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 the Papua New Guinea National Department of Health (NDOH) in coordinating, tracking, and implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.  This five-year MOU aims to strengthen PNG's health system, achieve HIV cascade targets, reduce maternal and child mortality, enhance infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response capabilities.  The Health Expert will provide technical leadership across four key areas of cooperation: (1) Surveillance & Outbreak Response, (2) Laboratory Systems, (3) Data Systems, and (4) Strategic Investment, while managing critical transitions including the transfer of U.S.-funded frontline healthcare workers and digital health systems to PNG Government management.

The Senior GHS Advisor will support the NDOH and relevant government departments through the GHS Multisectoral Steering Committee (MSC) and technical working groups for: (i) coordination and tracking of MOU Implementation Plans, (ii) management of program activities including integrated digital health systems rollout aligned with PNG's National Digital Health Strategy 2025-2030, (iii) coordination of U.S. Government implementing partners, provincial health authorities, and civil society organizations, and (iv) comprehensive reporting on outcome and process metrics. The Advisor will support the NDOH in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) service delivery in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives. The Advisor will identify implementation bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical support.  The Health Expert will be based within the NDOH under the direction of appropriate Ministry staff serving as the onsite Manager/Supervisor and will report to the U.S. Department of State weekly and monthly. Familiarity with U.S. Department of State programming is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

The Advisor will provide strategic technical leadership to ensure effective implementation of the MOU between the US Embassy and the NDOH.

• Lead technical strategy and planning across the four Areas of Cooperation (Surveillance & Outbreak Response, Laboratory Systems, Data Systems, and Strategic Investment) while ensuring coherence across HIV, outbreak response, laboratory, and digital health systems
• Provide technical guidance on achieving MOU outcome metrics, including HIV cascade targets (diagnosis, treatment, viral suppression) and maternal and child health mortality reduction goals and in meeting the 7-1-7 detection and containment target.
• Advise on evidence-based approaches to strengthen PNG's health system resilience and infectious disease response capabilities, monitoring global best practices and recommending context-appropriate adaptations
• Ensure technical compliance with U.S. Government policies and PNG Government regulations, including technical input on the transition of U.S. Government-funded positions and systems to PNG Government management per MOU timelines

Management of Programs/Activity Implementation

The Advisor will oversee day-to-day management and coordination of MOU implementation activities to ensure timely achievement of process metrics and deliverables.

• Develop and monitor comprehensive work plans with clear timelines, milestones, and deliverables, tracking progress against MOU metrics and transition timelines for healthcare workers, laboratory staff, and data systems
• Coordinate implementation of surveillance and outbreak response activities, including field epidemiologist training, surge response mechanisms, and quality assurance across all program activities adhering to international standards
• Oversee rollout and integration of digital health systems (DHIS2, Open ELIS, VLSM, mSupply, Outbreak Information Management System)
• Identify implementation bottlenecks and manage risks, developing solutions and mitigation strategies in consultation with stakeholders while supporting capacity building for PNG Government staff assuming transitioned functions

Coordination of Partners, Technical Working Groups/Committees

The Advisor will serve as a primary liaison between the U.S. Government and PNG Government, facilitating effective coordination among all stakeholders.

• Serve as technical secretariat support to the GHS MSC and technical working groups, preparing materials, agendas, and documentation for quarterly MSC meetings and annual MOU review sessions in coordination with PNG's National Department of Health
• Coordinate with U.S. Government implementing partners (including FHI360 and other contractors) to ensure alignment with MOU objectives, and liaise with PNG Government ministries, departments, and provincial health authorities on implementation
• Facilitate coordination with the PNG eHealth Technical Working Group and Steering Committee on digital health system integration, and coordinate with multilateral organizations and development partners to maximize synergies and avoid duplication
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with key stakeholders at national and provincial levels, facilitating communication and information sharing between U.S. Government and PNG Government representatives

Communications:

• Regular conference calls with multisectoral stakeholders, US 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 US Embassy as requested.
• The Advisor will provide monthly reports to US Embassy/U.S. Department of State

Reporting:

The Advisor will establish and maintain comprehensive reporting systems to track MOU performance and ensure accountability.  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
• Prepare comprehensive reports including quarterly progress reports for the MSC, annual performance assessments, and ad hoc reports as requested, ensuring compliance with U.S. Government accountability requirements to Congress
• Support audit and data management processes outlined in Section 4 (process metric, co-investment, and regulatory compliance audits), facilitate data collection under the Section 2.5.2 data sharing arrangement, and maintain comprehensive records of implementation activities
• Document lessons learned and alert Participants promptly to significant implementation challenges or risks to achieving MOU objectives, recommending modifications as appropriate during annual MOU reviews

Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant field and postgraduate degree in public health or epidemiology preferred.
• Minimum of seven years of program management experience in strategic planning, coordination, and evaluation of public health programs, with emphasis on disease, surveillance, prevention and outbreak response.
• Strong network and substantial experience working with ministerial level policy makers and multisectoral collaboration is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience working in Papua New Guinea or the Pacific region.
• Familiarity with global health security programs