Technical Advisor, Polio - Regional (West Africa)

Job Summary:

The Technical Advisor I (TAI), Polio will provide strategic and technical leadership for the STRengthening Infectious Disease DEtection Systems (STRIDES) Activity with respect to polio eradication-related surveillance, laboratory strengthening, and case detection. The Advisor ensures alignment of STRIDES polio activities with global guidance, national policies, Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) norms, and donor regulations, while delivering high-quality technical assistance across participating countries. S/He will provide technical oversight of in-country implementation, working closely with regional and country teams to ensure fidelity to STRIDES’ technical approaches, troubleshoot implementation challenges, and adapt interventions to evolving epidemiologic and operational contexts. The TA, Polio will play a central role in supporting capacity strengthening, mentoring, and technical assistance to the country level teams, local partners, and government counterparts across polio surveillance, biosafety/biosecurity, laboratory operations, specimen management, data quality, and related domains, ensuring alignment with the United States Government’s global health security priorities.

The TA I, Polio will contribute to FHI 360’s technical thought leadership by developing tools, guidance, learning products, and public goods that strengthen STRIDES’ polio portfolio and enhances the organization’s visibility and credibility in polio eradication and infectious disease surveillance. S/He will represent STRIDES’ polio equities with key donors and stakeholders—including the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD), UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), national programs, and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) technical groups—ensuring effective communication, strategic alignment, and strong positioning of STRIDES within the global polio architecture. Working closely with the STRIDES Technical Director, Polio; technical leads; MEL Director; and Program Implementation Director, the TA, Polio will cascade and operationalize the Activity’s technical strategy and is accountable for the successful, timely, and compliant delivery of all polio-related technical components across country-level work plans. S/He will collaborate across FHI 360, consortium and local partners to ensure coordinated implementation, responsive technical support, and rigorous reporting that meets or exceeds contractual, programmatic, and quality standards.

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This Position will be regional based in West Africa and work remotely to support STRIDES West Africa and Francophone Africa.

Accountabilities:

Technical Requirements:

• Works on problems of complex scope that require evaluation of variable factors.
• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining solutions, with little supervision.
• Networks with key internal and external personnel.
• Provides input to senior technical leadership on national guidelines and normative policies for subject matter areas of expertise.
• May interpret findings and make recommendations for improvements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Project Design Implementation:

• Under the direction of the STRIDES Technical Director – Polio, leads the creation and implementation of the technical portion of the STRIDES - Polio Activity plan at country level within the given resource and financial constraints.
• Leads day-to-day technical and operational activities related to the STRIDES - Polio country portfolio design and implementation.
• Coordinates with technical and programmatic staff members at country level to ensure that activities are performed as per contract requirements and consistent with FHI 360 policy.
• Lead staff members’ assignments and supervise field staff and local consultants to ensure technical quality.
• Provide technical direction to and/or monitor the quality of work performed by local subcontractors engaged in polio activities.
• Work with STRIDES Finance and Operations country teams to prepare subcontracts and budgets.
• Provides country level technical leadership to multiple components of the STRIDES – Polio program.
• Contributes to planning and making recommendations for STRIDES operations and implementation at country level.
• Influences design and scope of STRIDES polio initiatives and programs.
• Develops strategies and tools for the design and implementation of specific technical components within the STRIDES – Polio and Global Health Security programs of work at country level.
• Provides technical oversight