Epidemiologist

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 74,649 USD and 97,747 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.

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PURPOSE OF POSITION

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization. The objective of the IARC is to promote international collaboration in cancer research.

The Evidence Synthesis and Classification Branch (ESC) produces the WHO Classification of Tumours, the IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans, and the IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention.

The IARC Monographs Programme (IMO) produces IARC’s flagship series of scientific reviews that identify environmental factors which can increase the risk of cancer. The Programme does this by convening international, interdisciplinary Working Groups of expert scientists to write critical reviews and develop evaluations of the published scientific evidence. The Monographs are used by national and international health agencies as scientific support for their actions to prevent exposure to known or suspected carcinogens.

The purpose of this post is to provide scientific expertise on cancer epidemiology within the IARC Monographs Programme (IMO), in the Evidence Synthesis and Classification (ESC) Branch. This expertise is required in Monographs meetings, during the meetings as Responsible Officer or Rapporteur, and after the meetings for scientific accuracy control of the manuscripts; and to serve other scientific duties related to the incumbent’s knowledge and experience, including media interviews.

The incumbent serves primarily as a scientific specialist on cancer epidemiology for all IMO projects and in that capacity works with each Responsible Officer. The incumbent also serves as Responsible Officer for IMO projects and in that capacity coordinates the work of other IMO Scientists.

Available guidelines:

The Preamble to the IARC Monographs and IARC Scientific Publications on mechanisms of carcinogenesis give guiding principles and outline procedures for producing Monographs and for carrying out evaluations of carcinogenic hazards; IARC Medium and Long-Term strategy; decisions of IARC’s governing and scientific councils.

Nature and purpose of contact within the Organization:

Scientists within IARC and WHO to exchange information and to discuss scientific studies on the agents reviewed by the Monographs programme, to obtain information on researchers who may participate in future Monograph meetings, and to coordinate their participation in Monographs meetings as members of the secretariat; staff from the Library to retrieve scientific literature and from the Communications group for interactions with the media.

Nature and purpose of contact outside the Organization:

Senior scientists and consultants world-wide to exchange information necessary for the organization of Monographs meetings and to discuss scientific studies on agents reviewed by the Monographs Programme; print and electronic media to communicate the results developed at Monographs meetings.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the IMO Programme and under the overall supervision of the IMO Programme Head are several Responsible Officers, each charged with the overall planning and execution of one Monographs meeting or related scientific meeting per year. The product of each meeting is a Monographs volume or other scientific publication. Because Monographs topics vary widely, all scientists in the Programme must be versatile and able to develop expertise in new areas.

The incumbent serves primarily as a scientific specialist on cancer epidemiology for all IMO projects and supervises several support and scientific staff members within the IMO Programme

1) When serving as Responsible Officer for a Monographs meeting (1 out of every 4 meetings) or other related scientific meeting, the incumbent plans the overall organization of the meeting and the final product, organizes pertinent literature searches, proposes the long-list names of experts and their assigned tasks for the meeting, maintains liaison with the experts to monitor their progress and to review the pre-meeting working papers that they draft. The Responsible Officer also reviews and approves the final product prior to publication.

2) At Monographs meetings, the incumbent serves as lead rapporteur for the subgroup on cancer epidemiology. This involves acting in the best interests of the programme while: (a) working with the subgroup chair, subgroup members, and IARC staff to complete the following tasks on time; (b) recording text changes and verifying that revised drafts reflect these changes; (c) ensuring that the work produced by the subgroup conforms to Monographs standards; and (d) coordinating with the other rapporteurs, subgroup chairs and overall chair of each Working Group to ensure that satisfactory progress is being made throughout the meeting. The incumbent also contributes to the preparation of manuscripts for scientific publications related to the programme.

3) After Monographs meetings, the incumbent reviews (or oversees the reviewing of) the text and tables to ensure their scientific accuracy and clarity. This involves checking the final text from the meeting against the scientific literature, making corrections as necessary, and responding to queries from the editor and the Responsible Officer.

