Technical Advisor III, Outbreak Response

Job Summary

The Technical Advisor III (TA III) contributes to strategy development in health and outbreak response at a global level and provides technical advice and leadership in design and development of high-quality health and outbreak response programs aligned with national health policies and evidence-based practices. The TA III is also responsible for the provision of strategic technical assistance to improve program quality and achieve desired project outcomes, implementation focusing on the development, testing and scale-up of effective approaches integrating health with other sectors. This TA will provide technical leadership for Catholic Relief Service (CRS) responses to health outbreaks, and will be the focal point for humanitarian response and development programs operating in outbreak contexts. The Technical Advisor’s expertise, advice and influence will significantly contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ health and nutrition programming is across the global portfolio. This TAIII will also provide (approximately 20% FTE) operational health guidance and support internally to CRS staff responding to public health outbreaks. The operational scope includes, but is not limited to, development and delivery of health education, pre-travel health briefings, health capacity assessments and recommendations, creation of medical incident management plans, and review of staff medical clearance submissions. On occasion, the Technical Advisor may be asked to support 24/7 call for health emergencies and/or medical evacuation.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, advocate for, and ensure implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in outbreak response that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. Ensure a cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender, protection of mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Provide technical solutions globally, for regional and/or CP teams for strategic planning and how to best apply and adapt program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E in health andoutbreak response.
• Lead the efforts in HQ, regional, and country program staff level to pre-position CRS for strategic growth opportunities in health and outbreak response. Provide technical guidance in proposal development and project design with a focus on complex projects to ensure innovative programming solutions and technical excellence. Support CPs to appropriately staff project teams.
• Oversee and lead the delivery of capacity strengthening initiatives in health and outbreak response interventions and integrated, multisectoral projects with health componentsglobally for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums; organizing and/or facilitating trainings, workshops and conferences; and mentoring and coaching staff in innovative CRS approaches and tools. Provide mentoring and coaching to TAs, as well as CP and regional staff.
• Oversee and lead relevant elements of the agency knowledge management and learning agenda in health and outbreak response through helping implement conditions for collective learning that ensure the capturing, documenting, and sharing of key successes, promising practices, lessons learned, and evidence-based implementation research, internally and externally, including publications in peer reviewed journals.
• Represent CRS in targeted regional or global forums to develop opportunities and better ensure collaboration and shared learning in health and outbreak response to influence technical partner approaches, future funding opportunities, and policies. Network with relevant organizationsto increase CRS’ profile in health nutrition, influence in the regional or global health nutrition community, and donor diversification.
• Develop health resources, preventive guidance and education materials in response to health trends and outbreaks,
• Support the ongoing medical clearance review process and subsequent risk mitigation plans
• Provide direct staff support during medical needs, including identifying and escalating urgent and emergent medical needs, as relevant.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong understanding and application of technical principles and concepts in health and outbreak response. Good knowledge of related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Track record of contributing to successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding in public health.
• Ability to interpret evidence-based guidelines into staff health guidance and/or mitigation measures.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications and strong understanding of information and budget management systems and knowledge-sharing networks.
• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Very strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Very strong written and oral communication skills
• Very strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Required Languages: Fluency in English required. Proficiency in French, preferred.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 30 %.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Originally posted on Himalayas