Global Consultant, Data Use and Decision Science

Background

Resolve to Save Lives' (RTSL) 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 to use data effectively to inform action. In addition to direct partnership with governments, RTSL also works with a range of other global, regional and national partners including the World Health Organization, World Bank, Africa CDC, and civil society organizations to implement programs, prototype new innovations, and ensure sustainability through increased national ownership, including domestic budget allocations. To find out more about our work, visit: https://www.resolvetosavelives.org  and https://preventepidemics.org/  

We are currently implementing the Collaborative Surveillance approach in 4 African countries. Since the rollout of the International Health Regulations measurement tools, countries have made steady progress in improving surveillance capacities and detecting outbreaks in a timelier manner. However, many of these gains have been made through systems operated by different sectors of government. To effectively understand the risks of public health events and determine the best preventive or responsive actions, diverse decision-makers—including communities, public health officials, and policymakers—need multi-sectoral, integrated data from different sources, including climate, health facilities, laboratories, non-health partners, and communities themselves.   

Collaborative surveillance starts with the end in mind, starting from the lifesaving decisions that governments make before and during an outbreak, then optimizing the data, systems, processes, and people needed to make those decisions. To accomplish this aim, we apply principles of design thinking, systems thinking, and change management. The CS initiative supports countries to align resources, maximize potential impacts for the effective use of data, and strengthen national capacities for implementation and ownership. The initiative will also support country implementation for activities to enhance disease and contextual/risk data through strengthened surveillance and innovations in epidemic intelligence, effective use of existing and emergent data throughout the event lifecycle (from anticipatory action to risk communication during emergencies), and development of data tools and products that support key decision-makers from communities, health sector officials, and policymakers. To learn more about Collaborative Surveillance, visit https://resolvetosavelives.org/epidemic-prevention/collaborative-surveillance/ 

Length of Engagement: Through August 31, 2026, with the possibility of extension

Location: Global - Remote

Job Structure: Independent Contractor 

Position Summary

Resolve to Save Lives is seeking a Global Consultant to strengthen data use and decision science across our CS implementation countries. This independent contractor role sits at the intersection of applied epidemiology, advanced analytics, and institutional capacity strengthening. The role will focus on accompanying in-country counterparts to ensure that data are not just collected but actively used to drive better public health decisions. 

The consultant will support countries to produce stronger analytical products and decision support tools using various types of data, including surveillance data and contextual risk and vulnerability data, to make outputs actionable. They will support workstreams that improve how decisions are made and how information flows between institutions and will be involved in designing a structured curriculum that aims to enhance epidemic intelligence of in-country technical staff.  

This is a remote consultancy running through August 31, 2026, with the possibility of extension. The consultancy may include trips to our implementation countries (Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia), with the majority of the technical assistance provided through remote accompaniment.  The consultancy will take approximately 65 days. 

Specific Duties and Deliverables

The Global Consultant, Data Use and Decision Science will collaborate with RTSL HQ-based staff and in-country embedded teams on data analytics innovations and delivery. Contract deliverables will include:  

• Development of innovative data use products, including enhanced outbreak situation reports, periodic epidemiological bulletins, and executive dashboards, to facilitate decision-making 

• Implementation of automated production pipelines for data use products, supported by comprehensive documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 

• Technical accompaniment, capacity building, and knowledge transfer, including providing hands-on technical mentorship on data use capstone projects.  
• Training in-country embedded teams on the use of digital tools, such as DHIS2, Emergency Management System (EMS), R and R markdown for data management, analytics, GIS, and data product generation 

Contract Management

The Independent Contractor will submit all deliverables to the Principal Advisor, Data Use for Decision Science, Epidemic Intelligence, Prevent Epidemics Unit, who will manage this contract and monitor progress toward the deliverables. 

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field (e.g., public health, epidemiology, informatics, statistics) and at least 5 years of experience in infectious disease surveillance and analytics, or equivalent experience  

• Demonstrated experience designing, producing, and implementing end-to-end public health information products (e.g., epidemiological bulletins, outbreak situation reports) with the ability to translate complex data into decision-ready outputs and ensure sustainable handover through clear documentation and SOPs  

• Proficiency in R and R Markdown/Quarto for data management, analysis, and automated report generation; familiarity with DHIS2 is an advantage 

• Proven ability to technically accompany and mentor multidisciplinary in-country teams in low- and middle-income countries, building their capacity to lead data use projects, applying systems thinking and design thinking approach, with a strong emphasis on progressive knowledge transfer and developing local ownership of analytical workflows. 

• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills for engaging and influencing government counterparts, non-governmental partners, civil society organizations, donors, and multilateral agencies  

• Comfort operating in a remote and distributed work environment, with the ability to provide high-quality technical accompaniment through virtual channels  

• Proficiency in French or Portuguese is highly desirable

Application Process

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

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. One of our talent team members will contact you if your qualifications match the role.