Senior Malaria Advisor, DOS LEAP Global - Zanzibar

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Leap Program Description

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

About The Position

The Senior Malaria Advisor will support the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program (ZAMEP) in carrying out malaria life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) activities in full alignment with the new integrated health approach and the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives. The Advisor’s primary focus will be technical leadership to ensure the successful implementation of cost-effective delivery of life-saving prevention and case management services that directly lead to malaria elimination in Zanzibar.

The Advisor will provide expert malaria technical guidance to ZAMEP and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in developing and refining Zanzibar’s malaria elimination policies, reflecting best practices. The Advisor will identify programmatic gaps and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical expertise in support of the Zanzibar's development objectives.

The Senior Malaria Advisor will be based at the ZAMEP offices which is part of MOH. The Advisor will receive day-to-day directions from the ZAMEP Program Manager, who will serve as the onsite Manager/Supervisor. The Advisor will report to the Office of Foreign Assistance (OFA) at U.S. Department of State in Dar es Salaam on a weekly and monthly basis, as described below.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Provide expert malaria technical guidance to advance planning and implementation of malaria elimination interventions.
• Support the development of the ZAMEP strategies and work plans.
• Coordinate the design, planning, and implementation of malaria elimination (prevention and case management) activities consistent with the U.S. government’s strategy and with the ZAMEP strategic plan. This will include, but is not limited to, integrated vector control, case management at facility and community levels, procurement and delivery of life-saving commodities, and associated entomology, monitoring and surveillance to ensure accountability and track progress.
• Together with the host country partners, provide the technical and managerial expertise to MOH and local communities to strengthen institutional capacity.
• Stay abreast of global malaria elimination developments and successful interventions via regular engagement with malaria experts (domestic and international) and ZAMEP officials, ensuring proven malaria elimination strategies and interventions are integrated in national malaria programming.

Management of Program/Activity Implementation 

• Ensure the effective use of U.S. government resources to achieve sustainable results in malaria elimination in compliance with all U.S. government laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to prevent fraud, waste and abuse.
• Provide technical support and managerial support to the Department of State implementing partners t as needed during the planning, design and implementation phases to ensure the quality of interventions and programmatic targets are met.
• Recommend changes in strategic and/or implementation approaches, using evidence from program performance.
• Work with partners (in country and global, as relevant) to ensure that malaria commodities are purchased in a timely and cost-effective manner. Participate in forecasting and quantification meetings to inform malaria commodity quantifications that will guide donors and host government procurements.
• Provide expert advice and practical experience in helping the MoH, ZAME, and other partners to monitor inputs, outputs and outcomes, and report on the program’s overall impact.
• Carry out monitoring and evaluation visits to implementation sites to ascertain all quantitative and qualitative data is collected properly, and programmatic quality and value for money are maintained.

Coordination of Malaria Partners

• Ensure effective communication and coordination between the ZAMEP, MoH (including other government departments and agencies), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, U.S agencies; CDC, DOD, Department of State, and other stakeholders working on malaria elimination, as appropriate.
• Ensure malaria elimination activities are integrated into overall U.S. Department of State supported health activities and coordinate these activities with the ZAMEP and MoH to avoid duplication of effort and programming gaps.
• Coordinate with other partners and support efforts to address malaria elimination gaps and help build technical and managerial capacity within the ZAMEP at the national, district and lower levels.
• Participate in and contribute to malaria related service delivery meetings hosted by the ZAMEP and other stakeholders.

Communications And Reporting:

• Regular conference calls with ZAMEP, partners, Department of State, and Washington malaria technical support team to review progress, discuss activities and address emerging issues.
• The Senior Malaria Advisor should provide information and participate in meetings with the Office of Foreign Assistance and U.S. Embassy, as requested.
• The Senior Advisor will provide monthly reports to the Office of Foreign Assistance and U.S. Embassy.
• The Senior Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the Office of Foreign Assistance, submitted by the 5th day of the following month. Additionally, the Advisor will submit a weekly progress report to the Office of Foreign Assistance (and participate in weekly calls) to include a short paragraph about main successes for that week. The format for reporting may be adjusted with concurrence from the GOR/COR.

Reporting:

The Senior Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the U.S. Department of State, submitted by the 5th day of the following month.   Additionally, the Advisor will submit a weekly progress report to the U.S. Department of State (and participate in weekly calls) to include a short paragraph about main successes for that week. 

Qualifications

• MD plus certificate in internal medicine, infectious diseases or MPH or equivalent.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in public health, with a strong focus on malaria or other vector-borne diseases, preferably in a similar setting.
• Demonstrated ability to review, analyze and advise all aspects of malaria programming at national and regional level.
• Up-to-date knowledge of global and national policies on all aspects of the management of malaria.
• Up-to-date knowledge of ongoing and emerging issues in malaria, like epidemiology, international policy, evidence development and malaria control strategies, new drugs and new diagnostics.
• Experience in teaching/training and capacity reinforcement.
• Experience working with the key stakeholders in the malaria and community health programs, preferably the national stakeholders and international donors.
• Ability to manage a complex portfolio of laboratory network strengthening.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a cross-cultural work environment.
• Excellent written and oral communications in English.
• Good computer skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office programs.
• Excellent organizational, planning, negotiating and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written communication skills are required to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation and briefing papers.
• Demonstrated facilitation skills.
• Level in both oral and written English and Swahili  are required

Preferred Qualifications

• In depth knowledge and hands-on experience in the clinical management of malaria, multi first line therapies is an advantage.
• Experience with USG and/or PMI projects is an advantage.
• Knowledge of local culture is a plus
• Experience with USG-funded public health programs.
• Relevant technical experience obtained in malaria endemic countries is preferred.

Dexis is on a mission to help solve today’s most pressing global political, social, and economic challenges and create a world where all people are safe and prosperous. As a Dexis employee, you will be challenged, empowered, and mentored. Our motto is “find a way or make a way” — that’s how Dexis goes “all in.” How will you? 

If you are passionate about this opportunity, apply now!

Only those applicants who meet the above criteria will be contacted for interview.

Dexis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, genetic information, military service, veteran status, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, childbirth and related medical conditions, including lactation, or any other protected class under applicable law.

As part of a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, Dexis provides healthcare insurance in addition to other staff welfare benefits and perks.