Overview

Jhpiego is an international, non-profit health organization affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University. Jhpiego develops innovations to enhance the capacity of health care workers, strengthening health systems and improve delivery of care towards improving the health and well-being. Jhpiego has been collaborating with the Government of Malawi and various partners in implementing a wide-range of interventions in maternal, newborn and child health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and care and treatment, since 1999.

Jhpiego is seeking two (2) highly qualified Global Health Security (GHS) Technical Officers to provide technical leadership and hands-on support to strengthen district-level capacity for emergency preparedness, disease surveillance, and effective public health response. The positions will support the establishment and operationalization of District Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs), strengthen Incident Management System (IMS) functionality, and enhance real-time surveillance, data management, and use of information for decision-making. The officers will provide technical assistance to Government of Malawi counterparts, support implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), and ensure alignment with national and global Global Health Security priorities. This role requires strong technical expertise, close collaboration with district teams, and the ability to support emergency operations during outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

The Global Health Security (GHS) Technical Officers will be based in Mulanje and Mchinji Districts in Malawi. They will report directly to the District Technical Manager and will work in close liaison with the Global Health Technical Advisor.

Responsibilities

Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Provide technical support to strengthen district Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) systems.
• Support development, adaptation, and operationalization of district Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans (EPRPs).
• Support implementation of After-Action Reviews (AARs), Intra-Action Reviews (IARs), hazard assessments, risk profiling, and simulation exercises.
• Strengthen activation, coordination, and functionality of the Incident Management System (IMS) during outbreaks and public health emergencies.
• Provide technical support during real emergencies, including coordination, field investigations, response planning, and reporting.

Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs)

• Support establishment and operationalization of district Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs).
• Support development and implementation of PHEOC SOPs, guidelines, activation protocols, and reporting systems.
• Strengthen multi-sectoral coordination platforms and PHEOC governance structures, including PHEOC Committees and Technical Working Groups.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to PHEOC staff on emergency coordination, operations, logistics, documentation, and Incident Action Planning.

Surveillance, Data Systems, and Analytics

• Support improvement of surveillance data quality, timeliness, completeness, and verification.
• Support operationalization and effective use of digital surveillance platforms (DHIS2, eIDSR, Event-Based Surveillance tools, SORMAS, or equivalent).
• Work with district teams to strengthen outbreak detection thresholds, alert verification, and rapid notification processes.
• Strengthen district capacity for data triangulation, visualization, and analysis to inform decision-making.
• Support design and operationalization of real-time dashboards (GIS, PowerBI, DHIS2 analytics, or similar).
• Support development of data management SOPs, incident reporting templates, and situation reporting systems.

Rapid Response Teams and Field Operations

• Support identification, training, and operational readiness of district Rapid Response Teams (RRTs).
• Develop and strengthen RRT deployment protocols, field investigation tools, and reporting mechanisms.
• Provide technical mentorship during outbreak investigations, including specimen collection and response coordination.
• Strengthen linkages between RRTs, PHEOCs, laboratories, and community-level surveillance systems.
• Build district capacity for surveillance data analysis, epidemiological interpretation, and production of high-quality intelligence reports.

Coordination and Partnerships

• Facilitate integration of One Health partners (animal health, environment, WASH, disaster management, etc.) into district emergency preparedness and response activities.
• Work closely with MCGL technical staff and Government of Malawi partners to support GHS activities at district level.
• Represent the project in stakeholder coordination meetings with donors, government, and partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of project objectives.

New Program Development

• Identify strategic opportunities for the project and potential areas for expansion of existing projects in Jhpiego’s portfolios and make recommendations to pursue these opportunities;
• Facilitate the development of innovative project approaches and interventions

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nursing, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6–8 years’ experience supporting international health projects, emergency preparedness, surveillance, or outbreak response.
• Strong familiarity with the Malawi health system, Global Health Security agenda, and outbreak management (including COVID-19 or similar public health emergencies).
• Experience working with district-level government structures, Ministry of Health officials, NGOs, and civil society partners.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong technical knowledge of emergency preparedness, surveillance systems, and incident management.
• Ability to work effectively in high-pressure emergency response environments.
• Strong coordination, facilitation, and mentorship skills.
• Ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously and work effectively in a team-based setting.
• Willingness and ability to travel within districts and work odd hours during public health emergencies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications

All staff irrespective of their position are expected to comply with and follow Jhpiego operational procedures and policies, and codes of conduct.

• Provide technical support to strengthen district Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) systems.
• Support development, adaptation, and operationalization of district Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans (EPRPs).
• Support implementation of After-Action Reviews (AARs), Intra-Action Reviews (IARs), hazard assessments, risk profiling, and simulation exercises.
• Strengthen activation, coordination, and functionality of the Incident Management System (IMS) during outbreaks and public health emergencies.
• Provide technical support during real emergencies, including coordination, field investigations, response planning, and reporting.
• Support establishment and operationalization of district Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs).
• Support development and implementation of PHEOC SOPs, guidelines, activation protocols, and reporting systems.
• Strengthen multi-sectoral coordination platforms and PHEOC governance structures, including PHEOC Committees and Technical Working Groups.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to PHEOC staff on emergency coordination, operations, logistics, documentation, and Incident Action Planning.
• Support improvement of surveillance data quality, timeliness, completeness, and verification.
• Support operationalization and effective use of digital surveillance platforms (DHIS2, eIDSR, Event-Based Surveillance tools, SORMAS, or equivalent).
• Work with district teams to strengthen outbreak detection thresholds, alert verification, and rapid notification processes.
• Strengthen district capacity for data triangulation, visualization, and analysis to inform decision-making.
• Support design and operationalization of real-time dashboards (GIS, PowerBI, DHIS2 analytics, or similar).
• Support development of data management SOPs, incident reporting templates, and situation reporting systems.
• Support identification, training, and operational readiness of district Rapid Response Teams (RRTs).
• Develop and strengthen RRT deployment protocols, field investigation tools, and reporting mechanisms.
• Provide technical mentorship during outbreak investigations, including specimen collection and response coordination.
• Strengthen linkages between RRTs, PHEOCs, laboratories, and community-level surveillance systems.
• Build district capacity for surveillance data analysis, epidemiological interpretation, and production of high-quality intelligence reports.
• Facilitate integration of One Health partners (animal health, environment, WASH, disaster management, etc.) into district emergency preparedness and response activities.
• Work closely with MCGL technical staff and Government of Malawi partners to support GHS activities at district level.
• Represent the project in stakeholder coordination meetings with donors, government, and partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of project objectives.
• Identify strategic opportunities for the project and potential areas for expansion of existing projects in Jhpiego’s portfolios and make recommendations to pursue these opportunities;
• Facilitate the development of innovative project approaches and interventions

• Strong technical knowledge of emergency preparedness, surveillance systems, and incident management.
• Ability to work effectively in high-pressure emergency response environments.
• Strong coordination, facilitation, and mentorship skills.
• Ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously and work effectively in a team-based setting.
• Willingness and ability to travel within districts and work odd hours during public health emergencies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nursing, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6–8 years’ experience supporting international health projects, emergency preparedness, surveillance, or outbreak response.
• Strong familiarity with the Malawi health system, Global Health Security agenda, and outbreak management (including COVID-19 or similar public health emergencies).
• Experience working with district-level government structures, Ministry of Health officials, NGOs, and civil society partners.