Duties and responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership in the design, oversight, and management of BHO activities related to Global Health Security (GHS), and other infectious diseases, ensuring alignment with USAID and USG priorities.
• Lead the development and implementation of the USAID/South Africa (SA) GHS strategy, ensuring harmonization with other donor efforts, including the Pandemic Fund, WHO, FAO, and UNICEF.
• Provide expert technical and programmatic guidance to USAID/SA, the USG interagency, and the Government of South Africa (GoSA) on GHS priorities and health initiatives.
• Monitor emerging global, regional, and national health trends, analyzing reports and data to provide strategic recommendations to the Bilateral Health Office leadership, USG interagency teams, and USAID/Washington.
• Oversee the design of new GHS follow-on awards, ensuring programmatic adaptation to evolving health priorities.
• Represent USAID in interagency planning, execution, and implementation of the health portfolio, providing technical expertise on health and GHS issues.
• Cultivate relationships with GoSA counterparts, including the Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders, to support the implementation of GHS and health initiatives.
• Participate in donor and government coordination meetings, providing expert technical advice and ensuring effective collaboration on GHS and broader health priorities.
• Serve on national GHS working groups and interagency collaborations to contribute to policy development and technical discussions.
• Conduct site visits to monitor program implementation, review activity progress, and ensure compliance with USAID objectives.
• Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks for GHS activities, assessing programmatic effectiveness and providing data-driven recommendations.
• Provide research and programmatic advice to USAID and partners, including guidance on research design, project methodologies, and best practices in treatment, care, and support.
• Analyze, synthesize, and disseminate key research findings, best practices, and lessons learned to stakeholders, partners, and technical counterparts.
• Supervise and mentor up to two (2) Foreign Service National (FSN) staff members, fostering their professional development, technical expertise, and leadership growth.
• Provide mentoring and training to staff on infectious disease programming, management practices, and technical expertise to improve professionalism, leadership, and teamwork.
• Facilitate tailored coaching sessions and training workshops to strengthen staff capabilities in GHS program design, implementation, and monitoring.
• Develop and deliver presentations, speeches, and reference materials on GHS and related health issues to diverse audiences, including USAID leadership, donors, and interagency stakeholders.
• Draft inputs for annual operational plans, performance plans, and reports, ensuring alignment with USAID policies and priorities.
• Prepare high-quality reports and technical documents to support decision-making and strategic planning efforts.

Requirements

• The candidate must have a Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field, including but not limited to medicine, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, public health, social science, or infectious disease. 
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in one health, animal health, public health, or epidemiology, with demonstrated expertise in program evaluation, monitoring, and interpreting programmatic data, expenditure analyses, and related data sources to assess implementation, evaluate performance, and inform program design. Specific experience in staff mentoring and management, project design, implementation, and performance monitoring is required.
• Prior experience working with a bilateral or multilateral donor in development programming is required. 
• In-depth knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements, with prior experience ensuring compliance and alignment across complex programmatic portfolios.
• Strong analytical skills with demonstrated proficiency in synthesizing complex data into actionable insights, paired with excellent written and oral communication skills for clear and impactful stakeholder engagement.
• Advanced knowledge of pandemics, infectious diseases, and zoonotic diseases and significant experience in maintaining collaborative relationships with government counterparts, international organizations, and partner communities.
• Extensive experience working with the South African Government, USG health agencies, and USAID implementing partners, fostering alignment, collaboration, and shared success in advancing health initiatives.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability and willingness to function collaboratively and productively as both a leader and a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team and must have the ability to work effectively in a team environment to achieve consensus on policies, activities, and administrative matters and to influence relationships positively. 
• Proven ability to work well in complex institutional settings and develop relationships that facilitate collaboration among colleagues and genuine interest in assisting USAID staff with expedient program implementation. 
• Experience facilitating FSN participation in high-level engagements to enhance their leadership presence and build local ownership of programs.
• Skilled in supervising teams, delegating responsibilities, and creating an inclusive environment that values innovation and continuous learning.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust-based relationships with senior-level executives and officials in government and development sectors, as well as across public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders.
• Exceptional networking, collaboration, and team-building skills to foster productive relationships with government counterparts, NGOs, multilateral agencies, and private-sector partners.
• High degree of discretion, tact, and diplomacy, particularly when engaging with politically sensitive issues or addressing stakeholder concerns.
• Proven ability to mediate conflicts, manage competing interests, and facilitate decisions on complex technical, programmatic, and strategic issues.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, enabling productive collaboration with senior and technical officials while effectively communicating program goals and challenges.
• Ability to organize team-building activities and workshops to enhance cohesion and collective performance.
• Strong capacity to multitask, managing and prioritizing competing demands in real-time while maintaining high-quality outcomes.
• Strong technical, analytical, and quantitative skills in scientific approaches and development policy analysis.
• Ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights to guide programmatic decisions and strategy adjustments.
• Proficiency in managing complex institutional settings, navigating multi-sectoral collaborations, and addressing stakeholder needs.
• Proven ability to provide expert guidance on public health challenges and implement strategic solutions to overcome obstacles.
• Familiarity with how to engage technology entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators to advance GHS initiatives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and similar software platforms for data analysis, reporting, and program management.
• Capacity to design and execute MEL frameworks, assess program impact, and generate evidence-based recommendations for GHS activities.
• Excellent written and oral English language communication skills.