Public health/Community-based surveillance team leader

Norwegian Red Cross (NorCross) is now hiring a Public health/community-based surveillance team leader (PH CBS Team leader). Community-based surveillance (CBS) forms part of NorCross' specialisation within Public Health in emergencies with a specific focus on epidemic preparedness and response.

Main Purpose

The PH CBS Team leader will have a strategic responsibility for developing, maintaining, and implementing health risk management within emergency operations, including operational research and evidence-generation.

The purpose of this position is to lead the Public Health and CBS team in the preparedness and response to public health emergencies. This includes strategic management of the public health and CBS development, operationalisation and scale up, through partnerships and alignment with movement partners and technical agencies such as WHO and CDC.

Can be called at short notice for surge missions and for leading operations in the field. Provide operational briefings for surge and ERU delegates.

Specific tasks

• Responsible for effectively managing the Public health and CBS team, leading the team to develop and deliver quality assured tools and methodology for public health and CBS implementation and capacity building.
• Identifies and seeks collaboration with RCRC Movement and external partners on areas of strategic interest for NorCross.
• Forms part of the HR and leadership team of the DRMU. Builds capacity and develops the team through effective line management according to NorCross staff management cycle and policies.
• Contributes to the continuous development of NorCross health work, through technical and strategic input to the Health thematic framework; results framework; Global health working group; Climate and health working group; ERU TWG and other fora as relevant.
• Further develops and operationalises the PH ERU CBS, including monitoring and evaluation of the tool.
• Seeks collaboration with academic and technical partners for operational research on epidemic preparedness and response. Ensures that lessons learnt, evidence and outcomes of public health and CBS interventions are being shared internally and externally
• Close cooperation with NorCross regional offices and other units and departments to ensure relevance and alignment of CBS with long-term programming (Norcross or partner RCRC), partner NS needs and to build understanding and capacity within NorCross offices and partner NS to work with CBS.
• Participates in Task Force and supports NorCross emergency response operations as Public health technical lead according to DRMU processes and provides technical support as required. Available to deploy for short term missions at short notice on request.
• Manages NORAD grant cycle and seeks partnerships for CBS implementations, technical and financial management of donor funding to PH and CBS, supported by the finance officer.
• Responsible for ensuring awareness of and respect for personnel privacy is taken care of in accordance with applicable regulations.

Reporting Lines

The position is the line manager for the Public health team within the Disaster Risk Management Unit, and reports to the Head of the Unit.

Timeframe

The application deadline is 5th August 2020. The start date will be as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a 100 % full time, temporary contract. The person in this position will be covering a leave of absence until end September 2022.

Formal requirements

• Master's Degree in Epidemiology or Public Health (relevant experience can compensate for lack of degree).
• Proven analytical skills and experience from relevant (operational) research, minimum 3 years of professional, operational experience in health in emergencies/epidemiology and/or public health with relevant project/ program management or technical advisory roles at field level.
• Experience working on the policy development and provision of relevant trainings.
• Experience in designing, implementing and managing complex health in emergencies projects, preferably both in long-term- and recovery programmes as well as response operations.
• Experience managing diverse teams and line management.
• Available to deploy for short term missions at short notice on request.

Skills and Knowledge

• Up to date knowledge on status and trends in epidemiology and public health in emergencies.
• Interest and ability to engage with external actors, incl. academia, technology providers, suppliers of equipment and services, to develop approaches, tools, etc.
• Experience and ability to work under stress and support others working under stress.
• Understanding of working with and empowering others, both institutionally and individually.
• Understanding of information technology and how to make use of it for health in emergencies.

Language requirements

• Excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken).
• Working proficiency in Norwegian (B2).
• Knowledge of French is an asset.

Other

The position will require work outside regular working hours. Travel will be required.

We offer

• You will be leading a strategic and prioritized international project within Norwegian Red Cross.
• Salary/benefits according to the Norwegian Red Cross' salary system and relevant qualifications.
• A dynamic and meaningful job in the world's largest humanitarian organization.
• Membership in Statens Pensjonskasse.