Ohio State Global One Health, LLC (Ohio State GOH, LLC) is an affiliated entity of The Ohio State University working on a range of Global Health Security related projects targeting rapid response to public health emergencies through building laboratory, surveillance, and one health workforce capacity strengthening through applied education, training, and research throughout Ethiopia. Ohio State Global One Health works with the Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Regional Health Bureaus, Universities and other research institutions. We are looking for a dynamic individual who can balance between technical and business/operations of a large portfolio of a Global Health Security (GHS) project.

Employment type – Fixed-Term consultancy. 

Duration: Six-Months with a possible renewable based on performance and availability of funding.

Line of responsibility - The Field Epidemiologist  will report directly to the Global Health Security Project Coordinator

Place of Work – South Ethiopia Region, Ethiopia to be seconded to South Ethiopia Regional Health bureau, Jinka.

Number of Positions - 1

Salary – As per organization’s scale

The outbreak response surveillance officer will be tasked with in active case detection and contact tracing in the setting of outbreaks in South Ethiopia. S/he will primarily focus on Marburg virus disease and other emerging and re-emerging public health threats. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead case detection and reporting: Coordinate active case finding, review case definitions with responders, ensure timely and accurate reporting of suspected, probable, and confirmed cases.

• Coordinate contact tracing: Support identification, listing, and follow-up of contacts; ensure timely reporting of missed follow-ups and symptom development.

• Perform epidemiological analysis: Monitor trends, map cases and contacts, detect hotspots, and provide daily situation updates to the IMS and partners.

• Conduct field investigations: Carry out rapid epidemiological investigations of alerts, suspected cases, clusters, and deaths; document findings and recommend immediate control measures.

• Manage alert verification and triage: Receive, assess, and verify community and facility alerts; ensure rapid escalation of high-risk signals to the incident management team (IMT).

• Ensure high-quality data collection: Oversee standardized use of surveillance tools, case investigation forms, and line-lists; train and supervise data collectors at community and health-facility levels.

• Strengthen community-based surveillance: Collaborate with community leaders, volunteers, and CHWs to enhance early detection and reporting of unusual events.

• Support IPC and risk mitigation: Identify and report IPC gaps during investigations and coordinate with IPC teams for targeted interventions, especially in high-risk settings (e.g., isolation units, burial teams).

• Facilitate information flow: Ensure effective communication between health facilities, district surveillance teams, laboratories, rapid response teams, and the IMT.

• Maintain surveillance supplies and logistics: Ensure availability of investigation kits, forms, PPE for safe investigation, and communication tools.

• Capacity building: Train frontline workers, surveillance assistants, and community informants on case definitions, reporting pathways, and outbreak detection.

• Documentation and reporting: Prepare daily, weekly, and ad-hoc surveillance reports; contribute to situation reports and post-outbreak after-action reviews.

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Nursing, Environmental Health, Laboratory Sciences, or other health-related field.

• Master’s Degree in Field Epidemiology or Public Health

• At least 4-5 years of practical experience in disease surveillance, outbreak detection, case investigation, or emergency response.

• Demonstrated experience working on event-based surveillance, or health facility reporting systems.

• Proven ability to conduct field investigations, manage line-lists, and work effectively in high-risk, low-resource, or emergency settings.

• Strong skills in data collection, analysis, and interpretation using tools such as Excel, Epi Info, Kobo/ODK, or DHIS2.

• Ability to work in rotating shifts and travel frequently for field deployments, sometimes at short notice.

• Knowledge of infection prevention and control (IPC) principles relevant to viral hemorrhagic fevers.

Preferred Competencies: 

• Prior experience responding to Viral Hemorrhagic fevers, cholera, measles, or other major outbreaks.

• Skills in GIS mapping, data visualization, or dashboards (ArcGIS, Power BI, QGIS).

• Knowledge of One Health surveillance and cross-sector coordination (animal health, environmental health).

• Experience supervising surveillance assistants, contact tracers, or community volunteers.

• Strong understanding of risk communication, community engagement, and rumor tracking.

• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple alerts, and operate within Incident Management System structures.

• Fluency in local languages 

How To Apply

1. Interested applicants should apply online on THIS LINK

2. Application letter, CV, copies of degrees, transcripts, recent recommendation letters and other credentials should be put as one pdf file when applying

3. Applicants should include names and contacts of three references with their contact details (email and mobile phone #)

4. Applicants should indicate the position and place of work in their application

5. Only shortlisted applicants will be communicated through email for interview