Principal Advisor, Surveillance, Digital Architecture and Governance

Role Overview

• Provide strategic direction for the Surveillance and Digital Architecture and Governance workstream, including articulating how RTSL's approach to data architecture fits within — and advances — the broader Collaborative Surveillance framework through supporting the design, adaptation, utilization, and integration of data systems with the aim of providing better intelligence for public health decision-making.
• Translate technical concepts into accessible language for diverse audiences: national public health leaders, donors, WHO counterparts, and non-technical program staff.
• Represent the workstream externally in global technical forums, partnerships, and donor relationships.
• Serve as a senior thought partner to the Director of Epidemic Intelligence on global strategy, emerging trends in digital health and AI, and stakeholder positioning within and across countries.
• Work collaboratively with other workstream leads to cohesively matrix responsibilities spanning between Data Use and Decision Science, in-country implementation, and our leadership and governance support to national public health institutes and Ministries of Health.
• Identify emerging opportunities and risks in the digital health landscape — including developments in artificial intelligence — and advise on how these should shape RTSL's country support strategies.
• Manage and develop a team of staff, including diverse roles across solutions architecture, data engineering, product development, and informatics.
• Provide direct advisory support (accompaniment) to national public health institutes and ministries in pathfinder countries as they navigate decisions about data architecture, digital transformation, and data governance based on public health decision-making priorities and needs.
• Support the workstream staff members to work with country coordinators and government staff to identify the right solutions for their context.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in health informatics, computer science, data science, or a closely related field.
• At least 10 years of experience at the intersection of digital health and public health in Africa, with demonstrated understanding of both the technical and institutional dimensions of health information systems.
• Experience working directly with governments on implementation of digital transformation, surveillance system design, or health data governance.
• Experience in product design, product management or product leadership — defining and driving the development of digital tools or systems through iterative, user-centered processes.
• Demonstrated experience managing diverse teams, including direct supervision of technical staff.
• Experience with program management, budget management, and contracting in international development or global health contexts.
• Understanding of how artificial intelligence is being applied (and misapplied) in low
• and middle-income country health systems, including practical judgment about when AI adds value and when it introduces risk.
• Familiarity with integrated public health surveillance systems, including working knowledge of DHIS2 and integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) approaches.
• Familiarity with data architecture concepts — including data integration, interoperability, and data governance — sufficient to meaningfully guide strategy and challenge technical assumptions, without necessarily being an engineer.
• Strong leadership presence and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to build trust with senior government counterparts, navigate institutional complexity, and represent RTSL credibly in global technical spaces.
• Fluency in English; proficiency in French or Portuguese is an asset.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 30%.

Benefits

• Health insurance for you and your dependents
• Contributions toward retirement
• Paid annual leave and sick leave, in addition to public holidays
• Two paid, week-long organization-wide breaks at mid-year and end-of-year
• Professional development and home office setup benefits
• Up-to-date computer equipment