US Embassy is hiring a Public Health Specialist

Announcement Number: Yaounde-2026-017;
Hiring Agency: EMBASSY YAOUNDE;
Position Title: Public Health Specialist - Global Health/Malaria (All Interested Applicants / All Sources);
Open Period: 09/09/2026 - 09/23/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY);
Vacancy Time Zone: GMT+1;
Series/Grade: LE - 0550 12;
Salary: XAF 40,431,544 per year;
Work Schedule: Full-time – 40 hours/week;
Promotion Potential: LE-12;
Duty Location: 1 vacancy in Yaounde, CM;
Telework Eligible: No.

For More Info: HR Section – 000-000-0000 – ydeapplicants@state.gov.

Overview

Hiring Path: Open to the public.

Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency: Open to All Interested Applicants / All Sources. For USEFM – FP grade is 03. Actual FP salary authorized by Washington D.C.

Security Clearance Required: Public Trust – Background Investigation.

Appointment Type: Permanent.
Appointment Type Details: Indefinite, subject to successful completion of probationary period.

Marketing Statement: We encourage you to review the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before applying.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO): The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Summary: The U.S. Mission in Cameroon seeks eligible and qualified applicants for the Public Health Specialist (Global Health/Malaria) position in the Foreign Assistance Section.

Supervisory Position: No.
Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No.

Duties

Key Responsibilities

Program Management: Lead and manage the development, coordination, and oversight of global health program activities designed to achieve strategic objectives under U.S. global health strategies and bilateral agreements. Translate national strategies and policy priorities into practical program guidance and country-level activities. Analyze complex programmatic and policy issues, providing recommendations to senior leadership on program direction and resource allocation. Develop briefing materials, technical guidance, and strategic proposals to strengthen program effectiveness.

Provide strategic and technical leadership on program design, implementation, and evaluation. Prepare and present reports and briefings on program progress and strategic priorities for Department leadership and other officials. Lead the preparation of key planning and reporting documents.

Manage a portfolio of grants, cooperative agreements, and other funding mechanisms. This includes developing solicitation documents, providing technical guidance to partners and grantees, monitoring performance and use of funds, and recommending corrective actions when needed. Maintain program records and tracking tools to support effective decision-making.

When officially designated, provide oversight of assigned grant awards, including monitoring compliance with award terms, reviewing performance reports and funding requests, and identifying and addressing any performance or compliance concerns.

Government and Stakeholder Engagement: Represent the Department of State in national, regional, and international technical working groups and policy forums. Serve as a liaison with senior government officials and stakeholders across donor agencies, international organizations, and private sector partners to advance U.S. global health priorities.

Engage senior government officials to drive major reforms in how foreign assistance is implemented. Lead negotiations on program design, implementation, and sustainability with government counterparts and other stakeholders. Lead review meetings to identify implementation challenges and drive solutions with country partners.

Participate in or chair technical working groups and interagency collaboration efforts. Provide strategic input to senior leadership on program design and partnership strategies. Share technical expertise to strengthen host country health systems and improve program sustainability.

Administrative Support: Maintain accurate program files and records, including reports, agreements, budgets, and technical reviews. Ensure all program information is properly documented and securely maintained in official systems, including sensitive health information.

Prepare briefings for visiting officials, congressional delegations, senior leadership, and other stakeholders. Coordinate site visits and other engagement activities for senior officials, including logistics, technical briefings, and program presentations.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements: All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a: Security Certificate; or Public Trust – background investigation Security Clearance. All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.

Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Education Requirements: Master's degree in Public Health, Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Community Health, or Population Health is required.

Evaluations: You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement. You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test. You must complete the application form and provide the required documents. Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

Qualifications:

Experience: A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in public health programs with demonstrated expertise in global health programs is required. Experience must include managing, coordinating, and leading complex analytical and project management efforts supporting the full program management cycle, including design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

At least five (5) years of this experience must be at a senior professional or management level, with responsibility for program coordination, oversight, or management within a government, donor agency, international organization, non-governmental organization (NGO), or private sector institution is required.

Language: Fluent (speaking, reading, writing) in English and French. This may be tested.

Job Knowledge: The incumbent must possess detailed knowledge of current public health issues in the host country, along with a strong understanding of program design, implementation, and evaluation principles. In-depth knowledge of public health services related to global health and malaria is essential, as is a thorough understanding of the recipient government's health care system and structures—including familiarity with Ministry of Health policies, program priorities, and regulations. The candidate must also demonstrate sound team management skills to effectively plan, organize, and direct multi-disciplinary activities, along with solid working knowledge of administrative requirements such as timelines, systems, databases, and processing procedures. Additionally, the role requires working knowledge of budgeting and fiscal management practices in support of grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.

Following placement in the position, the incumbent will be expected to gain comprehensive knowledge of USG global health programs and policies, including the America First Global Health Strategy, global best practices, and the current program operational plan process. The incumbent will also develop familiarity with Department of State Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD) processes for grants and contracts, and will build in-depth, specialist expertise in USG global health programs, strategies, methods, and techniques for designing, implementing, and evaluating program outcomes—with a particular focus on malaria. This may be tested.

