Overview
Jhpiego seeks a Technical Officer to be seconded to the Epidemiology and Surveillance Directorate at the National Department of Health (NDoH). The role provides technical support to strengthen, optimise, and institutionalise the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system, encompassing Community-Based Surveillance (CBS), Event-Based Surveillance (EBS), and Indicator-Based Surveillance (IBS) within the national public health surveillance architecture.
The Technical Officer serves as a technical expert and resource on health information and surveillance systems, with a particular focus on DHIS2 system architecture, interoperability, and integration across multiple digital platforms. The role requires practical, applied experience working with system interoperability and APIs to support implementation activities and inform senior technical decision-making.
Operating within established national policies and technical frameworks, the Technical Officer provides evidence-based technical support to NDoH counterparts to enhance data governance, system functionality, and the effective use of surveillance information for decision-making, preparedness planning, and outbreak response. The role contributes to strengthening national capacity for data-driven public health action and sustainable health system strengthening, applying a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health surveillance perspectives.
The role serves as the technical reference point for national eIDSR system design, interoperability standards, and performance optimisation.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical support and coordination to service providers and NDoH counterparts to ensure the effective integration of eIDSR into DHIS2, in line with national requirements and system architecture standards.
- Support the expansion and optimisation of DHIS2 functionalities to support the integration and effective use of CBS, EBS, and IBS data streams.
- Provide technical input and implementation support into the expansion of eIDSR to include ePHEM (PHEOC systems), ensuring interoperability and alignment with emergency management structures.
- Support the integration the integration of IDSR and Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) functions at national and provincial levels, supporting coordinated surveillance and response mechanisms.
- Provide technical coordination and implementation support for the national rollout of eIDSR, under the direction of designated senior technical leadership and approved rollout plans.
- Provide technical support to the National Department of Health to strengthen the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) Monitoring and Evaluation framework, including the definition, tracking, analysis, and interpretation of key surveillance performance indicators.
- Support the establishment and operationalisation of the Public Health Intelligence Hub, ensuring the availability, quality, and appropriate use of surveillance data to support the PHEOC and relevant oversight structures.
- Conduct and support the analysis, synthesis, and translation of surveillance data into actionable public health intelligence to support planning, preparedness, and response.
- Support the use of surveillance data to inform evidence-based decision-making, system improvements, and preparedness planning at national and provincial levels.
- Provide technical input and implementation feedback into the ongoing development and enhancement of the eIDSR system, in line with approved system designs and sustainability plans.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in IT, Health Informatics, Health Sciences, Data Science, Public Health, Statistics, or a related field, with at least 5-6 years of progressively responsible experience in public health surveillance, health information systems, or monitoring and evaluation; Master’s degree in Epidemiology or Epidemiology and Biostatistics is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience with large‑scale health information systems, particularly DHIS2 and WebDHIS.
- Proven experience advising on or supporting surveillance systems in human, animal, or environmental health.
- Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate complex data into actionable technical advice.
- Demonstrated knowledge of monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and report writing skills.
- Valid driver's License
Preferred Qualifications
- Proven experience in implementing projects in the Health Sector
- Knowledge of software development for health systems in South Africa.
- Project and stakeholder management skills.
- Familiarity with One Health implementation approaches.
- Ability to adapt and provide technical advisory support in dynamic project startup of eIDSR-related projects and/or rolling out eIDSR-related modules.
Core Competencies
- Proactive and innovative thinking
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Technical credibility and professional judgement
- Analytical problem-solving
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Time management and planning
- Integrity and ethical standards
- Stakeholder management and influence
- Risk management and adaptability
- Client orientation and customer focus
Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.
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