Software Documentation (Technical Writer) Consultant

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. 

The Prevent Epidemics (PE) team at RTSL partners with governments to strengthen key aspects of their health security systems and elevate those lessons globally.

Position Title: Software Documentation Consultant 

Length of Engagement: Through December 31, 2026

Level of Effort: Full-time consultancy (approximately 40 hours per week)

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job Structure: Independent Contractor 

• Must have a registered business license to operate as a consultant in Ethiopia, or be willing to get one before the contract is signed.

Position Summary

Ethiopia’s Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) system is mandated to ensure timely detection, reporting, and response to public health threats. Over recent years, multiple digital surveillance platforms including ePHEM, DHIS2, Point of Entry (PoE) systems, the Travelers’ Health Declaration Tracking Portal, and analytics dashboards have been deployed to strengthen real-time data flow and multi-sector coordination. 

As the digital ecosystem expands, comprehensive, harmonized, and user-friendly system documentation is essential to ensure proper utilization, sustainability, and operational consistency across all levels of the public health system. 

The Software Documentation Consultant will develop integrated documentation that captures configuration, workflows, procedures, and interoperability mechanisms among these digital PHEM platforms. 

Core Tasks and Deliverables

System Documentation & Mapping  

• Map and document surveillance workflows, data models, and system structures across ePHEM, DHIS2, PoE digital tools, and the Surveillance Data Analytics Portal. 
• Develop system configuration and metadata documentation for DHIS2, ePHEM, and PoE digital platforms. 
• Support the documentation of configuration for DHIS2 aggregate and tracker data models aligned with national surveillance requirements. 
• Document data exchange workflows and interoperability specifications between integrated systems. 

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) & User Guidance  

• Produce SOPs and workflow guides for integrated digital surveillance operations. 
• Develop user guidance for data entry, validation, reporting, and system maintenance. 
• Document role-based access controls, user roles, and account management procedures across all platforms. 

Data Quality & Validation  

• Document data quality assurance mechanisms, including validation rules and completeness checks.  

Training & Knowledge Transfer 

• Prepare training materials and knowledge transfer resources for national and regional level users. 
• Support the development of onboarding packages and user manuals tailored to different user levels and roles. 

Coordination & Stakeholder Alignment 

• Collaborate with national and regional PHEM teams to gather and document functional and technical requirements. 
• Facilitate alignment of documentation efforts with internal teams, partners, and stakeholders. 

Contract Management

The Senior Technical Advisor at RTSL will manage this contract, monitor progress towards deliverables, and approve invoices. The contractor will work closely with the Early Warning and Surveillance Directorate, particularly with the Surveillance and Disease Intelligence Division, to support the effective completion of deliverables. 

Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Health Informatics, Software Engineering, or a closely related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in software, systems, or digital platform documentation, including the development of technical documentation, system configuration guides, SOPs, and user manuals for complex information systems. 
• Demonstrated experience documenting enterprise or multi-module digital systems, including workflows, data models, metadata, system configurations, and interoperability/data exchange processes. 
• Proven experience working with software or information systems used in health, government, or large-scale institutional settings, with the ability to translate technical concepts into clear, user-friendly documentation for diverse audiences. 
• Experience documenting or working with APIs, system integrations, data standards (e.g., ICD-10, HL7, FHIR), and structured metadata (e.g., JSON, XML, or similar). 
• Proficiency using documentation and visualization tools such as Confluence, Google Workspace, GitHub Wiki, Draw.io, Lucidchart, Visio, or similar. 

Skills & Abilities

• Proven experience in technical documentation for digital health systems, information systems, or software platforms. 
• Hands-on experience documenting DHIS2 systems, including metadata, tracker and aggregate configurations, validation rules, and analytics. 
• Strong understanding of public health surveillance workflows (e.g., surveillance, case reporting, event-based surveillance, and lab reporting workflows). 
• Ability to map and document data models, system architecture, end-to-end digital workflows, and interoperability/data exchange processes. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop structured, user-friendly documentation including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), workflow guides, user manuals and onboarding packages, and configuration and metadata documentation 
• Ability to document data quality assurance mechanisms, validation rules, and error-handling procedures. 
• Experience preparing training materials for different user levels (data entry clerks, analysts, system admins, regional teams). 
• Experience gathering technical and functional requirements from diverse subject matter experts. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. 
• Ability to manage multiple documentation streams simultaneously and meet deadlines. 

Preferred Qualification

• Experience working with government health information systems or public health institutions is a plus. 

 Application Process

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter detailing their suitability for 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.