Technical Advisor - Subnational Data Use and Decision Science

Position Purpose

The Technical Advisor, Subnational Collaborative Surveillance Data Use and Decision Science, strengthens the integration, analysis, interpretation, and use of surveillance data in implementing states. As part of the Nigeria RTSL Collaborative Surveillance team, the Advisor supports state institutions and AFENET Nigeria in improving surveillance governance, collaboration, and sustainable epidemic intelligence functions.

Initially supporting two selected States, the Advisor plans, coordinates, and delivers RTSL’s technical assistance across the surveillance data lifecycle, strengthening linkages among indicator- and event-based surveillance, laboratories, public health emergency operations centres, primary healthcare and other relevant sectors. The role supports states to strengthen the design, development, and routine use of priority information products—including weekly epidemiological reports, situation reports, 7-1-7 analyses, epidemiological bulletins and risk information products—as well as supporting routine use of  SITAware and 7-1-7 data to detect threats, monitor alerts, identify delays in detection, notification, investigation, confirmation and early response, analysing response timelines and informing public health decisions.

Working with national and subnational technical teams, the Advisor strengthens the capacity of state teams through tailored training, hands-on mentorship and supportive supervision in data management, analysis, visualisation and interpretation, enabling them to produce high-quality information products independently and routinely translate analytical findings into timely, evidence-informed public health decisions and actions.

The position reports directly to the Senior Technical Advisor, Health Security and Event-based Surveillance and collaborates closely with AFENET, state surveillance and emergency management teams, state primary healthcare institutions, state-based development partners, NCDC, RTSL Nigeria, and global teams. 

Work Location: This position is open to candidates based in Abuja, Nigeria

Duration: Full-time employment for a fixed term of 24 months with the possibility of renewal based on funding and mutual interest.

Core Responsibilities

The Technical Advisor will provide technical leadership, mentorship and quality assurance to strengthen subnational data use and decision science as part of Collaborative Surveillance. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Technical support and mentorship

• Provide technical leadership and guidance for the implementation of data use, epidemic-intelligence, and decision-science activities within subnational Collaborative Surveillance, , ensuring alignment with agreed program priorities, national standards, and state needs.
• Engage state directors, surveillance leaders, PHEOC managers and other decision-makers to identify and prioritise information needs for preparedness, detection, risk assessment, response and resource allocation.
• Develop and deliver structured capacity-strengthening activities in epidemiological analysis, R, data visualisation, interpretation, analytical communication and reproducible reporting.
• Provide hands-on mentorship and accompaniment to AFENET, state government and partner staff to strengthen their skills in data management, data pipeline development, and analysis, so they can routinely turn surveillance data into information that informs timely public health decisions.

Epidemic intelligence and information products

• Lead or support co-design processes to prioritise and develop state-specific information products, including epidemiological bulletins, Situation Reports, epi risk bulletins, analytical briefs and leadership products.
• Provide technical oversight for data preparation, analysis, visualisation, interpretation and automation of priority information products.
• Promote reproducible analytical workflows and well-documented scripts using R that can be maintained and adapted by state and partner personnel.
• Establish and strengthen routine data-quality review, reconciliation and feedback processes and ensure that identified issues are tracked to resolution.

SITAware, 7-1-7 and performance improvement

• In close collaboration with the Technical Advisor, Collaborative Surveillance and 717 Coordination, guide the systematic analysis of detection, notification, and response performance, and support state teams in identifying and resolving recurring bottlenecks.
• Provide hands-on mentorship and support to States on the use of SitAware, ensuring consistent documentation and updates of incidents and events on SitAware.
• Collaborate with the Data Engineer, Public Health Surveillance on future SITAware enhancements.
• Additional responsibilities may include gathering requirements for new SITAware features, directly conducting and coordinating user testing, SITAware user training, and ensuring that SITAware features align with subnational workflows.

Representation, communication and reporting

• Represent RTSL in relevant technical working groups and subnational data-use forums, as delegated.
• Document implementation lessons, adaptations, effective practices and persistent constraints across participating states.
• Contribute to work plans, implementation reports, donor reports, learning briefs, case studies, presentations, and scalable implementation guidance.
• Provide regular technical updates on progress, risks, decisions, and follow-up actions to RTSL leadership and relevant counterparts.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the purpose of the position, as assigned by RTSL.

Institutional Strengthening, Planning and Resource Optimisation

• Strengthen state institutional capacity to use surveillance, epidemic intelligence, and performance data for planning, prioritisation of resources, implementation, and routine tracking of health security interventions.
• Support states to integrate surveillance and performance priorities into implementation plans and trackers, linking identified gaps to activities, responsible teams, timelines, indicators, and expected results.
• Support routine analysis of implementation and performance data to identify gaps, bottlenecks and areas requiring corrective action, and ensure findings inform management and programme decisions.
• Support states to optimize and track available domestic and external financing, including the NCDC Gateway of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and World Bank-supported funding, by using an implementation tracker
• Build and sustain the capacity of state teams to independently maintain these planning, tracking and data-use processes as part of routine institutional systems.

Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, public health, health informatics or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in public health data analytics, disease surveillance, epidemic intelligence, decision science or health informatics, preferably within or in close partnership with government public health institutions.
• Demonstrated experience leading the design, automation and routine use of surveillance information products and decision-support tools.
• Demonstrated experience applying statistical and epidemiological methods to public health preparedness and response questions.
• Demonstrated experience using statistical programming to conduct analyses and/or automate the generation of information products.
• Demonstrated experience in training, mentorship and capacity transfer for public health professionals and implementing partners.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of public health surveillance, epidemic intelligence, emergency management, and the role of data in preparedness, detection and response.
• Advanced proficiency in R for data preparation, descriptive and inferential analysis, visualisation, geospatial analysis and reproducible reporting.
• Excellent ability to translate complex analytical findings into concise, actionable messages for technical and non-technical decision makers.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation, negotiation and relationship-management skills across government, partner and donor audiences.
• Excellent technical writing, report writing, presentation, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong mentoring, coaching and team-development skills.
• Results- and impact-oriented, with sound judgment, a problem-solving approach and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across institutions and locations.
• Adaptability and cultural sensitivity, with the ability to tailor technical assistance to varying state capacities, operating environments and information needs.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently within Nigeria, particularly to participating states and selected LGAs. This role is expected to involve 25% travel to the states. 
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Strong understanding of the International Health Regulations (2005), Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response and One Health approaches 
• Experience with SORMAS, SITAware, 7-1-7, laboratory information systems or public health emergency operations centres is desirable.
• A PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, public health, health informatics or a related field

Compensation and Benefits

Resolve to Save Lives prides itself on cultivating a supportive, connected remote team doing work that matters. We do everything possible to ensure our employees are connected and set up for success.

The salary for this role is competitive and set according to national labor rates for the NGO sector in Nigeria. The exact offer will be determined by various factors, such as the candidate’s skills and experience relative to the requirements of the role.

In addition to a competitive salary, Resolve to Save Lives provides a generous package of benefits, including:

• Health insurance for you and your dependents
• Contributions toward retirement 
• Paid annual leave and sick leave, in addition to public holidays
• Two paid, week-long organization-wide breaks at mid-year and end-of-year 
• Professional development and home office setup benefits
• Up-to-date computer equipment

Anticipated Application Deadline: 27 November 2026 (This position may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received before the stated deadline)