Program Officer, Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Job Brief

Program Officer, Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Vital Strategies is an international public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world's leading causes of illness, injury and death. We currently work in 73 countries, supporting data-driven decision making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies' priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include non-communicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, obesity prevention, overdose prevention, environmental health, and vital statistics systems building. Our programs are primarily concentrated in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website at to find out more about our work.

Vital Strategies is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace, employment practices, and culture. Vital respects intersecting identities, fosters a sense of belonging, and encourages diverse views that enable employees to bring their true selves to work and to reach their full potential. Vital is also committed to supporting employees with disabilities through inclusive hiring practices and reasonable workplace accommodations. Vital Strategies is committed to a professional work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, actual or perceived age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity or expression), partnership status, arrest or conviction record, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. Read about our workplace commitments:

Lead Poisoning Prevention Program:

Vital Strategies is expanding our program that addresses the issue of lead poisoning in low- and middle-income countries. We plan to build upon existing efforts and interest by collaborating with governmental agencies in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to strengthen health systems and build local expertise in childhood lead exposure to enact sound, cost-effective policies to address exposures.

Job Purpose:

Vital Strategies seeks a Program Officer to support the implementation of the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. This role will assist the global technical team in coordinating activities related to the design, implementation, and evaluation of lead surveillance systems. They will also collaborate with the team on the use of data to inform governments on the planning and enactment of lead poisoning prevention programs.

The Program Officer will work closely with the Epidemiologist and the Deputy Technical Director to assist with the coordination of technical activities and exchanges between headquarters and country teams. This role will also help in developing technical toolkits and reports that support surveillance implementation and public health system strengthening, as well as help facilitate technical exchanges and capacity building.

This role will be based in the New York City tri-state area and follows a hybrid work schedule, including in-office presence at least two days per week at Vital's New York City office. We offer competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary range for this position is USD $70,000-$80,000. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical Content Development Support & Knowledge Management -
• Support program leadership in the development, refinement, publication, and adaptation of global templates, toolkits, and technical guidance for partner countries.
• Collect and document country experiences to inform the refinement of survey instruments and field implementation protocols.
• Conduct scoping reviews, maintain key databases, and share relevant updates and advancements in lead poisoning prevention and program planning.
• Coordinate with the team to ensure consistency and accuracy of technical content across program materials (e.g., global estimates).

Training, Capacity Building & Program Support -
• Assist in the coordination of technical trainings for country teams, including tracking progress and gathering feedback to improve materials.
• Assist in planning and organizing training sessions and knowledge-sharing activities with internal and external experts.
• Identify ongoing training needs based on feedback and program priorities.
• Provide ad hoc technical and operational support to country teams and program staff as needed.

Reporting, Communications & Knowledge Dissemination -
• Contribute to drafting and editing technical reports, program documentation, and knowledge products related to surveillance and capacity-building activities.
• Serve as liaison with program communications staff to support the design, production, and dissemination of reports and materials.
• Assist in compiling documentation for internal reporting, donor communications, and broader knowledge dissemination.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisors.

Qualifications:

Education & Degree -
• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Global Health, or a related field. Master's preferred.

Skills & Abilities -
• Technical writing and documentation skills, with the ability to synthesize information into clear reports, guidance, and knowledge products.
• Organizational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Research and analytical skills, including experience conducting literature reviews and maintaining data or knowledge repositories.
• Ability to support the development and adaptation of technical tools and guidance for diverse country contexts.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across technical teams, country offices, and external partners.
• Ability to support the coordination of trainings and knowledge-sharing activities, including logistics, content tracking, and feedback collection.
• Attention to detail, particularly in reviewing and ensuring consistency of technical content across materials.
• Familiarity with public health or environmental health concepts, with the ability to understand general technical subject matter (e.g., lead exposure, surveillance systems).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with knowledge management systems or data tracking tools.

Experience:

Required-
• Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in global public health, global environmental health, or public health surveillance.
• Experience contributing to professional and scientific writing, technical documentation, presentations, including reports, guidance materials, or knowledge products.
• Demonstrated experience supporting program implementation, coordination, or technical assistance in a multi-country or complex stakeholder environment.
• Experience coordinating or supporting trainings, workshops, or capacity-building activi-ties.

Preferred-
• Familiarity with technical epidemiological study designs and public health surveillance systems.
• Familiarity with statistical or data analysis software such as R, Stata, or similar tools.
• Experience with donor-funded programs
• Experience working in or supporting low- and middle-income country (LMIC) programs.
• Familiarity with training design, facilitation, or adult learning approaches.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
• The role requires a willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 10% of the time for meetings with partners and local stakeholders.
• Candidates should be comfortable working across multiple time zones and demonstrate flexibility in collaborating with global teams.

#LI-Hybrid