LEAP Program Description

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

About the Position

The Senior Global Health Security (GHS) Advisor will support carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives and the America First Global Health Strategy.  The Adviser will provide technical support with a special emphasis on preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats which impact public health.

The Senior GHS Advisor will support the appropriate multi-sectoral Government Departments and Agencies - such as the Departments of Health, Agriculture, and Environment - for the effective adoption and implementation of life-saving interventions focusing on preventing, detecting and responding to infectious disease threats with public health potential, such as zoonotic diseases. The Senior GHS Advisor will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical support and facilitation of effort through the GHS projects and Pandemic Fund (where applicable). The Senior GHS Advisor will be based within the appropriate Ministry.  The Advisor will receive direction from the appropriate Ministry staff, who will serve as the onsite Manager/Supervisor.  Familiarity with USAID programming and C/AOR experience are highly desirable as the Advisor is expected to support implementation of the GHS portfolio.  The Advisor will report to the U.S. Department of State Regional Foreign Assistance (RFA) Section on a weekly and monthly basis.

Responsibilities

Support multisectoral departments in effective delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) through utilization of domestic and donors resources (e.g. the Pandemic Fund, Global Fund, other sources when relevant).

• Assist the relevant agencies with effective delivery of LHA GHS services, including but not limited to:
  • community-based active surveillance;
  • systems capacity for detecting priority diseases/threats;
  • data systems for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on threats;
  • infection prevention and control (IPC), including commodities and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities;
  • case management; and emergency management including Emergency Operating Centers (EOC) and Point of Entry Screening;
  • risk communication and community engagement; and
  • emergency outbreak response.

• Provide technical support and actively engage with field work to implement programmatic and response interventions at national and sub-national levels.
• Assist in monitoring the progress of GHS program implementation and provide recommendations for improvements of service delivery.
• If relevant for the country, review and analyze performance reports submitted to the Pandemic Fund, Global Fund (GF), and other partners.
• Help organize regular discussions among multisectoral stakeholders and partners to ensure alignment of technical approaches in the respective GHS portfolio.
• Provide support to the appropriate multisectoral ministries in identification of performance gaps, potential barriers and bottlenecks, and facilitate consensus on targeted interventions to improve performance on key indicators attributable to:
  • reduction in incidence and mortality for epidemic and pandemic prone diseases;
  • strengthening systems to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats;
  • rapid and effective responses to infectious disease outbreaks which are threats for public health.

Support the implementation and expansion of best practices in GHS and outbreak response nationwide.

• Support DOH and other relevant government agencies in routine review of service delivery processes and outcomes.
• Promote the dissemination of best practices and effective models nationwide.
• Promote prioritized interventions in effective community-based active surveillance, strengthening systems capacity for detecting priority diseases/threats, and data systems for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on threats;
• Support of the adoption of IPC, including commodities and WASH in healthcare facilities and case management;
• Support and strengthen emergency management including EOCs, point of entry screening, and risk communication.
• Support the relevant ministries to rapidly and accurately report infectious disease threats to the relevant, domestic and international system– such as the International Health Regulations (IHR) and World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) for quick responses to pandemic threats.
• Assist the relevant multisectoral emergency outbreak responses as needed.
• Assist the relevant multisectoral agencies to achieve the relevant GHS related targets which includes reporting on the 7-1-7 target (7 days to detect, 1 day to report, 7 days to complete the initial response).
• Assist and provide information to State to prepare U.S. government workplans and reports.

Support the relevant Ministries in effective utilization of Pandemic Fund grants; other donors’ resources, and emergency outbreak responses efforts.

• Provide technical support to develop Pandemic Fund grant applications and support grant implementation review to ensure effective grant implementation and avoid duplication with US government funded projects.
• Consult with relevant stakeholders on required technical assistance.
• Assist in monitoring the progress of grant implementation.
• Review and analyze performance reports submitted to the Pandemic Fund and other partners.
• Help organize regular discussions among the relevant multisectoral stakeholders, departments, donors, and State to ensure alignment of technical approaches in the respective GHS portfolios.
• Support emergency outbreak response including assisting with mobilizing resources, coordination of efforts, and technical support for efforts to contain and respond to the outbreak.

Communications:

• Regular conference calls with multisectoral stakeholders, the U.S. Embassy RFA Section, and USAID/Washington to review progress, discuss activities and address emerging issues.
• The GHS Technical Advisor should provide information and avail him/herself for calls/meetings with the RFA Section as requested.
• The Advisor will provide monthly reports to the RFA Section.

REPORTING:

The Senior Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the Embassy Manila RFA Section, submitted by the 5th day of the following month.  Additionally, the Advisor will submit a weekly progress report (and participate in weekly calls) to include a short paragraph about main successes for that week. 

Qualifications

• Degree in Medicine (MD), Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or a master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, or relevant technical field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in Animal Health, Public Health, or Epidemiology.
• Prior experience working with a bi-lateral or multilateral donor in development programming.
• Direct experience working on the GHS activities or implementation.
• Extensive understanding of infectious diseases, health systems, and development issues, with specific insight into the cultural and work environment in the Philippines.
• Proven ability to interact effectively with senior executives, government officials, and mid-level technical staff, as well as with technology entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators.
• Experience in working with diverse stakeholders across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
• Strong management, negotiation, collaboration, team building, networking, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• High level of technical, analytical, and quantitative skills for scientific approaches and policy analysis.
• Excellent written and oral communication abilities, including the capacity to produce professional-quality analytical reports and deliver effective presentations.
• Ability to work well as part of a team and develop productive relationships at all organizational levels.
• Outstanding leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively as both a leader and a team member in diverse, multi-disciplinary, and multi-cultural environments. Skilled in achieving consensus on policies and influencing relationships positively.