Job Description
Job Description
Position Title: Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Advisor
Project: Sustaining Lifesaving HIV/AIDS and Health Security Activities Through Integrated Country-Led Intervention
Duty Station: Addis Ababa
Reports to: Director, Laboratory Services
Code of Conduct
It is our shared responsibility and obligation to treat each other with respect, take affirmative steps to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse and Trafficking in Persons, and to disclose all potential and actual violations of our Code of Conduct, which may include Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption, Discrimination or Harassment. Together, we can reinforce a culture of respect, integrity, accountability, and transparency.
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Background
Project HOPE is an international NGO of more than 500 engaged employees and hundreds of volunteers who work in more than 25 countries, responding to the world’s most pressing global health challenges.
Activity Overview
Sustaining Lifesaving HIV/AIDS and Health Security Activities Through Integrated Country-Led Intervention: Ethiopia Transition Award is U.S. Department of State (DoS)-funded Transition Activity in Ethiopia that focuses on triple elimination of HIV/Syphilis/Hepatitis B and integration with health security activities. This project focuses on driving local ownership to sustain HIV epidemic control, accelerating the Federal Ministry of Health's (MOH) Triple Elimination framework (preventing vertical transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B), and integrating these services into Ethiopia's overarching health security and pandemic preparedness infrastructure.
Position Summary
The IPC Advisor will provide technical leadership and expert support to strengthen Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) systems and practices under the Health Security Activity (HSA). The position will be based at the central/national level and will provide technical assistance to national institutions, implementation sites, regional and subnational structures, laboratories, and health facilities as appropriate.
The IPC Advisor will support the integration of IPC into health security preparedness, detection, response, and recovery efforts, including during public health emergencies and outbreaks. The IPC Advisor will ensure the implementation of standardized practical steps and safety guidelines used in health clinics and communities to stop the spread of HIV and other bloodborne infectious pathogens to protect both the people receiving care and the healthcare workers providing it. The position will work closely with relevant government institutions and partners to strengthen IPC policies, standards, systems, capacities, quality improvement mechanisms, and emergency preparedness and response.
The position requires an experienced IPC professional with demonstrated practical expertise across health service delivery at facility and community level, laboratory settings, field/outbreak settings, and emergency response operations.
Position Purpose in the HSA
The IPC Advisor will serve as a central technical resource for IPC, bridging national-level policy and coordination with practical implementation at health facilities, communities, laboratories, field operations, and emergency response sites. The position is intended to strengthen the capacity of the national health security system to prevent and control healthcare-associated and community transmission risks and to ensure that IPC is effectively integrated into preparedness and response operations.
Position purpose in HIV / Tripple Elimination
An IPC Advisor in HIV programming provides technical leadership to ensure health facilities and community programs maintain rigorous safety standards. This role minimizes healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), manages antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and protects both clients living with HIV and healthcare workers from bloodborne and opportunistic pathogens. The IPC Advisor works closely with the Director of HIV Prevention/Care and Treatment and other technical staff within HIV prevention, care and treatment portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
A. National IPC Technical Leadership and Coordination
Provide high-level technical advice and support to relevant national institutions on IPC policies, guidelines, standards, tools, and implementation approaches.
Support alignment of HSA IPC activities with national health security priorities, policies, preparedness and response plans, and relevant international standards.
Ensure the integration of multimodal IPC strategies into the broader HIV treatment cascade and HIV case management at community and health facility level.
Participate in national IPC technical working groups, coordination platforms, and other relevant forums on behalf of HSA, as appropriate.
Provide expert guidance on safe injection practices, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) protocols for health workers, and medical waste management.
Identify IPC system gaps and recommend practical, evidence-based solutions.
Support development, adaptation, dissemination, and institutionalization of IPC tools, protocols, SOPs, and guidance.
B. IPC Support to Implementation Sites
Provide technical assistance to selected implementation sites, including health facilities, laboratories, emergency operations, points of entry, and other relevant field settings.
Conduct or support IPC assessments and develop site-specific improvement plans.
Provide mentorship and coaching to IPC focal persons, health workers, laboratory personnel, and other relevant staff.
Support implementation and monitoring of standard precautions, transmission-based precautions, environmental cleaning, waste management, hand hygiene, PPE use, injection safety, occupational health and safety, and other core IPC measures.
Support quality improvement initiatives to strengthen sustained IPC performance at supported sites.
C. Outbreak and Health Emergency Response
Provide IPC technical leadership and support during outbreaks, public health emergencies, and other health security events.
Support rapid IPC assessments and deployment to affected or high-risk locations when required.
Advise emergency response teams on IPC measures in treatment centers, isolation units, mobile facilities, laboratories, triage areas, ambulances, and other emergency response settings.
Support safe patient flow, isolation, PPE use, environmental cleaning, disinfection, waste management, and occupational safety during emergencies.
Contribute to simulation exercises, preparedness activities, after-action reviews, and lessons-learned processes, with a focus on strengthening IPC readiness and response capacity.
Provide technical support for IPC surge capacity and emergency deployment arrangements.
