LEAP Program Description

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

About the Position

The Strategic Health Technical Advisor will serve as the principal liaison between the U.S. Embassy Suva/Department of State (DOS) Foreign Assistance Unit (FAU) and the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in implementing Global Health Security (GHS) activities. Embedded within the appropriate ministry or ministries, the advisor will work with implementing partners to advance effective multisectoral collaboration in support of bilateral cooperation efforts focused on global health security. The position will facilitate effective coordination of technical support with special emphasis on preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats that impact public health.

The Advisor will identify coordination gaps and programmatic bottlenecks, propose and implement solutions through effective collaboration among U.S. Embassy Suva/DOS FAU, MHMS, and MoA. This role is critical to effectively deliver U.S. Government support to improve Fiji's national health security capabilities. The Advisor will support the MHMS in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) service delivery in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives. 

Supervision and Reporting:

The Advisor will receive day-to-day supervision and guidance from designated points of contact at both host ministries. The U.S. Embassy Suva/DOS FAU will provide collaborative oversight. The advisor will submit weekly progress reports and detailed monthly reports to the U.S. Embassy Suva FAU/DOS Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD) and respective ministries.

Responsibilities

Strategic Coordination and High-Level Liaison

• Serve as principal liaison between Embassy FAU and MHMS/MoA leadership for strategic GHS matters
• Facilitate joint strategic planning sessions with ministry leadership, implementing partners, and donors
• Channel strategic feedback between Embassy FAU, ministries, and implementing partners
• Provide Embassy with consolidated updates on GHS portfolio progress, challenges, and opportunities

Multi-Partner and Donor Coordination

• Convene regular meetings among all GHS stakeholders
• Maintain updated mapping of GHS partners, programs, funding, and activities to identify gaps and overlaps
• Facilitate information sharing and technical alignment across implementing partners
• Support Government of Fiji to coordinate donor resources in alignment with national priorities

Policy Engagement and Multisectoral Platforms

• Support establishment and functioning of government-led multisectoral coordination platforms
• Strengthen coordination across human health, animal health, and environmental health sectors

Strategic Planning and Portfolio Oversight

• Facilitate government-led GHS strategic planning processes
• Conduct portfolio-level gap analysis across all partners and activities
• Support ministries to prioritize GHS investments based on national risk assessments
• Monitor overall GHS portfolio landscape to identify emerging coordination needs

GHS Framework Compliance Support

• Support ministries in tracking progress toward Joint External Evaluation (JEE), States Parties Self-Assessment (SPAR), and 7-1-7 targets
• Facilitate coordination among partners to ensure collective contribution to national GHS frameworks

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Facilitate peer learning and knowledge exchange among stakeholders
• Support documentation and dissemination of GHS best practices and lessons learned
• Support S. Embassy Suva/DOS FAU with monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting needs for the GHS activities

Communications and Reporting

Communications:

• Participate in regular coordination meetings and calls with GHS multi-sectoral stakeholders, U.S. Embassy Suva/DOS FAU, and Washington-based teams to review progress, discuss activities, and address emerging issues
• Remain available for calls and meetings with U.S. Embassy Suva/DOS GHSD as requested

Reporting:

• Submit a detailed monthly report to U.S. Embassy Suva/DOS GHSD by the 5th day of the following month
• Submit weekly progress reports and participate in weekly calls, including a summary of main successes

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, postgraduate degree preferred in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Environmental Health, Health Policy, or a related field
• Minimum of three years of program management experience, especially coordination of activities related to disease surveillance, prevention and outbreak response.
• Demonstrated effectiveness coordinating activities with government ministries and international partners on multisectoral health security initiatives.
• Familiarity with digital health tools, data management, and information systems for surveillance and reporting.
• Strong analytical, monitoring, and evaluation skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.