Technical Advisor, Subnational Data Use and Decision Science

About the role

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is hiring a Technical Advisor for its Nigeria Collaborative Surveillance team, based in Abuja. The Advisor strengthens the integration, analysis, interpretation and use of surveillance data in implementing states, initially supporting two selected states. The role reports to the Senior Technical Advisor, Health Security and Event-based Surveillance, and involves about 25% travel to the states.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership, mentorship and quality assurance for data use, epidemic intelligence and decision-science activities, engaging state directors, surveillance leaders and PHEOC managers to prioritise information needs.
• Design and deliver capacity-building in epidemiological analysis, R, data visualisation and reproducible reporting, and mentor staff in data pipelines and analysis.
• Support the design of state-specific information products (epi bulletins, situation reports, risk bulletins, analytical briefs) and oversee their data preparation, analysis, visualisation and automation.
• Establish routine data-quality review and feedback processes, and guide states in analysing detection, notification and response performance.
• Mentor states on SITAware, including incident documentation, user testing, training and future feature requests.
• Represent RTSL in technical working groups, document lessons learned and contribute to reports, briefs and guidance.
• Help states integrate surveillance priorities into implementation plans and trackers, and optimise domestic and external financing (e.g. BHCPF and World Bank funds).

Required profile

• Master's degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, public health, health informatics or a related field; a PhD is preferred.
• At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in public health data analytics, surveillance, epidemic intelligence, decision science or health informatics, preferably with government public health institutions.
• Experience leading the design and routine use of surveillance information products, applying statistical and epidemiological methods, and training and mentoring public health professionals.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; willingness to travel frequently within Nigeria.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency in R for data preparation, analysis, visualisation and reproducible reporting.
• Preferred: knowledge of IHR (2005), IDSR and One Health, and experience with SORMAS, SITAware, 7-1-7 or LIMS.

What we offer

• Fixed-term full-time employment of 24 months, with possible renewal depending on funding and mutual interest.
• Salary set according to national NGO sector labour rates, plus health insurance, retirement contributions, annual and sick leave, two paid week-long breaks, professional development and home-office setup.