Technical Advisor: Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response The British High Commission

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Job Category  Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
]Job Subcategory  UK Health Security Agency

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)  Main purpose of job:

The post-holder will have a combined role leading aspects of public health emergency preparedness, resilience, and response (EPRR) under the direction of the Senior Public Health Advisor,  and a liaison role to the Africa CDC HQ EPR Division via the Southern Regional Coordination Centre.

The post holder will play a crucial role in delivering the various priorities within the EPRR workplan at country level, agreed with the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) and other partners supporting the coordination and delivery of identified EPRR outputs for the International Health Regulations Strengthening Project (IHR-SP).  Additionally, the role will involve liaison and coordination of EPRR input and output with the Africa CDC Southern Regional Coordination Centre which is located at the ZNPHI headquarters in Lusaka.

This post is suitable for someone experienced in health protection and ideally with experience and knowledge of public health emergency management systems.  The role will include supporting technical and organisational development activities and building and managing key partnerships and networks.

The post-holder will provide key in-country situational awareness for the UK based EPRR team and on the ground day to day project delivery, ensuring the maintenance of key stakeholder relationships and providing in-person representation for EPRR relevant meetings, workshops, or ad-hoc events. Diplomatic skills and cultural intelligence are critical, as engaging with senior leadership, ministers, senior government officials and other donor or development agency representatives will be critical to the role. We are seeking individuals with both technical knowledge and international relations capability, able to demonstrate both UKHSA’s and Civil Services competencies and ways of working.  Key to this is the ability to influence and negotiate to manage key relationships with local and other international stakeholders.

Diplomatic skills and cultural awareness are critical, as engaging with a range of stakeholders, such as senior leadership, ministers, senior government officials and other technical, donor or development agency representatives will be vital to the role. We are seeking individuals with both technical knowledge and international relations capability, able to demonstrate both UKHSA and Civil Services Competencies and ways of working.  Key to this is the ability to influence and negotiate to manage key relationships with local and other international stakeholders.

This post offers an excellent opportunity to gain exposure and experience of working in a fast paced and innovative environment and is an ideal chance for someone looking to advance their career in Public Health project coordination.

The ideal candidate must have a flexible approach to meet the needs of the service, be able to work to tight deadlines, be a good multitasker and be able to handle several competing priorities at any one time.

This post will be based in Lusaka with possible travel to other areas of Zambia and the African continent as relevant.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Coordinate IHR-SP EPRR input to bi-lateral and multi-lateral activities as appropriate at country level
Maintain key stakeholder relationships with junior and senior members of ZNPHI and Africa CDC staff
Provide in-person representation for EPRR relevant meetings, workshops, or ad-hoc events
Provide technical input to the design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of activities to strengthen EPRR capability in Zambia, including but not limited to:
Maintain key in-country EPRR situational awareness and keep UK based EPRR team informed of relevant activity and opportunities
Contribute to IHR-SP EPRR activities with the Africa CDC Southern RCC in Zambia to strengthen EPRR capability in the Southern Africa Region
Prepare methodology documents, project reports and papers and sections of complex reports, including incorporating material prepared by others
The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan.  Attending internal / external training events
To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
Degree qualification or equivalent experience in a health-related topic
Demonstrable experience of working in at least one area of emergency preparedness, resilience, and/or response, ideally in public health
Knowledge of, and a keen interest in the health sector and cultural context in Zambia
Demonstrable experience of good stakeholder management and working with government departments and agencies
Experience of delivering presentations, training, or participating in emergency exercises.
Ability to work across a wide range of stakeholders at senior level with strong relationship building, influencing, negotiating & interpersonal skills, including on operational issues as well as broader public health and global health security issues.
Understanding of and demonstrable experience of applying monitoring and evaluation principles to project delivery
Understanding of global health including the health challenges of low- and middle-income countries and the international health architecture.
An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Experience of organising and managing training events and workshops
Excellent written and oral communication skills on complex matters, often requiring persuasion and influence.
Demonstrated commitment to own Continued Professional Development (CPD)
Ability to analyse and interpret information and recommend appropriate actions.
Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales.
Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
Excellent computer skills and proficient in MS Office applications and other software relevant to the role

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Post-graduate Qualification or equivalent experience in the field of emergency preparedness, resilience, and response.
Previous experience in similar role in public sector or with bilateral/multilateral organisations.
Previous experience of organising emergency preparedness exercises
Understanding of UKHSA
Required behaviours  Seeing the Big Picture, Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together