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 146,280 USD and 188,597 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 the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks, 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.WHE brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacity in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the emergency management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. WHE is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and National capabilities. The Health Emergency Information & Risk Assessment (HIM) Programme Area of WHE is responsible for providing timely and authoritative situation analysis, risk assessment and response monitoring available for all major health threats, events and emergencies. This includes detecting, verifying and assessing the risk of potential and ongoing health emergencies; establishing data collection mechanisms and monitoring ongoing health emergency operations; providing data management, analytics and reporting platform to produce and disseminate timely emergency health information products.The Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) Programme Area of WHE is responsible for establishing risk mitigation strategies and capacities for priority high threat infectious hazards. This includes developing and supporting prevention and control strategies, tools and capacities for high threat infectious hazards, establishing and maintaining experts networks to detect, understand and manage new or emerging high threat infectious hazards as well as providing secretariat support for the management of the PIP Framework.The Country Health Emergency Preparedness & IHR (CPI) Programme Area of WHE includes the following: to monitor and evaluate country preparedness for health and humanitarian emergencies, to develop country capacity-building plan for countries with critical capacities and to act as the Secretariat of IHR (2005). The CPI prioritizes support to the most vulnerable and low-capacity countries.The Emergency Operations (EMO) Programme Area of WHE is responsible for ensuring that emergency-affected populations have access to timely and effective health services. This includes ensuring a strong emergency management system (based on incident management), effective and inclusive coordination mechanisms, joint assessments and planning by partners, implementation of operations and services according to agreed standards, and strong logistics and operational support.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities:

1. Identifies needs for technical assistance in order to strengthen core capacity in communicable disease surveillance and response, and assists the National Department of Health (NDOH) in line with APSED III; monitors and supports the implementation of IHR (2005);
2. Strengthens the communicable diseases surveillance system for general communicable diseases including coordination of responses to communicable disease outbreaks/epidemics at the country level, participates in outbreak investigation, analysis and interpretation of epidemiological information, and participates in risk assessment, and monitoring epidemiological services, including post-disaster surveillance and response;
3. Facilitates Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) in order to further improve the country's capacity in surveillance and response to outbreaks and emergencies; supervises the FETP trainees' field activities, guides the trainees' field research, data analysis and reporting;
4. Assists in the WHO response to public health emergencies of international concern, and other significant events;
5. Works with the NDOH and other concerned parties on issues of human health aspects of avian influenza, rapid containment protocol of possible pandemic influenza virus, and influenza pandemic preparedness;
6. Liaises closely with other concerned agencies in this technical area under the supervision of the WHO office in Papua New Guinea;
7. Upon request, provides technical support, backstopping and gap-filling for emergency activities at any level of the Organization or scale of emergency; and
8. Performs other related duties, as requested by supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in medicine or any related field with advanced university degree in epidemiology and/or public health. Desirable: Preferably with training in field epidemiology.

Experience

Essential: Minimum of seven years of experience in epidemiology and/or public health including experience at the international level. Desirable: Experience in acute outbreak investigation and management, particularly in the international environment.

Skills

Broad knowledge of principles, practices, methodology, and techniques in public health, and epidemiology.Significant knowledge and skills in communicable disease control, including teaching and advisory technicques at the international level.Understands the principles of results-based management and can develop plans, organize resources and take actions to ensure objectives are achieved within realistic timelines.Excellent organizational and analytical skills with the ability to coordinate activities and manage several projects at the same time.Demonstrated knowledge of essential WHO procedures, policies, rules and regulations that support WHO's presence in countries. Excellent presentation and interpersonal skills to negotiate with and convince officials with tact and diplomacy.Able to work independently, take initiative and able to work in a difficult working environment.Ability to establish and maintain harmonious relations with national and international colleagues. Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Setting an example Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

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 77,326 (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 4130 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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.
• 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.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The 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.
• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply. 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. 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.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.
• 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 express and develop their talents fully.
• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
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