D. Laboratory and Field IPC
Provide technical support to strengthen IPC and biosafety practices in public health and clinical laboratories.
Support appropriate risk assessment and implementation of IPC measures for specimen collection, handling, packaging, transportation, processing, and disposal.
Support IPC practices in field investigation, specimen collection, mobile response teams, and other decentralized settings.
Work closely with laboratory, surveillance, emergency response, and One Health teams to ensure IPC measures are integrated across the health security response chain.
E. Capacity Building and Mentorship
Assess IPC capacity gaps and support development and implementation of targeted capacity-building activities.
Develop and facilitate IPC training, orientation, mentorship, coaching, and practical simulation exercises.
Conduct supportive supervision, clinical coaching, and mentorship visits to regional and facility-level multidisciplinary teams.
Facilitate training programs on standard precautions, hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and sterilization for clinical and support staff.
Support the establishment and functional capacity of facility-level IPC committees.
Strengthen the capacity of national, regional, facility, laboratory, and emergency response personnel to apply IPC measures in routine and emergency settings.
Support development of a sustainable pool of IPC trainers, mentors, and technical resources.
F. Monitoring, Learning, and Documentation
Support development and monitoring of IPC indicators and performance measures.
Conduct supportive supervision and provide recommendations for improvement.
Document best practices, lessons learned, innovations, and challenges related to IPC implementation.
Use routine quality data and audit checklists to identify infection risks, operational bottlenecks, and compliance gaps.
Contribute to project technical reports, success stories, case studies, and other project documentation.
Use implementation data and assessment findings to inform continuous improvement of IPC interventions.
G. Coordination and Collaboration
Work closely with other technical teams, including PHEM, surveillance, laboratory, One Health, emergency preparedness and response, HIV/triple elimination and monitoring and evaluation teams.
Coordinate with government institutions, regional structures, health facilities, laboratories, implementing partners, and other stakeholders to ensure complementary IPC support.
Promote government ownership and institutionalization of IPC systems and practices.
Ensure project-supported IPC interventions complement existing national and partner initiatives and avoid duplication.
Key Deliverables
During the one-year assignment, the IPC Advisor will be expected to contribute to or lead, as appropriate:
IPC technical assistance and support plan for the project.
National and/or site-level IPC assessments and improvement plans.
Technical guidance, SOPs, tools, and other IPC resources.
Targeted IPC capacity-building and mentorship activities.
IPC preparedness and response support during health emergencies.
IPC support to laboratory and field response operations.
Monitoring of IPC performance and documentation of improvements.
Technical inputs to emergency simulations, after-action reviews, and preparedness assessments.
Regular technical updates and contributions to program reports.
Documentation of lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations for sustainability.
Perform all other duties assigned by immediate supervisor or the Senior Management team member
Job Requirements
Education
Advanced degree in public health, epidemiology, nursing, medicine, laboratory sciences, infection prevention and control, or a related health field.
Specialized training or certification in IPC is highly desirable.
Professional Experience
Minimum of 8 years of professional work experience in a field relevant to the position.
At least 3 years of experience in a senior technical or programmatic role, with responsibility for oversight, coordination, and supervision of program activities and staff.
Demonstrated practical experience in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), preferably within national-level or large-scale public health programs.
Demonstrated practical experience in IPC within healthcare facilities and health service delivery settings.
Demonstrated experience in laboratory IPC/biosafety.
Demonstrated experience supporting field operations, outbreak investigations, and/or public health emergency response.
Experience developing or implementing IPC policies, guidelines, SOPs, assessment tools, and quality improvement approaches.
Experience providing technical assistance, mentoring, coaching, and training to multidisciplinary teams.
Experience working with national and subnational government health institutions is highly desirable.
Experience working in resource-constrained or emergency settings is strongly preferred.
Experience with outbreak-prone diseases and high-consequence infectious diseases is an advantage.
Core Competencies
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
Strong technical expertise in IPC across clinical, laboratory, field, and emergency settings.
Practical understanding of health emergency preparedness and response.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Ability to translate IPC standards and guidance into practical field-level implementation.
Strong communication, facilitation, mentoring, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work effectively with government institutions and multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to work under pressure and provide rapid technical support during emergencies.
Strong report writing and documentation skills.
Ability to operate effectively in a multi-partner environment.
Commitment to government ownership, capacity strengthening, and sustainability.
Travel and Deployment
The position will be based at the central/national level but will require regular travel to project-supported implementation sites and other locations as needed. The Advisor may also be required to deploy on short notice to outbreak and public health emergency locations to provide IPC technical support.
Duration
One year, with the potential for continuation subject to project requirements, funding availability, performance, and applicable organizational policies.
How To Apply
Interested applicants can send their CV and cover letter through ethiojobs ONLY on or before September 28, 2026, by 5:00 PM.
Application Instructions:
Qualified female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.
Due to the large number of inquiries, we receive, only candidates who have met the required experience & qualifications for this position will be considered. No phone calls please.
However, since we are active around the world in the field of public health, we may wish to retain your CV in our database for other/future opportunities, unless you direct us otherwise.
Thank you very much for your interest in Project HOPE
