Director of Digital Health and Information Systems (DHIS)

SRI Executive Search has been contracted by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to assist with the search for an exceptional candidate to fill the position of Director of Digital Health and Information Systems (DHIS).

About Africa CDC

Africa CDC strengthens the capacity and capability of Africa’s public health institutions as well as partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks, based on data-driven interventions and programmes.

Established in January 2016 by the 26th Ordinary Assembly of Heads of State and Government and officially launched in January 2017, Africa CDC is guided by the principles of leadership, credibility, ownership, delegated authority, timely dissemination of information, and transparency in carrying out its day-to-day activities. The institution serves as a platform for Member States to share and exchange knowledge and lessons from public health interventions.

For more information, visit https://africacdc.org/.

Role Purpose

Provide strategic leadership for Africa CDC’s Digital Health and Information Systems agenda. Lead the design, governance, and implementation of an interoperable continental digital health architecture, surveillance and data platforms, and integrated information systems that advance Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda,

Lead engagement with AU Member States on data sovereignty, continental governance frameworks, and secure data-sharing agreements, ensuring alignment with national priorities while strengthening trusted regional collaboration and collective health security.

Provide strategic oversight of Africa CDC’s management information systems to enhance operational efficiency, financial integrity, accountability, and institutional transparency. Ensure effective allocation and deployment of digital and financial resources in support of the continental agenda, working collaboratively across Directorates to advance Africa CDC’s digital health priorities and strengthen organisational performance.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy and leadership
• Develop and implement a continental strategy for digital health and public health information systems aligned with Africa CDC’s Strategic Plan and AU Agenda 2063.
• Lead the DHIS Directorate, setting vision, priorities, and workplans; manage staff, budgets, and partnerships.
• Provide strategic and technical advice to Africa CDC leadership and AU organs on digital health transformation, data governance, and health information policy.

Digital health architecture and systems
• Oversee the design, deployment, and interoperability of Africa CDC digital platforms (e.g., surveillance systems, DHIS2-based platforms, laboratory and case management systems, event-based surveillance, dashboards).
• Promote harmonised data standards, terminologies, and interoperability frameworks across Member States and Regional Collaborating Centres.
• Coordinate development of continental digital tools for outbreak detection, response, and routine public health functions (e.g., immunisation, NCDs, AMR, workforce).

Data governance, quality, and analytics
• Establish and enforce Africa CDC-wide policies and standards for data governance, privacy, security, and ethical use of data.
• Strengthen data quality assurance, validation, and reporting mechanisms across Member States.
• Oversee analytics, modelling, and visualization functions to generate timely, actionable intelligence for decision-makers at national, regional, and continental levels.

Support to Member States and capacity building
• Provide technical assistance to Member States to strengthen national health information systems and digital health strategies.
• Design and implement capacity-building programmes (training, mentorship, communities of practice) for digital health, data management, and analytics.
• Facilitate peer learning and technology transfer among Member States and Regional Economic Communities.

Partnerships and resource mobilisation
• Build and manage strategic partnerships with global and regional digital health and data partners (e.g., WHO, ITU, World Bank, AfDB, academic and technical agencies, private sector, open-source communities).
• Work closely with Resource Mobilisation and Member States Engagement to develop investment cases and secure funding for digital health and information systems.
• Represent Africa CDC in continental and global fora on digital health, data, and innovation.

Management, coordination, and compliance
• Ensure close coordination with all Africa CDC technical divisions, regional collaborating centres, and AU departments to align digital solutions with programmatic needs.
• Oversee procurement, implementation, and lifecycle management of DHIS-related ICT infrastructure and software in line with AU rules and cybersecurity requirements.
• Monitor and report on DHIS performance, risks, and impact.
• ensure compliance with AU policies, donor requirements, and relevant regulations.
• Performs any other relevant duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Profile

Education & work experience requirements
• Master's degree in public health, medical informatics, computer science, information systems, data science, epidemiology, or related field with at least fifteen (15) years of experience, out of which eight (8) years should be at a managerial level, and five (5) in a direct supervisory role.
• Progressively responsible experience in digital health, health information systems, or health data management, including substantial leadership/management experience.
• Proven experience leading large-scale digital health or health information system initiatives in Africa or comparable contexts.
• Demonstrated familiarity with DHIS2 and other major health information platforms, interoperability standards and data governance frameworks.
• Experience working with AU organs, RECs, national public health institutes, ministries of health, or multilateral health organisations is highly desirable.

Indicative KPIs/success metrics
• Adoption and effective use of Africa CDC-supported digital platforms by Member States.
• Improvements in timeliness, completeness, and quality of surveillance and health data at the continental level.
• Number and impact of digital health initiatives and capacity-building programmes implemented.
• Volume of resources mobilised for digital health and information systems.
• Strength of partnerships and alignment with continental and global digital health initiatives.

Core skills and competencies:
• Strong strategic and systems thinking; ability to translate complex technical issues into policy and operational recommendations.
• Deep expertise in digital health architecture, surveillance systems, and data governance.
• Excellent leadership, people management, and change management skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-building abilities with governments, donors, and technical partners.
• High-level analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills (briefs, reports, presentations).
• Ability to organise and motivate others and to work in a multi-cultural environment

Leadership Competencies
• Strategic Focus: Creates a compelling vision for the future state of the department/directorate and organisation. Establishes a comprehensive course of action to achieve the vision.
• Developing Organisational Capability: Promotes organisational learning and development to ensure that the department is well-positioned to meet future leadership needs and mentors others to enhance their development.
• Change Leadership: Leads/champions organisational change initiatives – consistently looks for ways to improve the Department/directorate or organisation.
• Strategic Risk Management: Uses sound judgement to make risky decisions in highly complex situations based on an assessment of the risks and benefits, impacts, etc.

Core Competencies
• Building Partnership: Initiates and cultivates strategic internal and external networking relationships, builds alliances and collaborates across boundaries to foster organisational goals through proactive engagement with key stakeholders.
• Drives Accountability Culture: Develops longer-term goals and proactively influences how resources, services, etc. are re-organised to achieve goals and offers recommendations on issues of accountability for improvement.
• Learning Orientation: Promotes ongoing learning and development across the organisation, develops personal and professional goals and makes insightful career planning decisions to achieve (or alter) these goals.
• Communicating with impact: Projects authority and credibility. Uses personal rather than positional power to influence and motivate others to achieve results and presents the key points of an argument persuasively.

Terms of Appointment

The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Salary

Indicative basic salary of US$ 78,138.00 (D1 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 26,208.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Role Location

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please ensure you click Apply and complete the Application Form by 23 April 2026 (23:59 hrs, GMT +3). It is essential that you submit your CV in English, specifically in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx), not exceeding 10MB.

Applications in other languages or formats will not be considered.

Rest assured, all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.