Epidemiologist

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 168,113 USD and 216,746 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 (WHE/The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The WHE Response division (WRE) is responsible for rapidly detecting and responding to health emergencies while leveraging relevant national and international partnerships, ensuring that emergency-affected populations in acute and protracted emergencies have access to essential health services and that systems are maintained and strengthened in fragile, conflict and vulnerable settings while implementing at scale, proven prevention strategies for priority pandemic/epidemic-prone diseases. The Alert and Response Coordination Department (ARC) is responsible to provide end-to-end capacity for the detection, management, coordination and monitoring of acute public health emergencies, as well as the generation and dissemination of public health information around such events. It identifies potential acute events through early warning, provides risk assessment of such events, and delivers on the management, coordination and ongoing monitoring of acute events that require activation of an incident management structure at HQ. These include epidemics and acute humanitarian emergencies.

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: - Coordinate a small team focusing on Alert and Verification related activities within the Public Health Intelligence unit. - Carry out all aspects of early detection of acute public health events, including but not limited to event-based surveillance; verification and risk assessment, monitoring; and information-sharing on events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern. - Collaborate and Coordinate activities with staff at all levels in the Public Health Intelligence and the Alert and Response Coordination Department, to foster

• the elaboration and implementation of WHO-wide Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools for detecting, verifying, assessing and monitoring events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern in line with the operational requirements of IHR; and
• the definition of institutional strategies and analysis linked to the formulation of briefing documents and materials, situation analyses, and convening multi-disciplinary risk assessment, as appropriate. As delegated, play a key role in activities such as but not limited to -

[a] developing and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and strategic policies for event-based surveillance and risk assessment of public health threats; [b] providing technical guidance to further the development of WHO Event Management system (EMS) and Event Information System (EIS) and other event-based surveillance systems; [c] encouraging or promoting the implementation of new approaches and innovative methods to systematically detect and assess events of potential significance to international public health , with emphasis on building partnerships networks; [d] elaborating state-of-the-art processes to critically monitor and evaluate performance and results of epidemic intelligence activities; and [e] enhancing and encouraging world-wide information-sharing as key component of promoting and nurturing a culture of multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting approaches within WHO and with key partners.

- Conduct emergency epidemiological field risk-assessment missions as required. - Develop and provide capacity building and training to colleagues within WHO and key partners, including Ministries of Health with focus on enhancing epidemiology and information management core competencies, and stimulate collaboration with officials at the regional and national levels to ensure a coordinated response using standardized, innovative information systems and tools. - Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and back stopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced level university degree (Masters level or above) in Epidemiology or an advanced university degree in Medicine, public health or related area with specialization in 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: Field experience in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of acute public health events experience in resource limited countries. Experience in conducting event-based surveillance and risk assessment. Good understanding in inter-agency collaboration or in WHO, UN, UN Agencies or other international organisations. 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.

Skills

- Demonstrated ability to interact in complex situations involving technical, cultural and political elements. - Sound analytical and organizational skills. - Demonstrated knowledge of surveillance issues and emerging diseases in international context. - Willingness to deploy at short notice in support of international emergency health interventions. - Excellent presentation with ability to communicate in a credible and effective way, with emphasis on writing skills. - Proven ability to work and produce results under pressure in critical situations. - Tact, diplomacy and courtesy.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Moving forward in a changing environment Promoting innovation and organizational learning

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of Other 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 4952 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.