Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness and Response Officer

Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) is the leading National Humanitarian Organization in Uganda and a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (IFRC). Uganda Red Cross implements lifesaving services across the country and would wish to invite applicants that meet job requirements for vacant position in our organisation.

Applications from suitable persons to be considered for appointment in the outlined positions are hereby invited.  All applicants should adhere to the Red Cross Principles. URCS is an equal opportunities employer and mindful of gender balance in its establishment.

The full job description and application form can be viewed and downloaded from here

Please send your filled application form and attach your academic transcripts and certificates. The filled application forms, academic transcripts and certificates should be e-mailed to; vacancies@redcrossug.org or hand delivered, and or by post to:

The Secretary General,

Uganda Red Cross Society,

Plot 551/555 Rubaga Road,

P.O. Box 494, Kampala, Uganda.

Email: vacancies@redcrossug.org

Closing date for receipt of the applications 11th September 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Due to large volumes of applications, only short listed candidates shall be contacted. Canvassing shall lead to automatic disqualification.

Job Purpose:

The Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness and Response Officer will be responsible for maintaining technical quality of the Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness and Response program for Uganda Red Cross Society; training and building capacity within Uganda Red Cross Society and with partners as relevant, and overseeing the data management and timely actions in response to Community Based Surveillance (CBS) alerts raised by volunteers and communities.

Roles and responsibilities:

1. Supervise the implementation of Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness and Response activities, with close monitoring for quality control in the field.
2. Support the Branch Community Based Surveillance (CBS) volunteers to work as a team, support them to manage CBS alerts and to coordinate with authorities for investigation and response.
3. Manage the CBS database in the central ‘CBS Hub’ – ensure the database is maintained up-to-date, investigation, response and outcomes are followed-up and documented.
4. Analyze CBS data on a daily and weekly basis to act on critical alerts and summarize the alerts and zero report performance.
5. Prepare reports, graphs, presentations, and publications for sharing the CBS data results with the field teams and with external partners. Contribute to evaluation studies.
6. Contribute to work plans, budgets, and reports for the implementation of CBS activities.
7. Ensure that NS CBS guidelines, protocols, training materials and monitoring systems are revised and up to date.
8. Lead CBS Master trainings in-country and coordinate and oversee cascade field trainings.
9. Support expansion of CBS and provide technical support and guidance on CBS to other programs and emergency response operations to ensure that all CBS implementations apply the standardized CBS method and data is managed in the central ‘CBS Hub’ database.
10. Actively collaborate with Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, and partners in TWGs and CBS-related forums on a regular basis, maintain positive professional relationships and represent the NS with high technical standard of CBS.
11. Collaborate with NS Branch management, District/Sub County officials, volunteers, and stakeholders in support of improved epidemic preparedness and response in communities.
12. Coordinate and link CBS with other CP3 program aspects, for instance data readiness.
13. Coordinate and link CBS with other NS departments such as WASH, Health, DM for disease response programs where CBS is relevant, such as cholera control or emergencies, immunization program, disaster response operations etc.
14. Ensure that surveillance guidelines, protocols and monitoring systems are adhered to by the volunteers for efficient data collection, correlation, analysis, interpretation for timely reporting and dissemination of information/alerts on disease outbreaks.
15. Prepare periodic activity reports- weekly, monthly, quarterly in line with program work plan and donor requirements.
16. Perform any other incident-specific duties assigned to you, as may be required by the functional supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

Minimum qualifications, working experience and competencies:

Download application template from here