Consultant, Technical Package Modules, Lead Poisoning Prevention

Resolve to Save Lives’ Cardiovascular Health (CVH) unit works closely with Ministries of Health and other partners to save as many lives as possible from cardiovascular disease. Recently, RTSL has expanded our cardiovascular health work to incorporate lead poisoning prevention.

Length of Engagement: Three months initially, with possibility of extension up to 4 additional months

Level of Effort: Estimated at 75-100% FTE

Location: Remote

Job Structure: Independent Contractor 

Position Summary

Lead poisoning negatively affects children and can cause severe and irreversible health effects, including cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, and developmental delays. Recent studies have estimated an enormous burden of cardiovascular disease from lead exposures, as many as 3.5 million deaths annually. RTSL is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) on a technical package for lead poisoning prevention and plans to launch the package around the World Health Assembly in 2027.

RTSL is seeking four consultants to support the development of the four modules. Each consultant should have demonstrated experience in at least one of the following areas of lead expertise:

1. Blood lead data, surveillance and epidemiologic/clinical response to chemical events
2. Environmental source investigation and remediation
3. Industrial and occupational lead use, hazards, and safety
4. Lead adulteration of consumer products and supply chains

These areas of expertise will each form the content of technical package modules. Core activities of the consultancy include leading the development of modules of the technical package, including updating systematic reviews where relevant; systematically searching the literature and compiling evidence to support key actions and interventions; mapping key stakeholders and ongoing efforts in the lead sector; drafting outlines and the text of the module itself, and responding to edits and input from RTSL, peer review experts, WHO, and end users. 

Core Tasks and Activities

Literature review and synthesis:

• Where existing systematic reviews align with the contents of the module and are out of date, update the systematic review using the same search criteria.
• Where standards for lead content, regulations, reporting, or other relevant criteria exist relevant to a given module, conduct a systematic, narrative, and/or scoping review to assess the landscape of standards available.
• Using a systematic approach, assess relevant peer-reviewed and gray literature databases to synthesize existing evidence to guide development of practical, implementable technical package modules.
• Summarize existing literature, stakeholders, interventions, and effectiveness.

Writing and reviewing:

• Review and revise outlines of the modules to align with key actions, length limits, key deadlines, and other criteria as outlined by the RTSL and WHO teams.
• Draft sections of the modules following finalized outlines
• Review comments and edits on outlines and full text from RTSL and WHO team, peer reviewers, partners, end users, and other experts, and respond to requested changes in a timely manner.

Expert engagement:

• Engage with experts, peer reviewers, end users, RTSL, and WHO to present module content and receive live feedback as needed.

Internal engagement:

• Engage with RTSL regularly for feedback on literature reviews, outlines, and modules, in an in-person convening (with the potential for up to 3 additional sessions) for deeper strategic sessions focused on drafting and finalizing products.

Contract Deliverables

• Updated systematic reviews as applicable
  • As applicable, published manuscripts of updated systematic reviews (secondary priority)
• Landscape mapping specific to the lead topic to reflect relevant findings from systematic reviews; module-specific stakeholders and decision makers; related case studies/country examples of policies and regulations, mitigation measures and interventions; critical knowledge gaps; and relevant resources and tools.
• Inputs to draft outline of module(s)
• Final outline of module, responsive to changes from RTSL, WHO, and other inputs
• Drafts of sections of module text

Contract Management

The Independent Contractor will submit all deliverables to the Senior Technical Advisor, Lead Poisoning Prevention, CVH, who will manage this contract and monitor progress toward the deliverables. 

Qualifications

Expertise in one or more of the following areas:

Blood lead data, surveillance and epidemiologic/clinical response to chemical events. Example areas of expertise:

• Expertise in analyzing and interpreting blood lead level data, drawing epidemiologic inferences, and prioritizing sources
• Expertise in establishing blood lead surveillance and monitoring, and reporting within those systems, including active and/or passive systems
• Expertise in responding to elevated blood lead levels detected within ongoing surveillance, as well as epidemiologic response to chemical events
• Expertise in clinical treatment of lead poisoning, especially within chemical event response

Environmental source investigation and remediation. Example areas of expertise:

• Expertise in analyzing and interpreting data on lead in sources, especially for prioritization of major sources of exposure
• Expertise in monitoring lead in the environment and in sources/products
• Expertise in investigating environmental (e.g., soil, air, water), industrial (e.g., mining accidents), and consumer product sources as potential exposures within chemical event response

Industrial and occupational lead use, hazards, and safety. Example areas of expertise:

• Expertise in regulations and standards for safe, responsible use of lead in industry, especially to protect community and occupational health, and including producer responsibility schemes
• Expertise in national approaches to facilitating, mandating, or otherwise encouraging compliance from industry with responsibility schemes
• Expertise in testing and reporting to improve occupational health
• Expertise in facility inspection and ambient monitoring to facilitate enforcement approaches
• Expertise and familiarity in engaging with informal operations of industrial lead in LMICs

Lead adulteration of consumer products and supply chains. Example areas of expertise:

• Expertise in regulations and standards for lead in consumer products
• Expertise in technical assistance and engagement with producers to facilitate, mandate, or otherwise encourage change in production away from lead-containing products
• Expertise in rapid market surveys, screening, and other post-production enforcement measures, including for domestic and internationally-imported products
• Expertise and familiarity in engaging in the informal sector in LMICs

Experience:

• 7+ years of relevant global health or development experience
• Demonstrated experience with technical writing
• Experience in environmental health/lead exposure, per the above areas
• Experience conducting policy and other systematic reviews

Education:

• Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, public policy or international development

Skills & abilities:

• Ability to communicate technical knowledge and expertise in both policy and operational environments
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Excellent project management skills
• Strong analytical and research skills
• High degree of initiative, adaptability, problem-solving skills, and creativity
• Time-management skills with the ability to work in a deadline-oriented environment, including the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks independently
• Ability to attend periodic in-person meetings

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter detailing their suitability for the role.