Job Summary:

The Technical Advisor II, Polio provides strategic and technical leadership for the STRengthening Infectious Disease DEtection Systems (STRIDES) Activity with respect to polio eradication-related surveillance, laboratory strengthening, and case detection. The Advisor ensures alignment of STRIDES polio activities with global guidance, national policies, Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) norms, and donor regulations, while delivering high-quality technical assistance across participating countries. They provide technical oversight of in-country implementation, working closely with regional and country teams to ensure fidelity to STRIDES’ technical approaches, troubleshoot implementation challenges, and adapt interventions to evolving epidemiologic and operational contexts. The Advisor plays a central role in supporting capacity-building, mentoring, and technical assistance for country teams, local partners, and government counterparts across polio surveillance, biosafety/biosecurity, laboratory operations, specimen management, data quality, and related domains, ensuring alignment with the United States Government’s global health security priorities.

The Advisor contributes to FHI 360’s technical thought leadership by developing tools, guidance, learning products, and global public goods that strengthen STRIDES’ polio portfolio and enhance the organization’s visibility and credibility in polio eradication and infectious disease surveillance. They represent STRIDES’ polio equities with key donors and stakeholders—including the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD), UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), national programs, and GPEI technical groups—ensuring effective communication, strategic alignment, and strong positioning of STRIDES within the global polio architecture. Working closely with the STRIDES Technical Director, Polio; technical leads; MEL Director; and Program Implementation Director, the Advisor cascades and operationalizes the Activity’s technical strategy and is accountable for the successful, timely, and compliant delivery of all polio-related technical components across regional and country-level work plans. The Advisor collaborates across FHI 360 and consortium partners to ensure coordinated implementation, responsive technical support, and rigorous reporting that meet or exceed contractual, programmatic, and quality standards.

Accountabilities:

Technical Requirements:

• Works on problems of complex scope that require evaluation of variable factors.
• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining solutions, with little supervision.
• Networks with key internal and external personnel.
• Provides input to senior technical leadership on national guidelines and normative policies for subject matter areas of expertise.
• May interpret findings and make recommendations for improvements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Project Design Implementation:

• Under the direction of the STRIDES Technical Director - Polio leads the creation of the technical portion of the STRIDES-Polio Activity plan within the given resource and financial constraints.
• Supports day-to-day technical and operational activities related to the STRIDES-Polio country portfolio design and implementation.
• Coordinates with technical and programmatic staff members to ensure that activities are performed as per contract requirements and consistent with FHI 360 policy.
• Lead staff members’ assignments and supervises field staff to ensure technical quality.
• Work with STRIDES Finance and Operations teams to prepare subcontracts and budgets.
• Provides broad global technical leadership to multiple components of the STRIDES – Polio program.
• Defines and develops solutions for major business or functional challenges.
• Contributes to planning and making recommendations for STRIDES operations and implementation.
• Influences design and scope of STRIDES polio initiatives and programs.
• Develops strategies and tools for the design and implementation of specific technical components within the STRIDES – Polio and Global Health Security programs of work.
• Provides technical oversight and ensures high-quality implementation in line with global standards and best practices and to meet contractual obligations for moderately complex technical units of a functional domain, directing other professional staff members.
• Coordinates with technical