About Resolve to Save Lives

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is a US-based, global public health organization with a mission to prevent 100 million deaths from heart disease and to make the world safer from epidemics. We are led by Dr Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2017, Resolve to Save Lives has partnered with low- and middle-income country governments, multi-lateral agencies, academic and other civil society partners, and communities to build capacity for and support implementation of enabling policies and effective programs to treat and control hypertension, reduce sodium intake, eliminate artificial trans fat, and strengthen systems for epidemic prevention. 

Resolve to Save Lives' Prevent Epidemics program works closely with Ministries of Health and national public health institutes in Africa to strengthen epidemic preparedness capacity, accelerate disease detection and response, and to use data effectively to inform action. We recently began a program for collaborative surveillance in several African countries, building on existing work to strengthen the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and accelerate detection and response. This new initiative supports countries to align resources, maximize potential impacts for the effective use of data, and strengthen national capacities for implementation and ownership. The initiative also supports country implementation for activities to enhance disease and contextual/risk data through strengthened surveillance and innovations in epidemic intelligence, effective use of existing and emergent data throughout the event lifecycle (from anticipatory action to risk communication during emergencies), and development of data tools and products that support key decision-makers from communities, health sector officials, and policymakers.

Position Purpose:

RTSL seeks a Senior Data Engineer, Collaborative Surveillance within our Epidemic Intelligence Team. This role will focus on the design, implementation, and optimization of systems for data collection, storage, access, and analytics. You will be responsible for providing accompaniment, coaching and technical assistance to in-country staff members (embedded staff or government staff) to design and implement data pipelines, data exchange/accessibility, and data storage solutions between National Public Health Institutes (NPHI), Ministries of Health (MOH), and other sectors based on data use case needs identified during the project. 

The Senior Data Engineer, Collaborative Surveillance position will report to the Principal Advisor, Surveillance and Digital Architecture and Governance. It is a two-year fixed-term position with the possibility of extension if funding permits. 

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities span across the data lifecycle and include but are not limited to: 

Data Pipeline Development  

• Technical oversight for expanding and optimizing data architecture, including optimizing the entire data lifecycle from collection to analysis for multidisciplinary teams 

• Support integration/interoperability of existing systems and provide guidance on potential mechanisms for accessing/exchanging data (e.g., API, data standards, e.g., HL7/FHIR) 
• Identify and understand sources of data and optimize ways for data to be collected and processed in preparation for analysis by multidisciplinary teams 
• Provide subject matter expertise and make design recommendations/specifications on optimal data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) from structured and unstructured data sources 
• Work with members of the data use and data science workstream to define requirements to inform systems design and data flows, including query procedures  

Data Management

• Implementation of data warehouse(s), including data models using relevant healthcare standards (e.g., HL7 FHIR, terminologies), master data, and metadata that can be used to link datasets for use and analysis 
• Technical assistance on data quality management, security, privacy, and data governance 
• Provide support for data availability and access within the NPHI and eventually allow for access to and transfer of critical data from other sectors and Ministries 

Reporting & Analytics

• Collaboration with RTSL and country-based partners on data use, analysis, and reporting 
• Support implementation of data reporting and visualization tools 

Collaboration and Accompaniment

• Routine engagement with and support to key country-based informatics staff, including but not limited to Chief Informatics Officers/Chief Technology Officers 
• Collaboration with RTSL and country-based partners on data use and analysis, policy and governance, and informatics  
• Consensus building and alignment with existing governance and technical guidance frameworks, including digital health strategies 
• Accompaniment with non-technology public health staff to define system requirements 
• Assist in the identification of procurement needs and the evaluation/selection of appropriate technology platforms 
• Support and mentorship for junior data engineering staff 

Requirements:  

Education

• Bachelor’s or higher-level degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field 
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in data engineering or a related discipline 

Experience

• Demonstrated experience in implementing data pipelines/ETL into data warehouses and data querying and analysis, ideally in the health sector 
• Proven experience with data pipeline and workflow management tools  
• Strong knowledge of SQL, Python, and other data engineering tools and languages.

Skills & abilities

• Ability to build and optimize data pipelines and systems architecture 
• Capable of providing strategic direction and subject matter expertise to in-country teams to enable programs to make use of the data collected 
• Coaching and mentoring skills to support capacity strengthening of partner agencies and key government personnel 
• Strong understanding of data warehousing methods, database administration and hosting requirements 
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with government leadership (Ministers of Health or Directors of National Public Health Institutes) on strategy development and alignment on commitments and timelines 
• Familiarity with data governance, security and privacy standards 
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills for engaging and influencing non-governmental partners, civil society organizations, donors, and multilateral agencies 
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative and highly matrixed environment with experience serving many different internal and external stakeholders and demonstrating inclusiveness and active listening skills 
• Results and impact-oriented, with a problem-solving attitude 
• Excellent leadership and team management skills 
• Strong problem-solving ability and attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Cultural competency and ability to work and support remotely 

• Ability to travel approximately 30% of the time
• Fluent in English

 Other

• Able to work remotely and willing to convene occasionally for in-person team meetings, as needed

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with DHIS2 
• Proficient in Portuguese 
• International experience, particularly in Africa 

Compensation and Benefits:

Resolve to Save Lives prides itself on cultivating a supportive, connected remote team doing work that matters. We do everything we can to ensure our employees are connected and set up for success.

The salary range for applicants based in the US is $120,000 to $135,000 annually. The exact offer will be determined by a variety of factors, such as the candidate’s skills and experience relative to the requirements of the role. For applicants based outside the US, salaries are set according to national labor rates for the international NGO sector. 

In addition to a competitive salary, Resolve to Save Lives provides a generous package of benefits, including:

• 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

RTSL believes its programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We encourage applications from and provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Resolve to Save Lives complies with all applicable US EEO laws.