Skills And Abilities: The incumbent must possess strong oral and written communication skills to establish and maintain effective, sustainable working relationships with national and international partners and senior stakeholders. The role requires the ability to analyze, interpret, and apply complex program design, management, and implementation approaches in support of global health programming. Proficient computer skills are essential, including advanced use of spreadsheet applications for data analysis, reporting, and program monitoring, as well as standard word processing and presentation software. The candidate must also demonstrate strong numerical and analytical skills to support program monitoring, data interpretation, and evidence-based decision-making.

Following placement in the position, the incumbent is expected to build the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with local and international organizations through networking and partnership development, supporting coordination, integration, and implementation of public health program activities. The incumbent will also develop strong stakeholder management skills, including the demonstrated ability to work effectively with government counterparts, implementing partners, and donors in complex program environments. Extensive knowledge of, and experience managing, USG funds—including cooperative agreements and contracts—along with proficiency in program systems supporting USG global health programs, is expected to develop over time. Additionally, the incumbent will cultivate the ability to influence, negotiate, and persuade stakeholders to advance public health program objectives, and will learn to effectively use DoS and GHSD-specific databases and program management systems.

This may be tested.

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits:

Agency Benefits: The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees.

SALARY: The annual gross salary includes: the Basic Rate, the Miscellaneous Benefits Allowance, and the End-of-the-Year Bonus. Seniority Allowance is paid in accordance with local labor law. A Cashier allowance is paid for eligible positions.

MEDICAL BENEFITS: The U.S. Mission in Yaoundé directly reimburses eligible employees for covered medical expenses incurred for them and/or eligible dependents, subject to the stated limits of the Local Compensation Plan.

LEAVE BENEFITS: Subject to the stated limits and rules of the Local Compensation Plan, employees are entitled to the following types of leaves: Annual Leave, Sick Leave, Maternity Leave, Special Leave.

HOLIDAYS: The U.S. Mission in Yaoundé and the Embassy Branch Office in Douala observe American and Cameroonian public holidays, about 19 holidays per year.

For Eligible Family Member (EFM) applicants, benefits should be discussed with the HR Office. The pay plan is assigned by the HR Office and confirmed by Washington, D.C.

Other Information:

HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS: A hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the order listed below. It is essential you accurately describe your status in your application, failure to do so may result in a determination that you are not eligible for a hiring preference.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER

1. Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*;

2. AEFM / USEFM;

3. Foreign Service (FS) on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) with reemployment rights**.

• IMPORTANT: US citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 ("Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") preferably Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans' Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability, equivalent documentation, or certification. A "certification" is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active-duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.

** This level of preference applies to all FS employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.

For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, etc., please visit the 3 FAM 7210 Definitions.

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS

The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs only:
• Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible. This does not apply when the hiring mechanism is TEMP or the work schedule is intermittent or irregular;
• Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing.

The following apply to Locally Employed (LE) Staff only:
• Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible;
• Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, or an MBC score of less than 100 points on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible.

How to Apply

How to Apply: Click the "Apply to This Vacancy" button at the top of the page to begin your application. For an instructional video on how to apply click here.

Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills (including English), and job-related skills or requirements in your application.

You may edit your application any time before the vacancy closing date. If you fail to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date of this vacancy, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

For a copy of the complete position description, please contact the HR Office.

To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Office.

We foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace where employees can be themselves. We invite qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Required Documents: Please upload all applicable documents to your application. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

All Applicants:
• Residency Permit (if applicable);
• Work Permit (if applicable);
• Master's degree or equivalent;
• Work Attestation(s).

In addition, Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants must submit:
• Copy of Sponsor's Travel Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent);
• Passport copy;
• DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans' Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable);
• SF-50 (if applicable).

Next Steps: Once the Vacancy Announcement (VA) closes:
• Applications meeting the minimum education and experience requirements will be screened by HR Office and the Selecting Official(s);
• ONLY shortlisted applicants will be contacted by email for mandatory language and/or subject matter tests;
• ONLY successful tested applicants will be contacted by email for interviews;
• ONLY tested and/or interviewed applicants will be notified by email of the results.

For Selected Applicants:
• HR Office will send a Conditional Offer with the security certification and medical clearance requirements;
• The security certification is a 2–4-month process and is done by the Regional Security Office (RSO), who will contact the applicant once he/she completes the requirements provided with the Conditional Offer;
• The medical clearance is covered by the U.S. Embassy, and will be completed by the applicant separately, during the security certification process;
• Once HR Office receives the medical clearance and the security certification, the applicant will receive a Formal Offer with an agreed start date.

For more information on applying for jobs or employment with us, please visit the U.S. Mission website https://cm.usembassy.gov/jobs/#apply.

Thank you for your application and your interest in working with us.

HOW TO APPLY?

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at: https://bit.ly/3cImd1A.

Deadline: Open Period: 09/09/2026 - 09/23/2026.