from a recognized institution; a master’s degree in public health or epidemiology is preferred.

Experience, Skills, and Minimum Qualifications:  

• At least three (3) years of progressive experience working on a national or international public health surveillance and emergency response related to infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics, intentional or accidental releases of dangerous pathogens, or other large- scale natural emergencies that had a significant impact on public health. 
  • Additionally: knowledge and experience in at least one (required) or multiple (preferred) of the below areas:
    • Extensive knowledge and understanding of national and/or international public health surveillance (IDSR and event-based surveillance) including case detection, investigation and contact tracing.
    • Ability to work with laboratories to establish and monitor quality indicators that may be population dependent (e.g. assay positivity rates)
    • Experience with health information and data management and applicable data systems such as DHIS2.

• Experience working in national/international health or development organizations with extensive knowledge of health systems and structures related to public health emergency response.
• Solid understanding of national health-related emergency response systems, protocols and standards related to global health security and international health regulation (IHR-2005).
• Proven experience in establishing working relationships and collaborating with the Tanzania government stakeholders, regions and with relevant government agencies.
• Proven ability to write technical reports, program documents, and deliver presentations.
• Fluent in English, with excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to travel locally approximately 70% of the time, including to remote areas.