The Portfolio Manager/Epidemiologist will support programmatic and epidemiological activities related to biosurveillance of infectious disease pathogens, with an emphasis on respiratory infections and laboratory capabilities across the network of partner laboratories funded by the Department of War Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (GEIS) program. The Portfolio Manager/Epidemiologist will work closely with the Science Advisor and Senior Molecular Epidemiologist to track and coordinate activities related to respiratory surveillance and emerging technologies for laboratory-confirmed surveillance, and will coordinate the Next-Generation Sequencing User working group. The individual in this role should have a strong background in principles of epidemiology and experience with tracking programmatic elements related to infectious disease surveillance activities. The ideal candidate will also have a solid understanding of laboratory methods in order to support updating the annual Laboratory Capability Survey and associated database.

Programmatic duties may include development and execution of Focus Area strategy; reviewing and compiling programmatic and data reports from partners; project monitoring and evaluation; and collaboration with partners to ensure quality performance is maintained. Technical and scientific duties may include providing subject matter expertise in research/clinical laboratory pathogen detection/diagnosis platforms; designing and performing epidemiological analyses in support of the GEIS Program Office and funded partners; ensuring projects have the appropriate strategic focus and operational considerations to support FHP as a primary goal; and creating and tracking performance measures through development of appropriate program objectives and indicators. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Primary Duties

• Provide support to senior staff through portfolio management, including: review of annual proposals and budgets, tracking progress towards milestones, supporting routine briefing updates and review of monthly data submissions.

• Provide programmatic support to GEIS Program Office staff and partner laboratories with respect to various internal and external wastewater-based surveillance efforts.

• Support the Senior Data Analyst in managing and updating the Laboratory Capability Database and in collecting, cleaning and analyzing routine respiratory surveillance data.

• Support general program laboratory initiatives and help to strategize and operationalize infectious disease laboratory initiatives.

• Communicate regularly with GEIS partner organizations in the U.S. and overseas.

• Serve as a subject matter expert in epidemiology and infectious disease surveillance, with a special focus on emerging respiratory pathogens such as influenza, COVID-19, and other military-relevant respiratory infections.

Secondary Duties

• Perform ongoing evaluation of GEIS-funded activities at GEIS Partner Laboratories, including occasional site visits to partner laboratories (CONUS/OCONUS) and national/international professional conferences.

• Build key reference materials for portfolio activities, including geographic laydowns of surveillance locations/sites, Scientific Review Board roster(s), etc.
• Maintain awareness of advances in epidemiology, laboratory methods, and genomic epidemiology to advise on and support integration into relevant Focus Area initiatives.

• Maintain awareness of Force Health Protection policies and literature external to AFHSD, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization.

• Provide programmatic support as requested by GEIS Scientific Program Manager, to include reviewing and revising documents and other deliverables.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree (MPH, MSPH, MSc, or related degree) with a minimum 5 years of experience in public health setting required.

• Experience in project and/or portfolio management required.

• Experience supporting Federal clients, particularly DoW, preferred.

• Experience with DoW CONUS and OCONUS laboratories preferred.

• Experience in laboratory methods and/or genomic methods for infectious disease (or other public health) threats

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Excellent skills in organization, attention to detail, and ability to review and digest information from multiple sources.

• Excellent organizational skills and strong oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to lead projects and initiatives to provide data-related solutions.

• Ability to adapt quickly to changing or evolving needs.

• Ability to collaborate across expertise domains in fast-paced, team environment.