Disease Surveillance Consultant

Job summary

Position: Disease Surveillance Consultant

Reports to: Project Manager / Lead

Job Type: Project-based (8 months)

Location: Abuja, Federal Capital Territory

Role description

The Disease Surveillance Consultant will support the state in strengthening disease surveillance and response systems. The role involves conducting epidemiological analyses, coordinating data triangulation, leading outbreak investigations and RRT activities, and ensuring effective use of digital tools like SORMAS. The consultant will also build capacity of health workers, facilitate stakeholder coordination, and produce regular surveillance and performance reports.

Job Responsibilities

Note: The duties and responsibilities described below are inexhaustive. Additional tasks may be assigned as necessitated by business demands.

1. Conducting routine epidemiological analysis, including trends, descriptive epi, and cluster analysis
2. Producing weekly and monthly epidemiological summaries for decision-making
3. Supporting the state to use GIS mapping to visualize disease trends and immunization gaps, and leading data triangulation between surveillance data, RI performance data, and demographic data
4. Leading Rapid Response Team (RRT) activities in collaboration with PHEOC and ensuring activation of incident management structures when required
5. Supporting after-action reviews (AAR) and simulation exercises
6. Participate in joint supportive supervision using national tools, tracking and reporting key performance indicators (KPIs) for surveillance and immunization
7. Support development of corrective action plans for underperforming LGAs
8. Representing the project at State EOC meetings, EWG meetings, surveillance TWGs, and immunization coordination meetings
9. Maintaining strong liaison between Sydani, SMOH, SPHCDA, NCDC, WHO, UNICEF, and relevant partners
10. Ensuring effective utilization of digital surveillance platforms
11. Capacity building for officers on SORMAS data entry, interpretation, and troubleshooting and supporting integration of community event-based surveillance where applicable
12. Support forecasting and distribution of surveillance commodities (sample kits, forms) and strengthen sample referral pathways and cold-chain requirements

Deliverables

1. Weekly Epidemiological report  
2. Monthly surveillance performance reports  
3. Quarterly hotspot and trend analysis report
4. Routine updates on all facilitated meetings and engagements
5. Updates State EPR plan
6. Monthly surveillance data quality assessment reports
7. Analyzed data and insights into the state’s disease surveillance performance  
8. Investigative reports on suspected cases, including findings and recommendations

Required Competencies

1. Strong skills in epidemiological and data analysis, including trend and cluster analysis.
2. Proficiency in digital surveillance tools such as SORMAS, DHIS2, and GIS mapping applications.
3. Ability to triangulate data from multiple sources (surveillance, RI, demographic) for decision-making.
4. Experience in outbreak investigation, rapid response, and incident management.
5. Strong report writing and data visualization skills for technical and management audiences.
6. Proven capacity for stakeholder coordination and teamwork across government and partner agencies.
7. Excellent communication, training, and problem-solving abilities.

Required Qualifications and Experience

1. Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Medical Laboratory Science, Community Health, Statistics, or other related health sciences
2. Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Field Epidemiology (FELTP), or Public Health is highly desirable
3. At least 5 years of progressive experience in public health surveillance, epidemiology, or immunization programs at state or national level
4. Proven experience working with disease surveillance systems, including SORMAS and DHIS2
5. Experience supporting outbreak investigations, rapid response, and incident management
6. Previous engagement with state or national health institutions (e.g., SMOH, SPHCDA, NCDC, WHO, UNICEF) is preferred
7. Demonstrated experience in data management, analysis, and interpretation for decision-making
8. Field experience in VPD surveillance and EPR (Emergency Preparedness and Response) will be an asset