Senior Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Outbreak Response Advisor, DOS LEAP Global - Democratic Republic of the Congo

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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 VHF Outbreak Response Advisor (Advisor) is a member of GHSD/Outbreak Response team and the Kinshasa Foreign Assistance Hub and will work with the U.S. Embassy’s team and the Ministry of Health Emergency Operations Center in coordinating the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) and transition planning for affected health zones in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives. The Advisor is responsible for providing operational leadership for the VHF outbreak response activities and other U.S. State Department Global Health Security preparedness and transition activities; serving as an Advisor and/or activity manager for one or more of the GHSD awards; providing assistance to field missions in the area of infectious diseases; representing the Office of Foreign Assistance in interagency working groups; serving as a liaison with Kinshasa based advisors representing the State F bureaus; and providing technical leadership for GHS activities and emerging threats activities to strengthen infectious disease outbreak response.

The Advisor will support the appropriate multi-sectoral Government Departments and Agencies - led by the Ministry of Health - for the effective management of life saving interventions focusing on application of VHF response and preparedness best practices. Demonstrated expertise in outbreak response operations (Ebola, mpox, cholera etc), global health security programming, and activity oversight and management experience are required. The Advisor will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical support, capacity building, and leverage existing health projects and Pandemic Fund (where applicable).

The Advisor will report to the U.S. Department of State Kinshasa Foreign Assistance Hub. S/he will receive direction from and will report to the Public Health Advisor or designee (FS 2 or equivalent) on a daily and weekly basis. The supervisor will provide technical and administrative direction in terms of broadly defined mission and functions. As directed and provided under technical oversight, the Advisor independently plans, designs and carries out activity oversight and coordination, outbreak reporting, or other work. Results are considered authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change. The Advisor will be based with the Kinshasa Foreign Assistance Hub or within the appropriate GHSD implementing partners office based in Kinshasa with regular travel to outbreak site(s) in Kasai and other concerned provinces. 

Responsibilities

• Mentor and build capacity of the MOH country-led Ebola VHF response and donor coordination efforts.
• Maintain an updated rack-up of all USG supported Ebola response activities as well as those of other donors and GDRC.
• Assist and provide information to OFA to prepare U.S. Government workplans and reports. Contribute technical content to briefers and other documents for timely communication for GH, Agency and interagency leadership. Ensure fluid information sharing with the GHSD Outbreak Response Team and other bureaus to ensure appropriate resources are identified for outbreak response.
• Provide technical leadership in at least one of the following technical areas for outbreak response: epidemiology, surveillance, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), infection prevention and control, supply chain and logistics, or response operations.
• Provide technical support and actively engage with field work to implement programmatic and response interventions at national and sub-national levels.
• Support US Embassy Interagency Ebola Response Management Team in identifying and facilitating the fulfillment of response gaps including through surge personnel and appropriate implementing partners.
• Facilitate technical discussion for outbreak response with technical agencies/partners.
• Coordinate with the Kinshasa Foreign Assistance Hub staff to monitor DOS supported response activities and provide technical recommendations to support post outbreak transition health program to improve preparedness capacity in affected health zones.
• Upon request, represent US Embassy in meetings with USG interagency, global partners and other donors on response activities.

Communications:

• Regular in-person meetings and conference calls with the MOH, US Embassy Interagency, health donors and multisectoral stakeholders, to review progress, discuss activities and address emerging issues.
• Regular content contribution to U.S. Embassy reports.
• Regular calls/meetings with the Kinshasa Foreign Assistance Hub, as requested.

Reporting:

The Senior Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the U.S. Department of State Kinshasa Foreign Assistance Hub submitted by the 5th day of the following month.  Additionally, the Advisor will submit a weekly progress report to the Kinshasa Foreign Assistance Hub to include outbreak progression details, and a short paragraph about main accomplishments for that week and top priorities for the week ahead.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a master’s degree in public health, infectious disease, epidemiology, ecology, veterinary medicine or a related field. (Preferred qualified clinician such as senior nurse or medical doctor.)
• At least seven (7) years of public health and/or animal health and/or related experience in developing countries including at least three (3) years of experience working with USG or other donor on international public health outbreaks.
• Knowledge of the nature of infectious diseases, including emerging infectious diseases threats; knowledge of the measures put in place to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to infectious disease threats; knowledge of internationally accepted guidelines, such as WHO International Health Regulations and One Health.
• Skills in designing and implementing programs, policies, and plans and developing strategies for their management and implementation.
• Skills to establish and develop sustainable working relationships with multiple key stakeholders, including working effectively with health personnel of diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate highly technical information to both subject matterexperts and non-expert audiences.
• Proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely – orally and in writing – in English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work in a dynamic team environment with a diverse set of partners and stakeholders.
• Working proficiency in French, including ability to participate actively in meetings with MOH and other local government personnel; ability to read and interpret documents in French; ability to compose emails and informal correspondence in French.

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.