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3.) Senior Specialist – Data Science

Job ID: api-28563

Location:  Abuja

Project: PHIS3

Background

• The Public Health Information Surveillance Solutions and Systems (PHIS3) project is a US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded project to strengthen systems to improve HIV service delivery and other public health interventions through continuous quality improvement, monitoring and evaluation, Surveillance, Health Informatics and laboratory quality management in Nigeria.
• This project will work with implementing partners, national and sub-national health managers, health workers and other stakeholders to strengthen the already existing national data repository and other modules which has helped to improve harmonization of fragmented information systems, reduce duplication of data collection and improve monitoring and tracking of national level health trends and priorities.
• We are a leading public health data management organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of populations through data-driven decision-making. Our mission includes supporting PEPFAR and the Government of Nigeria in tackling critical health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases, and other public health priorities.
• By leveraging large-scale health data and advanced analytics, we aim to enhance health program outcomes, optimize resource allocation, and provide actionable insights for health system strengthening.

Position Summary 

• To support our growing initiatives, we are seeking a Senior Data Science Specialist with expertise in advanced data analytics, machine learning, and public health program evaluation.
• The ideal candidate will lead data science efforts, develop innovative solutions, and provide strategic guidance to inform public health interventions in Nigeria. The candidate will report to the Director Data Management and Analytics.
• S/he will work closely with the M&E Advisor and the Data Science Specialists to provide support for data reviews, data analysis, development of presentations, and provision of feedback to the rest of the Data Management and Analytics team.

Duties & Responsibilities
The key responsibilities of the technical associate quality improvement include:

• Collaborate/Lead the design, development, and implementation of scalable data pipelines to manage large public health datasets.
• Analyze complex datasets using statistical and machine learning methods to uncover trends, insights, and program performance metrics.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop predictive and prescriptive models to address public health challenges such as HIV/AIDS prevalence and control, and early detection of non-communicable diseases.

Program Support:

• Support PEPFAR and government programs with tailored analytics to monitor progress, identify bottlenecks, and recommend actionable strategies.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and visualization tools for program monitoring and evaluation.
• Evaluate the impact of public health interventions through data modeling and analysis.

Team Leadership and Capacity Building:

• Mentor and train junior data scientists, analysts, and other team members on advanced data science techniques.
• Promote a culture of data-driven decision-making within the organization and among partners.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Work closely with public health stakeholders, including government agencies, PEPFAR partners, and NGOs, to align data science solutions with program needs.
• Present findings to non-technical stakeholders in a clear, actionable manner.

Research and Innovation:

• Stay updated on advancements in data science and public health analytics.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences to contribute to the global public health data science community.

Qualifications 

• A Master’s Degree or higher in Data Science, Data Analysis, Public Health, Statistics, Computer Science, Epidemiology, or a related field. A Ph.D. is preferred.
• At least 8 years of experience in data science, analytics, or a related role, with at least 4 years focusing on public health data.
• Proven track record of managing and analyzing large-scale datasets in a public health context.
• Experience working with PEPFAR-supported programs, NGOs, or government health initiatives is highly desirable.
• Certifications in data science or cloud computing (e.g., AWS Certified Data Analytics, Microsoft Azure Data Scientist) are an added advantage.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for high-level policy audiences (writing examples may be required).
• Excellent coordination and information management skills.
• The ability to work well under pressure; skilled at change management, crisis management, and problem solving.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning methodology and documentation processes.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with users and various stakeholders (local and international); developed cultural awareness and innovation sense.
• Excellent ability in spoken and written English with a high-level proficiency in a second language highly preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently.

Skills and Competency Requirements
To excel in this role, the candidate should have the following:

Technical Expertise:

• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL.
• Hands-on experience with big data technologies like Hadoop, Spark, or cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud).
• Expertise in machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, PyTorch).
• Proficiency in advanced statistical methods, predictive analytics, and geospatial analysis.