Senior Program Specialist, Epidemiology and Surveillance (GID) at the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Program Specialist, Epidemiology and Surveillance (GID)

Announcement Number: Abuja-2023-101
Location: Abuja
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Series/Grade: LE - 0550 11
Work Schedule: Full-time - 48 hours per week
Promotion Potential: LE-NA

Overview

• Hiring Path: Custom Announcement (not open to the public)
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For USEFM - FP is 04  ($62,523) Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.
  • All Interested Applicants / All Sources
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period

Summary

• The work schedule fo this position is: Full Time (48 number of hours per week)
• Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (6 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required: 50% or less Incumbent will travel as required for job related duties.

Duties

• This position is responsible for activities related to the implementation of intensified routine immunization activities across Nigeria, which will contribute to strengthening the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), specifically for core technical areas that are deemed priority for the CDC-Nigeria Office and Government of Nigeria.
• The Job holder is a senior Epidemiologist responsible for providing technical expertise and assistance to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other participating partners in the design, implementation and strengthening of vaccine preventable disease (VPD) surveillance, laboratory, immunization, and information systems and the conduct of large, complex surveys designed to measure measles/yellow fever/rubella infection rates and other indicators of importance used for evaluating the impact of control programs and activities.

Job Knowledge

• The job holder is required to have detailed knowledge of surveillance, disease outbreaks, the epidemiology of measles, yellow fever, and rubella, research methods and collection.
• The job holder should also be able to give presentations on public health/epidemiologic data in order to plan, design, direct the implementation of and strengthen procedures for collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of epidemiological data.
• This includes knowledge of the principles, theories and practices of USG and internationally recognized standards for disease outbreaks and response protocol, surveillance, and survey regulations and procedures.
• The job holder is required to have detailed knowledge of planning, implementing and monitoring immunization programs; experience supporting planning, implementation and monitoring of SIAs.
• Detailed knowledge of the host government health care system and structures including familiarity with Ministry of Health policies, program priorities and regulations.
• Good working knowledge of team management techniques to plan, organize and direct multi-disciplinary project teams and activities is required.
• Good working knowledge of overall administrative requirements in development and support of grants, contracts, memoranda of understanding and cooperative agreements.
• Good working knowledge of CDC and USG public health programs, strategies, methods, processes and techniques used to plan, develop, implement and evaluate results of immunization programs.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Education Requirements:

• Master's Degrees in Public Health, Medicine, Epidemiology, Demography or Behavioral Science is required.
• Note: NYSC Certificate / Exemption / Exclusion document is required.

Requirements:

• The job holder should have at least five (5) years experience in public health disease surveillance and experience in the control of priority VPDs including Polio, measles, rubella, yellow fever intervention programs at the local, state or international levels that entailed responsibility for the planning, implementation and evaluation of program activities.
• The job holder should also have experience in use of measurement methods required for M&E, surveys/surveillance or strategic information of populations and health programs, including quantitative and qualitative research. 
• This must include at least two (2) years of management experience.

Other Information:

• Hiring Preference Selection Process: Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

Hiring Preference Officer:

• AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
• AEFM / USEFM
• FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

*Important

• Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability dated within the past six months, equivalent documentation, or certification. 
• A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant.
• The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
• ** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
• For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link

Marketing Statement:

• We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:

Agency Benefits:

• Salary: USD45,283 Annually.
• Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Abuja, Nigeria may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.
• For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.
• The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

Application Closing Date
16th October, 2023.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Application Instruction

• To apply for this position click the “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY” button at the top of the page. Click on the “Submit Application” button to complete your application process.  For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.

Required Documents

• To qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested degree and / or transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement.
• Failure to provide requested information, or the information is insufficient to verify eligibility, may result in disqualification for this position.

All Applicants:

• Residency and/or Work Permit
• Degree (not transcript)
• NYSC Certificate / Exclusion / Exemption.

Eligible Family Member Applicants:

• Copy of Sponsor's Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
• DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
• SF-50 (if applicable).

Next Steps:

• Applicants who are invited to take a language or skills test, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email. 
• For further information - the complete position description listing all of the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office.
• Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Mission in Abuja, Nigeria.