Project Description
Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) is an eight-year (2019–2027) global health initiative project funded by the United States Government (USG). EpiC has a global presence and extensive breadth and depth of technical experience. In FY26, EpiC’s scope in Jamaica will focus on strengthening global health security (GHS). The project aims to strengthen national capacity to prepare for and respond to infectious disease outbreaks and pandemic threats. A key component of this effort is enhancing Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) systems to ensure timely, accurate, and culturally appropriate communication with at-risk populations and the general public during public health emergencies. We are therefore seeking qualified candidates for the position of Technical Advisor for RCCE.
Job Summary:
Provides technical guidance on the subject matter aspects of one or more large functional areas, improving policies, projects, or delivery of service. Provides final authorization and approval of the technical portions of project design, based on the design and direction set by technical leadership. May manage other professional staff members. Leads project activities and sub activities and assists with project implementation. Ensures project activities are on track with work plans, with technical expertise informing project implementation. Oversees project timelines and budgets. Assists in the development of donor reports and presentations. Successfully leads start-up initiatives including project design, budgeting, and recruitment efforts (success is measured in terms of establishment of partnerships, recruitment of teams and overall quality of resulting initiatives). Develops indicators for use by supervisor.
Reporting to the EpiC Jamaica Project Director, the RCCE Technical Advisor will be based at the FHI 360 office in Kingston, Jamaica. S/He will coordinate and collaborate with the EpiC Team and government counterparts to lead EpiC’s activities related to risk communication and community engagement. This position will be responsible for enhancing communications systems to ensure timely, accurate, and culturally appropriate communication with vulnerable populations and the general public before and during public health emergencies, ensuring that messaging is evidence based and grounded in best public health practices.
Accountabilities:
Project Design Implementation:
- With technical oversight, provide technical leadership in design, development, planning, implementation; and capacity- building of specific technical components of EpiC Jamaica
- Together with EpiC Jamaica Project Director and other technical staff, create technical portion of the project plan, within the given resource and financial constraints
- Lead the day to day technical and operational EpiC Jamaica RCCE activities
- Track delivery of EpiC Jamaica RCCE outputs
- Monitor staff members’ LOE (Level of Effort) needs to ensure adequate coverage of resources
- Coordinates requests from CO (Country Office) for technical assistance
- Lead the design, development, planning, and implementation of global level innovative technical RCCE strategies
- Maintain a constructive dialogue and technical exchange with counterparts and technical staff members of implementing partners
- Develop tools for the design and implementation of specific technical components
- Ensure technical implementation is consistent with best practices in the industry / subject and meet client / funder contractual obligations for of one or more large functional areas
- May supervise junior technical staff members, sub-contractors, and others implementing technical project work
- Function at the advisor capacity with oversight of technical project administrative and finance compliance, technical deliverables, and team management. (Includes projects and consultants)
- Develop tools for the design and implementation of specific technical components
- Lead the day-to-day implementation of EpiC Jamaica RCCE technical activities
- Track delivery of project outputs
Partner/Sub-Award Management:
- May be daily POC (Point of Contact) with clients for some technical matters
Capacity Building, Training and Supervision:
- Develop and implement technical training and capacity building interventions
- Identify strategies to address training gaps
- May supervise or provide technical guidance to staff members and consultants
Operations Management (Finance, HR, etc.):
- Together with EpiC Jamaica Project Director and other technical staff, manage the processes, services, planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling of all technical resources for EpiC Jamaica.
Project/Program Reporting:
- Draft donor technical reports, in coordination with other technical and leadership staff.
- Collate and upload output and deliverables data to donor data systems.
- Prepare and deliver presentations to donor on progress, in coordination with EpiC Jamaica Project Director.
- Help in the development and review of work plans.
- Serve as the primary author for technical deliverables (e.g., reports, presentations manuscripts), if appropriate for the project.
- Gather and aggregate data to provide a summary / high level overview.
Quality Assurance:
- Ensure technical deliverables are consistent with global best practices and government standards
Specific Technical Responsibilities:
- Support, as needed, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) in the operationalization of rapid multisectoral RCCE efforts
- In close collaboration with the MOHW and relevant coordination mechanisms, lead and coordinate the review of existing RCCE materials, communication channels, and training materials ensuring content is consistent, culturally relevant, and evidence based.
- Contribute, as needed, to the enhancement of a National RCCE Framework, including drafting SOPs, defining roles and responsibilities, and incorporating systems for rumor monitoring and infodemic management.
- Collaborate with MOHW counterparts in leading consultations with community-based civil society organizations (including faith-based) to ensure messaging is tailored, inclusive, and community-driven.
- In collaboration with the MOHW, Regional Health Authorities, and non-governmental organizations acting in RCCE, organize and deliver Training-of-Trainers workshops and other multisectoral educational activities for RCCE cadres to build local capacity for emergency communication before and during outbreaks.