4) In collaboration with other senior programme staff, respond to external inquiries about specific Monographs or about the overall programme. This may involve giving presentations in English at national or international conferences about the findings of the Monographs meetings.

5) Participates in the planning, implementation and publication of proceedings of IARC workshops and symposia related to the Monographs programme. Helps to plan for, and participates in, meetings of advisory groups to prioritize topics of the Monographs programme.

6) Contributes to writing grants with a view to attracting research funding from competitive sources.

7) Maintains scientific standing as an expert in a field of carcinogenesis research, by participating in national and international scientific societies, attending scientific congresses and symposia, participating in collaborative research activities, and/or drafting or co-authoring reviews, book chapters, and similar documents.

8) Supervises several support and scientific staff members within IMO.

9) The incumbent performs other duties as assigned related to the Monographs programme.

WHO COMPETENCIES

· Producing results

· Fostering integration and teamwork

· Communication.

· Creating an empowering and motivating environment.

· Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Essential: PhD or equivalent in epidemiology, or a master’s degree in epidemiology supplemented by either a doctorate in a biomedical science or a degree in medicine.

Desirable: Graduate-level coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, toxicology, and exposure science.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Essential:

· At least five years of professional, post-graduate experience assisting in the evaluation of carcinogenic hazards based on the review of studies of carcinogen exposure, epidemiology, toxicology, and mechanisms of carcinogenesis.

· Experience in organizing meetings of expert working groups.

· Experience in guiding scientific committees, either as chair or rapporteur.

· Experience reviewing carcinogenicity data across the spectrum of carcinogenic hazards: chemicals, complex mixtures, occupational exposures, physical agents including radiation, biological agents, or any other agent under review.

· Extensive scientific publication record in the fields of analytical cancer epidemiology and public health

Desirable:

· Experience working in a multi-disciplinary scientific unit.

· Experience working in a diverse multi-cultural environment.

· Experience working in an international organization.

USE OF LANGUAGE SKILLS

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate or higher knowledge of French or another WHO official language (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish)

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

· Knowledge of the scientific disciplines involved in carcinogen identification: excellent knowledge of cancer epidemiology, with a working knowledge of toxicology and mechanisms of carcinogenesis.

· Ability to guide committees to produce scientific reports; to review manuscripts and tables for accuracy, and to integrate scientific information across multiple disciplines. Strong record of obtaining competitive research funding.

· Because the topics of the Monographs vary widely, everyone in the Programme must be scientifically versatile and flexible.

· Knowledge of methods in quantitative risk assessment or cancer prevention epidemiology.

OTHER SKILLS ( IT SKILLS)

· Excellent knowledge of Microsoft 365 package.

· Expertise in statistical software used for epidemiological analysis, such as R, SAS, or Stata.

· Familiarity with Internet tools for file-sharing and bibliographic software (e.g. EndNote, HAWC, advanced features of PubMed).

· Basic knowledge of modern publishing software.

· Knowledge of standard editing marks and practices is desirable.

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 64,121 (subject to applicable deductions), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2,612 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 or lower.

· Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

· A written test and/or presentation/seminar may be used as a form of screening.

· If 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. IARC/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.

· According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

· Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules, and Manual noting that first year of fixed term contracts is a probationary period which maybe extended subject to performance evaluation.

· For information on IARC’s operations please visit: https://www.iarc.who.int, and for more general information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

· IARC/WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The IARC/WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

· IARC/WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Participating States https://www.iarc.who.int/equity-diversity-and-inclusion-at-iarc are strongly encouraged to apply for IARC/WHO jobs. Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int.

· An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. IARC/WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the IARC/WHO Values Charter https://www.iarc.who.int/about-iarc-who-ethics into practice.

· IARC/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 IARC/WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to IARC/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, IARC/WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

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

· IARC/WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to fully express and develop their talents.

· The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

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

· Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with IARC/WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with IARC/WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.