Senior Technical Specialist – Evidence-Based Public Health Messaging and Community Engagement (EMCE)

ABOUT FHI 360:

FHI 360 is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes research resources and relationships so that people everywhere can access the opportunities they need to lead full healthy lives. Our staff of more than 2000 experts work in over 50 countries around the world.

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project is a global health initiative funded by the U.S. Department of State running from 2019 to 2027. In the Philippines EpiC has two workplans each with its own technical scope and budget one focused on achieving HIV epidemic control and one focused on strengthening global health security (GHS). The role outlined in this job description supports EpiCs GHS workplan.

EpiCs GHS workplan aims to strengthen national subnational and local capacities for the prevention detection and response to public health emergencies including pandemic preparedness. Support is delivered across multiple technical areas including Zoonotic Diseases Biosafety and Biosecurity National Laboratory Systems Surveillance Public Health Emergency Management Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Evidence-Based Public Health Messaging. All activities and sub-activities under each technical area are aligned with and informed by national priorities and strategies including the National Action Plan for Health Security () the National Framework of the Philippine Health Laboratory System (PHLS) and the National Laboratory Strategic Plan (NLSP) .

JOB SUMMARY:

The Senior Technical Specialist Evidence-Based Public Health Messaging and Community Engagement (EMCE) will support the design implementation and monitoring of EpiCs EMCE activities at national regional and local levels. Working under the supervision of the Technical Advisor/EMCE the Senior Technical Specialist ensures that communication and engagement interventions to prevent detect and respond to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases are integrated into the broader public health emergency management system and synchronized with surveillance laboratory and rapid response team (RRT) activation.

This role focuses on strengthening community-centered emergency communication capabilitiesincluding infodemic management social listening rapid message dissemination and two-way feedback loopsensuring that individuals and communities can take timely action during disease outbreaks. The Senior Technical Specialist collaborates closely with DOH bureaus (including the Health Promotion Bureau) public health emergency operations centers (PHEOCs) regional field teams local government units (LGUs) and subaward partners to operationalize EMCE within the EpiC GHSs Nationwide ScaleStrategic Depth model. The position contributes to planning technical implementation learning and reporting across EMCE workstreams while supporting real-time adaptive management throughout the project lifecycle.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Technical Implementation and Coordination

• Support implementation of all EMCE activities across project sites ensuring alignment with national guidelines outbreak priorities and the GHS workplan.

• Assist the Technical Advisor/EMCE in developing standardized national templates guidance and toolkits for rapid emergency messaging rumor management and community engagement.

2. National-Level Systems Strengthening

• Contribute to the institutionalization of EMCE systems within DOH structures including social listening models community feedback mechanisms and real-time rumor tracking linked to PHEOC workflows.

• Provide technical inputs to national guidelines SOPs job aids IEC development and data use strategies for EMCE.

3. Strategic Depth and Subnational Support

• Work with regional and local partners (LGUs local epidemiology surveillance units PHEOCs) to operationalize localized EMCE systemsincluding community information channels focal point networks and feedback loops.

• Provide mentoring supportive supervision and capacity building to regional field implementers and community-level actors involved in outbreak risk communication.

4. Integration with Multidisciplinary Response

• Coordinate closely with surveillance laboratory IPC and emergency management teams to ensure EMCE activation is synchronized with outbreak triggers specimen movement case confirmation and RRT deployments.

• Participate in field coordination meetings and contribute to integrated field plans as required.

5. Training Learning and Capacity Development

• Co-develop and facilitate EMCE-related training packages webinars practical exercises and cross-learning sessions for national and subnational partners.

• Support human-centered design and community co-creation approaches for message refinement and delivery.

6. Knowledge Products and Reporting

• Develop clear actionable knowledge materials including briefs reports presentations IECs training manuals and success stories.

• Review subaward deliverables and subcontractor work packages related to EMCE.

7. Monitoring Evaluation and Improvement

• Support development and tracking of EMCE indicators and dashboards.

• Document lessons learned identify promising practices and recommend adaptive changes to improve future outbreak messaging and community uptake.

8. Cross-Team Collaboration and Representation

• Coordinate EMCE-related partner engagement across national and regional stakeholders and represent the project in multi-agency technical working groups when delegated.

• Support development of donor-required reports presentations and updates ensuring accuracy technical quality and timely submission.

• Work closely with the Senior Communications Specialist to ensure all EMCE productsincluding communications materials tools training packages and public-facing contentadhere to U.S. Government branding and marking requirements and FHI 360 communication policies.

• Participate in routine communication with the funder as requested ensuring alignment with contractual obligations reporting expectations and compliance standards.

• Perform other duties consistent with the scope as assigned by the Technical Advisor/EMCE.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Demonstrated technical knowledge and practical application of communication and stakeholder engagement principles in public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks.

• Proficiency in using various information and communication tools platforms and channels in health programming.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Filipino; fluency in other local languages is an advantage.

• Has sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political contextual and ethical issues in assigned areas.

• Articulate professional and able to communicate in a clear positive manner with clients and staff.

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to train mentor influence and collaborate with others are also required.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Usual office working conditions.

• Ability to travel domestically at least 30%.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelors degree (Masters degree preferred) in communication social or behavioral sciences public health health education or promotion or related field.

• At least 7 years of relevant experience implementing risk communication social and behavior change emergency communications community engagement and/or public health campaigns.

• Experience in global health security programs or projects managing disease outbreaks zoonotic diseases and/or communicable diseases is desired.

• Specialized training or certification in risk communication community engagement and/or infodemic management during health emergencies is desired.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national or ethnic origin age marital status physical or mental disability protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs including sexual abuse exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel including staff members and volunteers share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks including reference criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS) facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian line with the MDS we will request information from job applicants previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse exploitation and/or harassment during the applicants tenure with previous employers. By applying job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants including those with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

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