Resolve To Save Lives
Principal Advisor, Surveillance and Digital Architecture and Governance (Remote - US, UK, Nigeria, Ethiopia, or France)
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Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL)
Resolve to Save Lives is a global health organization that partners locally and globally to create and scale solutions for the world’s deadliest health threats. Millions of people lose their lives to preventable health threats, and we work to close the gap between proven solutions and those who need them. Since 2017, RTSL has collaborated with governments and partners in over 60 countries to save millions of lives. Our ambition is a future where people live healthier, longer lives, communities thrive, and economies flourish.
The Prevent Epidemics Program strengthens epidemic preparedness across African countries by enhancing capacity, accelerating detection, and ensuring data-driven action. In addition to direct government partnerships, RTSL works with Organization like the US CDC, WHO, the World Bank, and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator to implement programs and support sustainability.
Position Purpose
Despite decades of investment in public health infrastructure, persistent silos in data prevent integrated action. RTSL’s Collaborative Surveillance initiative addresses this by helping national public health institutes (NPHIs) and ministries of health (MOH) integrate fragmented systems into scalable, evidence-based decision-making tools.
Currently, institutions struggle with outdated technology, competing mandates, funding constraints, and evolving needs—such as the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI). The Surveillance and Digital Architecture and Governance workstream spans data architecture, policy, and change management to bridge technical and institutional gaps.
RTSL is seeking a Principal Advisor to deliver the vision: a leader who understands both technology and public health systems change. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience redesigning systems from the ground up, spanning digital transformation in African governments, managing technical projects, and advising stakeholders across countries and cultures.
For this full-time, remote position (fixed term of 2 years), you will report to the Director of Epidemic Intelligence, guide RTSL’s global approach to integrated surveillance, and ensure policy and technology align effectively to advance public health in six African countries.
Core Duties and Responsibilities
1. Workstream Vision and Leadership
- Set strategic direction for the Surveillance and Digital Architecture & Governance workstream, ensuring alignment with Collaborative Surveillance goals and improving public health decision-making.
- Translate complex technical concepts into accessible language for a range of audiences (government leaders, donors, program staff, and WHO counterparts).
- Represent RTSL internationally, engaging with global technical forums and donor groups.
- Serve as a key advisor to the Director of Epidemic Intelligence on health data developments, including AI trends and stakeholder navigation.
- Bridge responsibilities between Data Use & Decision Science, In-Country Implementation, and Leadership/Governance support for NPHIs and MOHs.
- Identify emerging risks and opportunities in digital health (including AI) and advise RTSL’s in-country support strategies.
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2. Team Management and Development
- Lead and develop a team of specialists (data engineers, product and solutions architects), fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- Strengthen team collaboration, ensuring contributions integrate technical expertise with public health systems context.
- Define clear expectations, delegate effectively, and minimize operational bottlenecks.
- Coach team members and country partners to enhance product thinking, systems design, and governance.
3. Country Strategy and In-Country Accompaniment
- Provide high-level advisory support to NPHIs and MOHs in decision-making around data architecture, digital transformation, and governance.
- Assess pathway countries’ needs and ensure they develop right-fit technical solutions—whether developing new systems, integrating existing ones, or establishing sustainable governance structures.
- Align strategy for Collaborative Surveillance Data Architecture (CSDA) with existing contexts, identifying integration priorities and capacity gaps.
- Advise on multi-sector data governance frameworks that support country-owned solutions.
- Guide countries in handling AI opportunities and risks responsibly.
- Contribute to the construction of a new data architecture and engineering curriculum to build RTSL’s capacity for CSDA implementation.
4. Country and Cross-Workstream Coordination
- Serve as the coordination and learning hub for RTSL-supported countries, fostering experience sharing and knowledge transfer.
- Collaborate with the Data Use & Decision Science workstream to ensure technical architectures enhance decision-making.
- Work with Legal, Governance, and Financing teams to create actionable, country-specific governance frameworks.
- Ensure alignment across Data Use & Implemention, positioned to connect users with systems’ data-driven outcomes.
5. Product and Implementation Oversight
- Apply principles of product management, user-centered design, and iterative software engineering to core technical outputs, prioritizing user adoption and system quality.
- Coordinate and improve technical consistency across supported countries, leveraging RTSL’s implementation toolkit.
- Oversee country-level program coordination, including project planning, contracting, and budgeting for key pathfinder countries.
- Track progress and communicate against workstream deliverables, maintaining accountability with RTSL leadership and external stakeholders.
Required Qualifications
Education
- Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in:
- Health Informatics
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Or closely related fields (e.g., epidemiology, public health informatics)
Experience
- 10+ years working at the intersection of public health and digital health in Africa, with demonstrated capacity to integrate technical solutions into organizational systems.
- Direct experience supporting African governments in implementing digital transformation, surveillance redesign, or health data governance models.
- Expertise in product design, product management, or product strategy, with track record of successfully co-designing and developing digital platforms through user-centered iterations.
- Extensive leadership experience, including supervision of cross-functional technical teams and contingent management (e.g., navigating data silos, political sensitivities, technology debates).
- Capable of program, budget, and contract management within international development contexts.
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Key Skills and Abilities
- AI expertise in health systems: Ability to discern applications and risks of AI (delivering both calcium while minimizing harm).
- Technical fluency in surveillance guardrails: Hands-on knowledge of:
- DHIS2 and integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) frameworks
- Professional data architecture: Understanding of connecting, interoperability, and governance fundamentals to guide strategic decisions without extreme technical detail.
- Leadership presence and interpersonal skillset: Ability to engage at both strategic and institutional levels, facilitating trust with government stakeholders, and positioning RTSL’s approach in global innovation spaces.
- Fluency in English required; French or Portuguese is a strong plus.
Strongly Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with data governance frameworks, legal considerations, and policy dimensions (including multisectoral data-sharing agreements).
- Applications and implementation of Design Thinking and Agile methodologies to co-create systems with health experts and governments.
- Proven track record in implementing organizational transformation within large-scale systems, elaborating change rider managing multi-stakeholder environments.
- Understanding of trends in global health financing and the role of digital programs in donor negotiation processes.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary
- $140,000 – $158,000 per year, adjusted for qualifications and experience. Smiley varies for candidates outside the US.
- Benefits align with RTSL’s standards for the international development sector.
Core Benefits
- Medical insurance for employees and covered dependents.
- Employer-matched retirement contributions.
- 10 days annual leave + 10 days sick leave + observance of national holidays.
- Two paid week-long organization-wide breaks.
- Comprehensive professional development and remote work setup support.
- Access to updated computer equipment.
Culture Statement
RTSL values initiatives that reveal unilateral backgrounds—experiences, cultures, and perspectives contribute to inclusive solutions. We work to build branches in talent, ensuring low qualified applicants have equal opportunity without regard for race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, nationality, status of disability, family or civil status, organ donation, or veteran status.
'All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.' Resolve to Save Lives adheres to all applicable U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws.
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