Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist, Data for Health - The Union and Vital Strategies (Apply by: May 14, 2017)

1. POSITION VACANT:  Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist, Data for Health, The Union and Vital Strategies, Mumbai

2. BACKGROUND:

The mission of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) is to bring innovation, expertise, solutions and support to address health challenges in low- and middle-income populations. Founded in 1920, with its Head Office in Paris, The Union today is both a non-profit institute with five scientific departments and several offices worldwide and a federation of close to 3,000 organisations and individuals who are committed to the same goals.

Its scientific departments focus on tuberculosis, HIV, lung health and non-communicable diseases, tobacco control and research; and each engages in research, provides technical assistance and offers training and other capacity-building activities leading to health solutions for the poor. For more details please visit http://www.theunion.org/ 

Vital Strategies, based in New York City, is an international public health organization and an independent affiliate of The Union. Vital Strategies provides expertise in project implementation and management, epidemiology and surveillance, and other core public health capacities on a breadth of global health challenges. It has two offices in the United States (New York and Washington DC) and one in Tanzania, Africa. For more information, please visit https://www.vitalstrategies.org/

Data for Health Initiative

The Data for Health Initiative is a strategic area of focus for Vital Strategies, a global public health organisation. Vital Strategies is a close affiliate of the The Union. The Union is supporting Vital Strategies in recruiting the best talent to execute their initiatives in India. This is being executed through the Union’s South-East Asia branch office.

Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Australian government, the Data for Health (D4H) initiative will equip public health leaders with tools to collect and use data to prioritize health challenges, develop policies, deploy resources, and measure success.  With better data and training in data use, governments in 20 locations across Latin America, Asia, and Africa will be able to turn insights from data into public policy, and direct resources to specific targeted issues affecting public health.

See http://www.bloomberg.org/program/public-health/data-health/ for more details.

The Initiative has three areas of focus:

(1) strengthening civil registration and vital statistics systems,
(2) introducing new methods for collecting information on behavioral risk factors,
(3) promoting the strategic use of data in setting public health policies and planning and evaluating public health programs (Data Impact).

Vital Strategies is leading the initiative’s third area of focus (Data Impact) and is collaborating with the Mumbai Department of Public Health to engage a GIS Specialist to help start up and then implement the use of GIS across the Department of Public Health.

The Data for Health Initiative is seeking a qualified individual to serve as a GIS Specialist for a multi-year initiative to improve the use of data to inform decisions on critical public health policies in Mumbai.

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Job Description:

Vital Strategies and The Union are seeking qualified candidates for the position of Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist. The post holder will provide technical expertise and hands-on support to the Mumbai Department of Public Health as they introduce and then scale up GIS mapping activities.  This role will operate as a Consultant with The Union South-East Asia.

Reporting to the Senior Technical Advisor at Vital Strategies responsible for the Data for Health Initiative in Mumbai, the Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist will be responsible for the rollout of GIS mapping.

Key Roles and Responsibilities: 

General Responsibilities:

(1) Ensure that the Mumbai Department of Public Health builds a robust and sustainable GIS system;
(2) Institute methods and principles relative to a stable GIS operation;
(3) Determine the infrastructure, financial, and human resources needed to implement the system; 
(4) Provide support and back up to ground level staff and decision-makers to ensure that the GIS is used effectively.

Specific Duties:

Under the guidance of the Mumbai Department of Public Health and Vital Strategies, the GIS Specialist will complete tasks in three broad domains:

(A) GIS Applications Development:

(1) Assess requirements for system capacities, including inputs, outputs, processes, timing, and performance, as well as recommend necessary additions and adaptations over time
(2) Develop work plans and budgets for the orderly implementation and then scale up of GIS activities
(3) Provide advice on GIS system architecture and assist in writing any scopes of work, tenders or other system descriptions
(4) Identify and develop tools and instruments to satisfy Department of Public Health needs

(B) Execution

(1) Sensitization
(a) Presentations to Department of Public Health staff on the benefits and uses of GIS to produce health maps
(b) Presentations on types of analyses possible with geospatial data

(2) Training

(a) Analyse, design, and develop instructional and non-instructional interventions to provide transfer of knowledge and evaluation for performance improvements, including:
(1) Facilitate trainings on GIS best practices to render data and information into visual geospatial representations
(2) Facilitate trainings on acquisition of geospatial and related data, data entry, quality control and editing
(3) Facilitate trainings on the use and interpretation of GIS maps

(b) Mentoring
(1) Provide on-site mentorship for decision-makers to assist in the use of GIS and analyses
(2) Provide IT support and trouble-shooting to staff encountering difficulties in either GIS data entry or use of geospatial data 
(3) Promote inter-organizational facilitation and communication

(c) Management
(1) Work closely with the Data Impact Coordinator to manage the implementation of GIS implementation and scale-up 
(2) Working closely with the Mumbai Department of Health leadership to target programs for GIS expansion
(3) Integrate resources and develop additional resources to support spatial and temporal user requirements

(d) Conduct Geospatial Analyses
(1) Process data and extract information to create products, drive conclusions, and inform decision-making stakeholders as requested by Health Department

(C) Monitoring and Reporting

(1) Provide regular feedback to the Public Health Department and Vital Strategies on program execution & results
(2) Produce standard reports as defined by the Public Health Department and Vital Strategies

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualifications: 

Post-graduate degree in GIS, computer science, geography or related field.

Experience:

(1) At least five years of experience with GIS software for mapping including expertise in GIS system administration and architecture, database management, and a good grounding in GIS principles, geospatial analyses and spatial data concepts;
(2) Candidates with exposure to working with public health projects shall be preferred.

Competencies and Skills:

(1) Proficiency in English;
(2) Proficiency in Excel;
(3) Strong organizational and written and oral communications skills;
(4) Ability to understand and interpret epidemiological evidence;
(5) Willingness and ability to travel in-country and internationally;
(6) Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills in English;
(7) Ability to prioritize effectively and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment;
(8) Extensive experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment;
(9) Experience working with an internationally-based team is preferable;
(10) Willingness to travel nationally and internationally (up to 10% of time).

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

Gross compensation budgeted for the position is attractive. Please note that offers shall be commensurate with the qualifications, experience and salary history of the selected candidate.

6. LOCATION:  Mumbai

7. CONTRACT:

The candidate selected shall be offered a 12 months contract, extendable, based on performance and availability of funds.

8. REFERENCE: GISS-UNION

9. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senior Consultant
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025 
Phones: 011-2684-2162; 011-4165-3612; 011-4101-1564 and 011-4101-1565 
Email: giss@sams.co.in 
Website: www.sams.co.in

10. LAST DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested apply to giss@sams.co.in with a cover letter, discussing their interest in and suitability for the position, along with an updated resume, giving details of three references, current cost to organization and expected compensation by or before May 14, 2017.

Applicants must also submit the Job Application Form (to be filled online at https://goo.gl/forms/hchmlnx4QzdbJBRx1) before the deadline. Please note that applications submitted without the Job Application Form will not be accepted. Candidates are requested to specify how they learnt about this vacancy in their cover letters.

Please note the incumbent shall be based in Mumbai, India and may be required to travel to different Vital Strategies and The Union offices across the world, based on the needs of the job. Indian nationals and/or professionals having permission to work in India shall be at an advantage.

The Union and Vital Strategies are committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, or disability.

Qualified women candidates are encouraged to apply.