Epidemiologist

Overview

Support and enhance WHO's health emergency surveillance and response initiatives.

You have:

• Advanced level university degree in epidemiology, quantitative methods and/or medicine, complemented by courses in epidemiology, public health, international health or a related discipline.
• At least seven years' experience with successful track record in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of acute public health events; epidemic surveillance at the national and/or international levels plus demonstrated field experience in the context of large epidemics or public health crisis.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of French and WHO language is desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in field epidemiology, quantitative methods of analysis, data management and surveillance methods.

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 173,480 USD and 223,666 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are over whelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems division (WSE) is responsible to build a system of collaborative intelligence enabling better decisions to avert and manage public health threats and risks. Its goal is to enable, strengthen and support countries, regional and global actors in averting and managing public health threats and risks through collaborative problem solving and decision-making for short-term action and long-term policies, informed by better data and analytics. The Surveillance Systems Department is responsible forthe setting of norms and standards for surveillance, the development of global surveillance strategies, supporting members states in the implementation of these strategies, and strengthening of national and global capacities for surveillance through applied epidemiology training.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following duties which are performed according to the needs and agenda.

• Support the development and implementation of WHO's surveillance strategy guidelines, protocols, tools and standard operating procedures (SoPs) for detection, verification and response to public health events of national and international concern, under OH approach.
• Evaluate the core national surveillance capacities for event detection, verification and response in accordance with the requirements of IHR 2005.
• Collaborate with the national health authorities to develop plan of action for strengthening the core surveillance capacities in accordance with the requirement for IHR 2005.
• Contribute to the enhancement of international and national capacities for investigation and risk assessment of public health hazards through the development and implementation of standards and tools
• Support the further development and expansion of the field epidemiology workforce
• Identify gaps and participate in research on best practices in implementing programmes and activities and dissemination of information for capacity building in the area of surveillance and field epidemiology
• When required, conduct field investigation for outbreak verification, risk assessment and provide technical support for rapid public health response to public health emergencies emanating from known or unknown disease pathogens.
• Serves as the technical reference among the peer community, UN Agencies sand other stakeholders at the technical levels in the respective area of expertise.
• Liaises with and utilizes partnerships in other UN Agencies, Donor, or research institutions in the surveillance and field epidemiology to position the technical area of work and implementation into Global and/or National policies.
• Represent the programme area of work at various meetings to advocate for surveillance and field epidemiology.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, including replacing and back stopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university degree in epidemiology, quantitative methods and/or medicine, complemented by courses in epidemiology (in case the advanced degree wasn't in Epidemiology already), public health, international health or a related discipline. Desirable: Specialization in one of the above fields. Infectious disease epidemiology

Experience

Essential: At least seven years' experience with successful track record in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of acute public health events; epidemic surveillance at the national and/or international levels plus demonstrated field experience in the context of large epidemics or public health crisis at the national and international levels. Desirable: In-service training in field epidemiology such as Field Epidemiology (and Laboratory) Training Programme (FELTP), the European Program for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Programme or equivalent experience. Experience in managing complex flows of information at field and global level, with focus on the design, implementation and interpretation of quantitative research activities. Experience in WHO or other UN Agencies. Experience with International NGOS, in particular in LMI.

Skills

• Demonstrated expertise in field epidemiology, quantitative methods of analysis, data management and surveillance methods
• Knowledge in infectious disease epidemiology, particularly epidemic-prone, emerging and re-emerging diseases
• Demonstrated expertise in public health emergencies in international settings
• Proven ability to link routine health information and quantitative data to public health response in outbreaks, emergencies, planning, service delivery and/or policy-decision making.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills combined with ability to multi-task and produce accurate results under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to communicate efficiently
• Tact, diplomacy and courtesy, respect of WHO PSEAH policy, team player.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Knowing and managing yourself

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of WHO language.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 75,602 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 5217 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

Potential interview questions