Technical Advisor – Animal Health

Overview

Under the direction of the Technical Director for the USAID-funded Global Health Security (GHS) Project in South Africa, the Animal Health Technical Specialist will be tasked to collaboratively oversee technical activities related to animal health, zoonotic disease surveillance, and One Health (OH) initiatives. S/he will be responsible for strengthening the national capacity and systems for zoonotic and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) activity implementation in the animal sector, working closely with the human public health advisors.

The Technical Advisor—Animal Health Position is a Full-Time Fixed-Term role ending on 31 December 2025. It may be renewable subject to funding availability and the organisation's ongoing needs. The position will operate from the Jhpiego South Africa Office in Pretoria.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance for OH programs in collaboration with National Department of Health (NDOH), NICD, and SAHPRA and other relevant departments and stakeholders on animal health.
• Provide technical assistance to the OH Technical Working Groups (TWGs) to ensure multisectoral coordination.
• Develop/review strategies, frameworks, SOPs, and guidelines for implementation of OH programs on animal health.
• Lead consultative meetings and workshops to ensure alignment between national and provincial partners and stakeholders on OH priorities.
• Support capacity development for partners on animal health program implementation including design and delivery of training.
• Review the status of current surveillance systems for zoonotic diseases and AMR in South Africa, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• In collaboration with partners, provide input to the development of the zoonotic and AMR surveillance systems.
• Collaborate with the project's Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) team to track progress and outcomes related to animal health components of the workplan.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in animal science, epidemiology, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 6 to 7 years of progressively responsible and directly relevant experience required.
• At least 5 years of experience in animal health, focusing on zoonotic diseases, veterinary public health, or veterinary technology.
• Demonstrated experience in surveillance, epidemiology, AMR, and One Health implementation.
• Strong knowledge of the South African animal health systems and policies.
• Experience working with USAID-funded programs or international development agencies.
• Effective organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to handle several activities effectively and under pressure while ensuring timely delivery of activities.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, and presentation).
• Exceptional relationship-building skills.
• Strong time management and judgment skills.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills.
• Innovative and adaptability abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree in animal health, epidemiology, or related field preferred.