Animal Health Security Specialist, DOS LEAP Global - Thailand

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

The Animal Health Security Specialist will support the day-to-day implementation and coordination of animal health security activities between the Regional Strategic Assistance (RSA) Section of the U.S. Embassy in Thailand and the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) service delivery in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives.

The Specialist will focus on two primary areas: (1) supporting Thailand’s preparation to serve as the next ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ) host country, including transition coordination and stakeholder engagement; and (2) providing advisory support for the future development and sustainability of the Regional Field Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarians (R-FETPV), including its integration with ACCAHZ and regional standardization efforts. This position is designed to strengthen execution of agreed activities by providing subject matter expertise to planning, ensuring timely follow-up, coordination across technical teams, and alignment of ongoing efforts at the technical working level. The Specialist will work closely with technical units within DLD, academic institutions, and implementing partners.

The specialist will also provide technical support to DLD to facilitate and lead high-level policy or strategic engagement as appropriate. The Specialist will be embedded within DLD and receive day-to-day guidance from DLD and RSA focal points and will support coordination across partners through regular communication, documentation, and tracking of implementation progress.

Support Thailand’s Transition and Preparation as the Next ACCAHZ Host

Country

• Provide strategic and technical support to facilitate Thailand’s transition into the role of ACCAHZ host country, including coordination of institutional, administrative, and operational preparedness activities.
• Lead and support the drafting, review, negotiation, and finalization of host country agreements, legal instruments, governance documents, and associated administrative frameworks required for ACCAHZ hosting arrangements.
• Develop, refine, and operationalize a comprehensive transition roadmap outlining key milestones, institutional responsibilities, timelines, risk mitigation measures, and implementation priorities for Thailand’s assumption of hosting responsibilities.
• Support the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) in convening and coordinating high-level stakeholder consultations, intergovernmental meetings, technical working groups, and cross-sector coordination mechanisms related to ACCAHZ transition planning and host country readiness.
• Conduct technical review and policy analysis of relevant legal frameworks, institutional mandates, regional agreements, operational procedures, and governance mechanisms associated with ACCAHZ host country obligations and ASEAN cooperation frameworks.
• Serve as a focal coordination point with the ACCAHZ Secretariat in Malaysia to facilitate effective transition management, institutional knowledge transfer, continuity planning, and cross-country information exchange between the outgoing and incoming host countries.
• Establish and maintain monitoring and follow-up mechanisms to track implementation progress, manage action items, identify operational bottlenecks, and ensure timely delivery of transition-related outputs and commitments by relevant stakeholders.
• Provide technical inputs and advisory support on governance, institutional strengthening, stakeholder engagement, and operational planning to ensure Thailand’s effective assumption of ACCAHZ hosting responsibilities in alignment with regional priorities and organizational mandates.

Provide Advisory Support for R-FETPV Future Development

• Support planning and strategic development activities for the future sustainability of R-FETPV.
• Assist in preparing documentation and conduct strategic assessments to position R-FETPV for financial and structural support from the Thai government and other potential organizations including ACCAHZ.
• Collaborate with R-FETPV leadership to develop regional standardization frameworks for field epidemiology training for veterinarians.
• Support research and preparation of materials related to potential formalization or certification of regional training standards.
• Facilitate coordination between R-FETPV, ACCAHZ, DLD, and other relevant stakeholders to align program development efforts.

Support Coordination of Animal Health Activities

• Facilitate routine coordination between RSA, DLD, academic institutions, and partner organizations on animal health security activities related to RSA-supported projects.
• Support implementation of animal health activities under the RSA-supported projects between DLD and academic partners.
• Coordinate meetings, follow-ups, and communications to ensure continuity of work across stakeholders.
• Monitor progress of planned activities and track implementation against agreed timelines and deliverables.
• Identify delays, operational challenges, and bottlenecks, and communicate these to relevant stakeholders.

Reporting:

The Specialist will support routine tracking and documentation of implementation progress to facilitate coordination across RSA, DLD, and partner organizations. Reporting will focus on operational updates, activity status, and coordination outcomes.

The Specialist will prepare a monthly implementation brief summarizing progress of key activities, coordination efforts, and operational challenges, along with proposed follow-up actions.

On a weekly basis, the Specialist will provide concise updates to RSA highlighting current activities, coordination efforts, any issues requiring attention and suggested solutions. The Specialist will also maintain records of meetings, action items, and follow-up actions to ensure continuity of work.

Travel:

The job will require travel within the country and may include regional travel to Malaysia for coordination with the current ACCAHZ Host Country.