INTERNAL/ EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT REF/SLRCS/ COMUNITY BASED SURVEIILANCE OFFICER (CP3)

Reports To:  CP3 Project Manager of Sierra Leone Red Cross Society

Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) is a humanitarian organisation that believes every human being is entitled to a life of dignity and opportunity. With the help of our partners, staff and volunteers, we work in vulnerable communities to improve the lives of vulnerable Sierra Leoneans.

SLRCS is seeking talented, hard-working, and dynamic Sierra Leoneans for the position of Community Based Surveillance Officer




Date required: November 2022.   Duty station: Freetown and frequent travels to the provinces when required.

Fixed term – 6 months with possible extension based on performance.

JOB SUMMARY:

The CBS Officer will be responsible for overall CBS system support. S/He will be responsible for ensuring technical quality of the CBS data and follow-up with county teams.  As well as liaising with MoH and other partners in national surveillance structures and platforms.

S/he will be training and building capacity within the NS and with partners as relevant and overseeing the CBS system and timely actions to CBS alerts raised by volunteers and community.

SCOPE OF THE ROLE:

As both demand and scale of CBS increases, NSs implementing the CP3 project are applying a standardized methodology of CBS and developing a ‘CBS Hub’ at their HQ levels to support the implementation in the field in both preparedness and emergency response programs.

The CBS Officer position has a key role in:

• Maintaining technical quality of the CBS program
• Training and building capacity within the NS and with partners as relevant, and

Overseeing the data management processes and timely actions in response to CBS alerts raised by volunteers and communities.

Main Duties:

The CBS Officer is responsible for the following tasks:

• Supervise the implementation of CBS in the CP3 program, with close monitoring for quality control in the field.
• Support the CP3 Project Officers and Branch Supervisors supporting CBS to work as a team, support them to manage CBS alerts and to coordinate with authorities for investigation and response.
• Manage the CBS database in the central ‘CBS Hub’ – ensure the database is maintained up-to-date, investigation, response and outcomes are followed-up and documented.
• Analyze CBS data on a daily and weekly basis to act on critical alerts and summaries the alerts and zero report performance.
• Prepare data visualization dashboards, reports, presentations, and support in publications for sharing the CBS data results with the field teams and with external partners. Contribute to evaluation studies.
• Contribute to work plans, budgets, and reports for the implementation of CBS activities.
• Ensure that NS CBS guidelines, protocols, training materials and monitoring systems are revised and up to date.
• Support CBS Master trainings in-country and coordinate and oversee cascade field trainings.
• Support expansion of CBS and provide technical support and guidance on CBS to other programs and emergency response operations to ensure that all CBS implementations apply the standardized CBS methods and data is managed in the central ‘CBS Hub’ database.
• Actively collaborate with Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and partners in TWGs and CBS-related forums on a regular basis, maintain positive professional relationships and represent the NS with high technical standard of CBS.
• Collaborate with NS Branch management, County officials, volunteers, and stakeholders in support of improved epidemic preparedness and response in communities.
• Coordinate and link CBS with other CP3 program aspects, for instance data readiness.  Coordinate and link CBS with other NS departments such as WASH, Health, DM for emergency response programs where CBS is relevant, such as outbreak response or preparedness, cholera control or emergencies, immunization program, disaster response operations etc.

  DESIRED COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

• Demonstrated knowledge and professional skills on the public health aspects of infectious disease control, specifically understanding of surveillance / epidemiological systems and data.
• Excellent computer skills. (e.g. Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (in English), strong presentation, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to develop data collection tools in electronic platform and proficiency in data analysis and using public health data to inform programming.
• Experience in working with health surveillance system platforms (DHIS2, eIDSR, EWARS)
• Strong operational management ability: a clear focus on quality, precision, and attention to detail
• Competence with Excel and PowerPoint to prepare graphs and presentations.
• A team-oriented and collaborative approach; flexible and responsive when working with other departments and teams.
• Willingness to travel between HQ and the field program locations.
• Able to work with your own initiative and solve problems.
• Ability to maintain high standards of personal integrity, establish straightforward, productive relationships; treat staff with fairness and respect, demonstrate sensitivity for ethnic, cultural and gender difference.

Educational and Other Experiences:

• Bachelor’s Degree in public health, epidemiology, social science, nursing, veterinary science, or any relevant degree.
• Post Graduate qualification in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health information Management systems or public management of communicable diseases will be an added advantage.
• At least 3 years’ experience working in public health programs in the development or humanitarian sector
• Experience with community-based surveillance, public health surveillance, IDSR, or epidemic response operations.
• Familiarity with diseases of epidemic potential, and One Health principles

• Knowledge of the National health and surveillance systems
• Experience participating in forums with Ministry officials and partners, as a representative of the organization
• Experience conducting trainings and workshops
• Experience in the use of epidemiological or health information system data
• Experience supporting a team of staff, especially by distance in field positions
• Experience working with Red Cross or other development organization, especially with a community focus

Applications should be forwarded under confidential cover marked the position you have applied for with an up-to-date C.V, names of two referees (none relatives) and supporting documents to the HR Department, 6 Liverpool Street, Freetown or the Branch Offices. Closing date for receipt of applications: November 2nd, 2022, at 17:00 hrs.

“WOMEN ARE PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY”

NOTE: CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE LIMITED TO SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS ONLY.  TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED