Main purpose of job:

The post-holder will be a combined role leading aspects of public health emergency preparedness, resilience, and response (EPRR) in Nigeria, as well as a liaison role to ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) under the direction of the Senior Public Health Advisor/Country Lead.

The post holder will play a crucial role in delivering the various priorities within the EPRR workplan at country level, agreed with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) 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 for the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) which is located in Abuja.

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 and regional 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 an individual with both EPRR 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.

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 delivery and 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 Abuja with possible travel to other areas of Nigeria and West Africa as relevant.