Principal Advisor, Surveillance and Digital Architecture and Governance (Parental Leave Coverage) - Remote US

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is a global health organization that partners locally and globally to create and scale solutions to the world’s deadliest health threats. Millions of people die from preventable health threats. We collaborate to close the gap between proven, life-saving solutions and the people who need them. Since 2017, we’ve worked with governments and other partners in more than 60 countries to save millions of lives. We work toward a future where people live longer, healthier lives, communities flourish, and economies thrive. This is an ambitious vision, and it inspires us and our partners to make progress every day. 

Resolve to Save Lives' Prevent Epidemics program works closely with Ministries of Health and national public health institutes in Africa to strengthen epidemic preparedness capacity, accelerate disease detection and response, and effectively use data to inform action. In addition to direct partnerships with governments, we also work with implementing partners, including the US CDC, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, to implement programs, prototype innovations, and ensure sustainability through increased national ownership, including domestic budget allocations.

Position Purpose: 

The Principal Advisor, Surveillance and Digital Architecture and Governance leads program management of a workstream to strengthen public health data architecture, digital products and integrations, and data governance across the Epidemic Intelligence Team portfolio countries as part of the Collaborative Surveillance initiative. This role includes portfolio and people management for this workstream including a minimum of 3 direct reports, as well as direct engagement and technical assistance to target countries (Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia). This is a 12-month fixed-term employment position.

This role will serve both to articulate future strategy and oversee implementation and adjustment of existing strategies at the global and country levels. Strategies should not be developed in isolation, but with contributory inputs and co-design methodologies with country counterparts and institutional partnerships (both country and global partners). Landscaping and future-casting trends in global and country-based financing for surveillance initiatives as well as developments in technology, including artificial intelligence, will be critical for the success of this role. 

Given the complexity of data governance and policy, this role will also serve as a liaison between connected workstreams within the Resolve to Save Lives Prevent Epidemics unit, including the Public Health Legal (PHL) team and the Leadership, Governance, and Financing team (LGF). This will include workstream coordination, defining expectations based on the needs for execution of Collaborative Surveillance, and providing technical assistance for country translation. 

Core Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Principal Advisor, Surveillance and Digital Architecture and Governance reports to the Director of Epidemic Intelligence and collaborates with HQ-based staff and in-country embedded teams. The incumbent line manages several technical staff in the governance and systems architecture workstream. Responsibilities include: 

• Strategic coordination of the Surveillance and Digital Architecture and Governance workstream, including people management and required cross-team collaborations, including specific projects and initiatives for systems mapping, change management, developing systems architecture, technology, and policy/financing 

• Collaboration with the Data Use and Decision Science workstream to link data use opportunities and digital strategies, ensuring effective delivery and pacing of integrated surveillance programming in RTSL implementation countries 

• Technical oversight of country surveillance strategies, including enabling change management plans and required enabling technologies, policies, and financing 

• Supervision of RTSL HQ staff and country teams working on governance and systems architecture 

• Collaboration with other RTSL teams working on legislation, governance, and financing to identify and implement common aims and solutions, minimizing programmatic overlap in shared countries 

• Collaboration with global and country level partners on the enterprise architecture and enabling environment required for effective delivery of integrated and collaborative surveillance approaches, including representation in global fora 

• Collaboration with the Director on integrated delivery across the Epidemic Intelligence Unit program workstream for key innovations and initiatives, including building and maintaining key partnerships 

 Required Qualifications:  

Education:  

• Advanced degree in public health, information systems, health informatics, data science, or related field 

Experience: 

• 10+ years’ experience in digital health, data governance, or public health surveillance in African countries 

• Solid experience in team management, project development, program management, and budget management 

• Digital product development or product management experience 

Skills & abilities: 

Technical Expertise 

• Demonstrated knowledge of public health data systems, data architecture, interoperability standards, and digital health product development. 

• Strong understanding of data governance, including legal, ethical, and policy considerations for health data. 

• Familiarity with emerging technologies (e.g., AI, machine learning, digital identity) and their implications for public health surveillance. 

• Experience with applications of design thinking including Design Sprints and product development including Agile 

Leadership & Management 

• Proven experience managing diverse teams, including direct supervision of staff and oversight of multi-country or multi-partner initiatives. 

• Track record of program management, including planning, execution, monitoring, and adaptation in dynamic environments. 

• Excellent collaboration and stakeholder management skills, with ability to work across technical, legal, and governance domains. 

• Coaching and mentoring skills to support capacity strengthening of partner agencies and key government personnel 

• Ability to thrive in a collaborative and highly matrixed environment with experience serving many different internal and external stakeholders and demonstrating inclusiveness and active listening skills 

• Experience with program management, budget development, and budget monitoring 

• Experience with program development including grant writing 

Global & Country Engagement 

• Experience working directly with government counterparts, multilateral institutions, or global health partners in co-designing and implementing digital or surveillance systems. 

• Understanding of financing mechanisms for digital health and surveillance, and ability to anticipate global and national funding trends. 

• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and ability to navigate complex political and institutional environments. 

• Experience issuing contracts and managing grant execution, including accountability and reporting 

 Other Requirements 

• Willingness to travel (up to 25%) to support country engagement and implementation. 

• Fluency in English required; proficiency in Portuguese, French, or other relevant languages desirable.  

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 range for applicants based in the US is $138,000 to $150,000 annually. 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 

RTSL accepts and reviews applications on an ongoing basis. We are grateful for your interest in our work and for your application. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications, we are unable to respond to every applicant. Someone from our talent team will contact you if your qualifications match the role.

RTSL believes its programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We encourage applications from and provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, organ donor status, or status as a veteran. Resolve to Save Lives complies with all applicable US EEO laws.