Medical Epidemiologist

Overview

Coordinate and conduct public health surveillance and risk assessment.

You have:

• Advanced University degree (Masters level or above) in public health or epidemiology.
• At least seven years of experience in epidemiology and public health surveillance related to infectious diseases of epidemic and pandemic potential.
• Demonstrated experiences in event-based surveillance and risk assessment of acute public health events in resource-limited settings.
• Experiences working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health in low- or middle-income countries.
• Demonstrated experiences developing and regularly producing information products such as epidemiological bulletins, situation reports, or dashboards.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of a WHO language.

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 90,970 USD and 117,287 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.

**Please note this recruitment will follow WHO policy for Fast Track Procedures for Emergencies**

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 overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.The Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment (HIM) Unit is responsible for identifying new public health events, assessing risks to public health, conducting epidemiological surveillance and field investigations, monitoring public health interventions, and communicating public health information to technical partners and stakeholders. HIM unit also support countries to strengthen surveillance systems and capacities for epidemiological investigation and risk assessment.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision of PAM HIM and overall guidance of RED, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities:

1. Coordinate and carry out public health intelligence activities through event-based surveillance, verification, risk assessment and monitoring of events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern.

2. Support HIM capacity to analyze and interpret epidemiological and surveillance data. Facilitate the analysis and the interpretation of data on signals and events collected from different sources;

3. Continue to strengthen 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;

4. Manage information on outbreaks and public health emergencies, and coordinate the efforts to enter information into WHO's global event management site (EMS);

5. Coordinate development of information products related to HIM team, such as regular epidemiological bulletin, presentation slides, dashboard and epidemiological inputs into the regular situation report.

6. Conduct emergency epidemiological field risk-assessment missions as required.

7. Collaborate and coordinate activities with staff at all levels organization to strengthen the following areas:[a] developing and updating 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 Site (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;[e] enhancing and encouraging world-wide information sharing as a key component of promoting and nurturing a culture of multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting approaches within WHO and with ley partners[g] 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.

8. Encourage or promote 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;

9. Enhance and encourage world-wide and regional information sharing as a key component of promoting and nurturing a culture of multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting approaches within WHO and with key partners;

10. Develop and provide capacity building and training to colleagues within WHO and key partners, including Ministries of Health with focus on strengthening detection, data analysis, data interpretation and risk assessment capacity.

11. Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced University degree (Masters level or above) in public health or epidemiology. Desirable: • University degree in medicine (or MBBS)• Completion of Field Epidemiology Training Programmes (FETP) or equivalent in-service training or public health fellowship programme (on field epidemiology or informatics). The programme should be at least six months.

Experience

Essential:

1. At least seven years of experience in epidemiology and public health surveillance related to infectious diseases of epidemic and pandemic potential;

2. Demonstrated experiences and ability to lead event-based surveillance and risk assessment of acute public health events in resource-limited settings;

3. Experiences working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health for a broad range of acute and protracted public health events (not just through programme(s) focusing on a specific disease) in low- or middle-income country/countries;

4. Demonstrated experiences developing and regularly producing information products, such as epidemiological bulletin, situation reports, or dashboard; and

5. International exposure, as defined as work experience in a multicultural environment; proven relevant experience of working with partners across different geographical/cultural settings; and/or proven relevant experience of working on a project in different geographical/cultural settings.

Desirable:

1. Experiences working with WHO and/or the UN system in the relevant areas (i.e. surveillance, preparedness or response for outbreak-prone infectious diseases).

2. Experiences in designing and implementing large database, and managing complex flows of information at country or regional level.

Skills

• Demonstrated experiences and technical knowledge in public health surveillance on emerging disease and outbreak-prone diseases, epidemiological investigation and risk assessment,• Excellent interpersonal skills• Sound knowledge and skills in database management and statistical analysis, secondary data review, survey designing and implementation, and public health information management.• Proven ability to multi-task across various planning and implementation processes within a highlydemanding environment.• Demonstrated knowledge, competency and professional skills on the public health aspects of infectiousdisease control, epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response with particular attention toapplication of an all-hazard approach in the context of the IHR (2005) and the use of event-based andindicator-based surveillance, as well as descriptive epidemiology and principles of public health incommunicable disease surveillance and response.• Capacity to promote and implement collaboration and exchange with partners, towards the implementation of bestpractices. Proven ability to write technical documents in a clear and concise manner.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Ensuring the effective use of resources Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: 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 2249 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.

• **Please note this recruitment will follow WHO policy for Fast Track Procedures for Emergencies**

• 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