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 provides strategic leadership and technical expertise to strengthen Zambia’s public health security infrastructure and emergency preparedness capabilities. The Advisor will provide technical support in preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats which impact public health in Zambia and are a threat to the security and safety of the United State of America. 

The Senior GHS Advisor will support the Zambia National Public Health Institute and the appropriate multisectoral Government of Zambia (GRZ) departments and agencies in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) in full alignment with U.S. Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives. The primary focus of the advisor will be technical support with a special emphasis on preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats which impactpublic health.

The advisor will support the Zambia National Public Health Institute in coordinating, tracking, and implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Zambia. This five-year MOU aims to strengthen Zambia’s health system and enhance infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response capabilities. The advisor will provide technical support across four key areas of cooperation: 1. Infectious Disease Surveillance, 2. Epidemic preparedness and response, 3. Laboratory systems, and 4. Data systems

The Senior GHS Advisor will be based at the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI). The Advisor will receive direction from the Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response of the ZNPHI who will serve as the onsite supervisor. The advisor will report to the U.S. Department of State’s Health Coordination Office’s Senior Public Health Advisor on a weekly and monthly basis. 

Responsibilities:

1. Strategic leadership and planning

• Provide high-level technical guidance on global health security priorities.
• Support the development and implementation of national public health security strategies, policies, and action plans.
• Coordinate with government ministries, international partners, and stakeholders to align public health security initiatives.
• Provide technical guidance on achieving MOU outcome metrics, including meeting the 7-1-7 detection and containment target.

1. Emergency preparedness and response

• Strengthen preparedness planning for infectious disease outbreaks, pandemics, and other public health emergencies.
• Provide technical guidance during outbreak investigations, including field epidemiology, data analysis, and response coordination.
• Support intra-action and after-action reviews and implement lessons to improve outbreak response capabilities.
• Support development and testing of multisectoral contingency plans, rapid response mechanisms, and simulation exercises.

1. Monitoring & Evaluation

• Support frameworks to assess public health capacities and program performance.
• Support regular assessments such as Joint External Evaluations (JEEs), States Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR), etc.

1. Capacity building and technical assistance

• Strengthen disease surveillance networks, data systems, laboratory systems, and emergency operations capabilities.
• Support the design and delivery of training programs for public health professionals on outbreak investigation, risk assessment, and emergency response.
• Strengthening institutional capacity for biosafety, biosecurity, and antimicrobial resistance programs.
• Collaborate with CDC, national training institutions, to pave a way for the sustainability of the FETP program beyond U.S.G funding, graduates’ integrations in the national system and the public sector.

1. Reporting, documentation and knowledge management.

• Prepare high-quality technical reports, surveillance summaries, and outbreak investigation reports.
• Document best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations to inform policy and program improvements.
• Support monitoring and evaluation of surveillance and response activities.

1. Communications and reporting

• Regular conference calls with multisectoral stakeholders, U.S. Embassy and GHSD 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 State Department/U.S. Embassy as requested.
• The advisor will provide monthly reports to U.S. Embassy/U.S. Department of State. The advisor may be required to submit additional reports at the discretion of the U.S. Department of State.
• The Senior Advisor will establish and maintain comprehensive reporting systems to track MOU performance and ensure accountability.
• S/he will provide a detailed monthly report to the U.S. Department of State submitted by the 5th day of the following month. Additionally, the advisor will submit a weekly progress report to U.S. Embassy/Department of State (and participate in weekly calls) to include a short paragraph about main successes for that week. 
• Develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation framework aligned with MOU metrics, tracking outcome and process indicators, infectious disease outbreak response timelines, and progress toward 2026-2030 targets.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (master’s or higher) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Environmental Health, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in Global Health Security, epidemic preparedness and response, infectious disease surveillance, or related fields: with at least 3 -5 years in a coordination/leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of GHS, infectious disease surveillance, epidemiology of infectious diseases, epidemic preparedness and response, and health systems strengthening.
• Familiarity with digital health tools, data management, and information systems for surveillance and reporting.
• Strong analytical, monitoring, and evaluation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to engage multisectoral donors and partners to align technical approaches and achieve program goals.
• Familiarity with U.S. Government programming and reporting requirements is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English – both orally and in writing is essential.
• Work authorization in Zambia is required.

REPORTING:

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