Public Health Emergency Management Advisor

Public Health Emergency Management Advisor

Jhpiego – John Hopkins University

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

To support this mission, Jhpiego is seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) Advisor to ensure the continuity of essential MNCH-N services during crises. The PHEM Advisor will provide senior technical leadership and coordination to strengthen woreda-level resilience against public health emergencies. This role will strategically collaborate with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), Regional PHEM Offices, and Woreda Health Bureaus to institutionalize robust systems aligned with National Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and global best practices for disaster risk reduction, detection, response, and recover from public health emergencies.

Responsibilities

Emergency Preparedness & Risk Reduction

• Lead the technical design and implementation of comprehensive woreda-level Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans (EPRPs), specifically integrating MNCH-N service continuity as a core pillar;
• Collaborate with regional and woreda PHEM units to conduct and validate periodic Vulnerability and Risk Analysis and Mapping (VRAM);
• Facilitate the development, testing, and operationalization of context-specific contingency plans and comprehensive resource mapping for predictable hazards.

Integrated Disease Surveillance and Early Warning

• Strengthen the public health emergency management systems at the woreda level, health facilities and community level encompassing both indicator-based and event-based surveillance;
• Provide intensive support to woreda health teams for the effective implementation and maintenance of Early Warning, Alert, and Response (EWAR) systems;
• Promote and support the use of digital reporting systems for real-time data collection, advanced analytics, and evidence-based decision-making for early detection.

Outbreak Response and Rapid Mobilization

• Spearhead the formation, capacity building, and equipping of high-performing Multi-disciplinary Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) for effective outbreak investigation and management (e.g., cholera, measles, Malaria, and other priority diseases);
• Ensure the swift and efficient mobilization of technical and logistical support during emergencies, including the critical coordination of mobile outreach teams for MNCH-N service delivery;
• Provide technical oversight in the planning, execution, and evaluation of simulation exercises and outbreak drills to test system readiness.

Multisectoral Coordination and System Strengthening

• Establish and strengthen effective multisectoral coordination platforms for comprehensive emergency governance and response at the woreda and regional levels;
• Drive the systematic alignment and institutionalization of woreda-level emergency systems with Ethiopia’s National PHEM Frameworks and SOPs;
• Cultivate robust and functional linkages between community-level surveillance actors (e.g., Health Extension Workers (HEWs), community volunteers) and formal health system reporting structures.

MNCH-N Service Continuity and Resilience

• Strategically coordinate the deployment of mobile MNCH-N outreach services in conflict-affected, remote, or inaccessible areas to safeguard uninterrupted care;
• Design, implement, and monitor robust surge mechanisms for human resources, essential supplies, and critical services to meet increased demand during emergencies.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL)

• Lead the systematic documentation of best practices and lessons learned through after-action reviews (AARs) and interactive sessions to continuously improve preparedness and resilience;
• Champion the use of real-time data analysis for agile and adaptive response planning;
• Contribute high-quality data and analysis on public health emergencies, surveillance indicators, and MNCH-N service continuity for timely quarterly and annual reports.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in public health, Epidemiology, Health Systems, Global Health, or a closely related field;
• Experience: Minimum of 7 years of progressive professional experience in public health emergency management, with significant experience in Ethiopia or comparable low-resource, fragile settings;
• Strong experience supervising and managing multi-region programs.

Technical Skills

• Technical Expertise: Proven, hands-on experience in Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) , outbreak investigation, and coordinating complex response activities at subnational or decentralized levels;
• System Knowledge: Strong, demonstrated understanding of Ethiopia’s National PHEM Framework and the country’s health system architecture;
• Partnership Experience: Experience collaborating effectively with government systems (National and Regional), NGOs, and development partners on emergency preparedness and MNCH programming.

Preferred Qualifications

• Contextual Insight: Proven ability to thrive and deliver results in challenging humanitarian and development contexts;
• Innovation: Familiarity with innovative delivery models, such as mobile health (mHealth) services and advanced community-based surveillance strategies;
• Analytical Skills: High proficiency in public health data analysis, data visualization, and experience with public health emergency modeling/simulation tools;
• Resilience: Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, maintain composure, and deliver high-quality output under pressure and in fragile environments;
• Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Professional proficiency in Amharic or other local Ethiopian languages is highly desirable.