Job Title: Global Health Security and Malaria Specialist
Organisation: Makerere University Joint AIDS Program (MJAP)
Duty Station: Jinja, Uganda
About Organisation:
Makerere University Joint AIDS Program (MJAP) emerged from the Mulago – Mbarara Teaching Hospitals Joint AIDS Program (MJAP) which was established in November 2004 under the then Makerere University Faculty of Medicine. Over the last 20 years, we have broadened our work beyond the support of provision of comprehensive HIV and TB services to include capacity strengthening for health care workers across Uganda and conduct research to inform policies for HIV/TB and other HIV comorbidities in the country.
Job Summary: The Global Health Security (GHS) and Malaria Specialist will provide strategic guidance, technical leadership, and coordination for global health security and Malaria interventions at regional, district and community levels in the East Central Region. The position will strengthen district and facility capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats including malaria, epidemic-prone diseases, and zoonotic events in line with Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), International Health Regulations, and National Malaria Control Division (NMCD) priorities.
The Specialist will ensure that malaria control and GHS activities are integrated into broader health systems strengthening initiatives, leveraging community, facility, and district platforms to enhance surveillance, response readiness, and service delivery outcomes.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership for GHS activities: risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), infection prevention & control (IPC), community-based surveillance, early warning, outbreak response, One Health coordination (human-animal-environment interface).
- Provide technical guidance on malaria programming (vector control, case management, surveillance, malaria in pregnancy, chemoprevention, vaccine rollout where applicable).
- Lead planning, implementation, and monitoring of GHS and malaria interventions at regional, district and community levels, in line with WHO guidelines, national GHS/malaria strategy, and USG policies.
- Ensure integration of malaria and GHS efforts to strengthen health systems resilience (surveillance, data use, quality improvement, emergency preparedness).
- Supervise/mentor technical staff and partner implementing organisations; build capacity of government counterparts, district health teams, private sector and community stakeholders.
- Serve as liaison with national ministries (Health, Agriculture, Environment, etc), USG agencies (State, CDC, DOD, State), multilateral partners (WHO, FAO, WOAH), and civil society.
- Monitor program performance: collect/analyse program data, track indicators for malaria and GHS (e.g., JEE metrics, IHR compliance, IDSR reporting, malaria incidence/prevalence, case fatality, bed-net coverage, IRS), use data to inform adaptive management.
- Lead development of workplans, budgets, and technical reports (monthly/quarterly/annual), prepare presentations, abstracts, lessons learned, and disseminate findings.
- Ensure alignment with national priorities and policies; design and execute capacity- strengthening plans; promote quality improvement approaches.
- Support readiness for and response to health emergencies: ensure coordination and smooth activation of emergency operations, ensure communities and districts are equipped to detect/respond to outbreaks of malaria and other infectious diseases.
- Contribute to operational research, including study design, data collection and analysis, and preparation of abstracts, manuscripts, and technical reports for dissemination.
- Represent the organization in relevant technical, coordination, and policy fora at district, regional, and national levels.
- Support resource mobilization efforts by identifying opportunities, contributing to proposal development, and engaging with partners and donors to sustain program impact.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Master’s degree in public health, Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases, Environmental Health or a related field.
- At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in global health security/outbreak preparedness and response, and malaria control, vector-borne disease programming, preferably in Uganda.
- Demonstrated experience working with USG-funded programs and familiarity with USG regulations and donor compliance.
- Strong technical knowledge of malaria prevention and control (case management, surveillance, vector control, malaria in pregnancy, etc.) and knowledge of health security frameworks (GHSA, IHR, JEE, One Health, IPC, RCCE).
- Experience with program design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation, capacity building, and multi-sectoral coordination (health, animal health, environment).
- Excellent communication, facilitation and stakeholder-engagement skills; ability to work across ministries, donors, implementing partners and communities.
- Ability to think strategically, manage multiple tasks, mentor teams, and work in dynamic field settings (including travel to districts/regions).
- Experience in data use, quality improvement approaches, surveillance systems (e.g., IDSR) and outbreak response is highly desirable.
- Fluency in English; other local language proficiency may be advantageous.
Note: MJAP is dedicated to inclusion and diversity, evaluating all job applicants solely based on merit, regardless of race, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, marital status, or disability. As an equal opportunity employer, MJAP does not charge applicants at any stage and is not responsible for losses from fraudulent recruitment activities.
How to Apply:
All qualified candidates are invited to apply online at the link below
Deadline: 4th December 2025
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Level of Education: postgraduate degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 72