- Collaborate with EpiC technical teams (e.g., surveillance, infection prevention and control, diagnostics, health emergency management) to ensure RCCE activities are integrated within broader outbreak preparedness and response interventions.
- Maintain close engagement with national and regional counterparts from public health and animal health sectors, civil society organizations, and donor partners to ensure RCCE efforts are aligned, harmonized, and sustainable.
- Support documentation and reporting of RCCE activities, including meeting notes, training records, and contributions to donor reports.
- Ensure continuous coordination with government-led RCCE efforts and other technical pillars under GHS.
- Promote inclusive communication strategies, ensuring messages are culturally-sensitive, accessible, and community-validated.
- Actively participate in internal project meetings and contribute to EpiC’s strategic planning and technical reviews related to RCCE.
- Any other duties as assigned.
Applied Knowledge & Skills:
- Experience in GHS programs in Jamaica with a focus on RCCE or social and behavior change (SBC).
- Experience in the development and implementation of RCCE training, messages, materials, strategies and plans during public health emergencies, pandemics, or outbreaks.
- Awareness of the mechanisms and strategies that are being deployed under the national GHS priorities and other similar mechanisms to combat emerging infectious disease threats.
- Familiarity multisectoral coordination mechanisms.
- Skilled in community engagement, social and behavior change, and audience- and context-specific communication approaches to promote care seeking and disease prevention behaviors.
- Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
- Excellent and demonstrated project management skills.
- Ability to network and collaborate with others in a complex multi-partner context.
- Has the ability to manage projects, set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
- Proficient writing and verbal communication skills.
- Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office).
- Ability to manage their own work to job and performance standards.
- Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English.
Competencies:
There are 31 FHI 360 development competencies. Of greatest focus for this particular job will be:
Project Management (Planning and Time Management) - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks (sets objectives/goals/measures). Breaks down work into steps, schedules, task/people assignments. Marshals people, time, and resources efficiently. Arranges information in a useful manner and orchestrates multiple activities at once.
People Management (Making Others Great) – Facilitate professional development of staff by providing challenging, learning assignments and opportunities. Shares and solicits feedback monthly at the very least. Helps establish compelling development plans. Assigns responsibility and accountability for tasks/decisions. Monitors process, progress, and results.
Creates a climate in which people want to do their best.
Creating and Managing Systems and Processes – Recognizes the need for standardization and balances client and organization need in systems design. Anticipates the effects of process change on people while optimizing task efficiency and simplicity.
Employees are expected to possess or have high potential for the development of these three fundamental competencies.
Problem Solving & Impact:
- Demonstrates the ability to assess needs within agreed upon duties and considers course of action best to meet those needs.
- Effectively applies knowledge of technical area to solve a range of problems.
- Demonstrates the ability to develop solutions to problems that cannot be solved using existing methods or approaches.
- Faulty decisions/ recommendations /failures to complete assignments will normally result in serious delays to assigned projects resulting in considerable expenditure of additional time, resources, and funds.
- Decisions and actions impact primarily workflow, project processes and timeframes.
- Problems encountered are varied, requiring review of practices and precedents to resolve. Problem solving involves evaluating and resolving discrepancies with data, analyses, processes, etc. within prescribed guidelines.
- Policies or guidelines exist for most problems; others must be referred to a supervisor or more senior professional.
Supervision Given/Received:
- Supervises technical consultancies and implementing sub-partners.
- Coordinates own workflow and sets individual priorities.
- May serve as a mentor or coach to designated facility technical staff.
- Collaborates with the Project Manager.
- Reports to the EpiC Jamaica Project Director.
Education: ** **
- Master’s degree or its international equivalent in public health, communication, social or behavioral sciences, or a related discipline and/or combined relevant experience.
Experience: ** **
- 8+ years of relevant experience in technical implementation of large projects and/or programs – may manage activities of lower-level staff, however, main function is individual contributor.
- Documented experience providing technical assistance and capacity building in RCCE.
- Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization.
- Program Development or Program management preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in RCCE and outbreak response, preferably with specialized training or certification in emergency risk communication and community engagement.
- Proven experience in how to strengthen trust between and amongst communities, understand how communities respond (who and what they listen to), create two-way dialogue, etc. Ability to contextualize and guide different populations and support the development and dissemination of relevant RCCE strategies.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Typical Physical Demands:
- Typical office environment.
- Ability to spend long hours looking at a computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
- Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
- Ability to lift 5 - 20 lbs
Technology to be Used:
- Personal Computer, Microsoft Office 365 (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype/TEAMS, email), office telephone, cell phone and printer/copier.
Travel Requirements:
*Deadline for applications is July 5th, 2026.
The expected hiring salary range for this role is JMD 6,533,333 to 9,500,000 annually for basic salary. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, market pay, and budget.
This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.
FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.
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