Scientist (EPR Head)

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 110,869 USD and 138,944 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.

.PURPOSE OF POSITION

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), is the cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO) and is based in Lyon, France.

The Early Detection, Prevention, and Infections (EPR) Branch focuses its research on the evaluation of multi-level/multi-component interventions (i.e. vaccination, screening) to decrease cancer incidence, improve cancer early diagnosis, and decrease cancer mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) using implementation research frameworks. EPR studies will contribute towards WHO global cervical cancer and Hepatitis elimination targets for 2030, as well as WHO global breast cancer initiative targets.

The activities of EPR include a wide portfolio of study designs, including aetiology and natural history, assessing the global burden, and evaluating and modelling the impact of interventions. A major theme is evaluating interventions through the lens of implementation science. Carcinogenic infectious agents are particularly amenable to cancer prevention (e.g. vaccines, diagnostic tools, and therapies), and the burden of infection-attributable cancers is disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, a significant proportion of EPR’s prevention research focuses on infection-related cancers in LMICs. EPR also supports capacity-building to implement quality-assured programmes for cancer prevention and early detection. Finally, EPR evaluates the ‘pattern of care’ of breast and prostate cancers in selected countries (China, Brazil, India) undergoing economic transition.

The specific objectives of EPR Branch are to initiate, coordinate, evaluate, and answer implementation research studies (i.e. doses of vaccines, acceptability, feasibility, efficacy, cost-effectiveness, socio-cultural barriers) associated to successful implementation of: i) HPV and HBV vaccination programmes; ii) cancer screening strategies (cervical, breast, colorectal); iii) treatment of cervical pre-cancers for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In addition, EPR supports capacity-building and assess interventions in real health-care settings.

As Branch Head, the incumbent is expected to provide scientific leadership to the Early Detection, Prevention, and Infections (EPR) Branch, while playing a leading role in initiating, coordinating and supporting implementation research studies related to cancer prevention (vaccination), cancer screening/early diagnosis, and treatment of pre-cancers in different settings, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The incumbent is expected to stimulate synergy across the Branches at the Agency.

Under the direct and overall supervision of the Director, the incumbent will provide scientific leadership to the Early Detection, Prevention, and Infections (EPR) Branch. S/he will be part of the Senior Advisory Team (SAT).

Available guidelines:

• WHO and international papers on NCD agenda;
• IARC Medium-Term-Strategy;
• WHO Staff rules and Regulations;
• WHO Manual;
• IARC Handbook and Safety Manual.

Contacts outside the Organization: The incumbent is expected to liaise with WHO (HQ Cancer Unit and Regional Offices as required) to contribute towards the WHO Global Initiatives targets; to promote collaborative work in the field of cancer screening and vaccination interventions with investigators outside IARC; to collaborate with decision makers to implement already available cancer preventive interventions, particularly in LMICs; to foster technology transfer and generate training for students, clinicians, public health decision makers and the public, to make sure the available knowledge and technology are put in place where it is needed most.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Leadership:

2. Manage the branch’s financial and human resources to ensure effective, efficient and consistent operations and technical deliverables

3. Lead and guide the branch, scientists, early career scientists, trainees, visitors and all other personnel.
4. Oversee the development of the EPR branch implementation research strategy, including collaboration with other branches.

5. Monitor and evaluate studies conducted within EPR, taking corrective and timely actions.

6. Implementation Research Studies:

7. Evaluate effectiveness, adoption & sustainability of innovative solutions in cancer prevention & early detection in LMICs, and assess their suitability and applicability for implementation in limited resourced settings, with in-country collaborating partners.

8. Evaluate multi-level/multi-component interventions to improve cancer early diagnosis pathways in LMICs, focusing on most common cancers such as breast and prostate cancer.
9. Conduct patterns of care studies to weigh the extent to which the state-of-art cancer diagnostics and therapy are disseminated into routine oncology practice in LMICs.
10. Mobilise research funding from competitive sources to support studies and to undertake a significant implementation research programme(s).
11. Prepare and disseminate scientific manuscripts and reviews describing the results of studies and prepare respective technical and progress reports.
12. Deliver training programmes to doctors, nurses, students, programme managers and health workers through the IARC Learning Programme.
13. Advise the IARC Director on new developments in the field of implementation research and in novel intervention studies.
14. Contribute to implementation research studies of other IARC branches.
15. Perform other related duties as may be assigned by the Director.

COVID-19 MEASURES

Due to the evolving situation resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, and depending on work requirements, this position may be partly occupied remotely, from the home of the candidate selected in the region Lyon, according to the teleworking clause for force majeure currently in force as part of the IARC teleworking policy during this pandemic period.

WHO COMPETENCIES

1. Fostering integration and teamwork.
2. Creating an empowering and motivating environment.
3. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
4. Effective use of resources.
5. Moving forward in a changing environment.
6. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Essential: Bachelor of Medicine and PhD degree with specialization in clinical oncology.

Desirable: Knowledge and proven experience as principal investigator in large cancer epidemiology projects, clinical trials/vaccine trials.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Essential:

At least ten years of combined national and international experience of which at least 3 years at the international level preferably in developing countries, in positions related to the area of cancer screening and vaccination interventions or other screening programmes and/or screening trials/demonstration studies/other health care and medical interventions/psych-social, cognitive, behavioural, health service delivery and quality of care issues.

Desirable: Experience in the supervision of staff and coordination of epidemiological studies or interventions. Evidence of research leadership

USE OF LANGUAGE SKILLS

Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of French.

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of implementation research, public health and clinical concepts in planning, designing, conducting and evaluating cancer prevention interventions.
• Knowledge of the public health and clinical basis of various healthcare interventions and of medical and diagnostic interventions, as applicable to implementation studies of cancer prevention interventions.
• Knowledge of public health, epidemiological, and clinical issues and linkages in the conduct of screening and vaccination studies.
• Strong publication record in international journals and strong record in obtaining competitive funding for cancer research.

OTHER SKILLS (e.g. IT)

• Knowledge of computing and the use of commonly used basic statistical software such as SPSS, STATA, etc

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 90,664 (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 3,127 per month for the duty station indicated above (subject to change). Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and/or seminar presentation 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. 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.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to IARC/WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
• WHO staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• For information on IARC’S operations please visit: www.iarc.fr
• IARC/WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• IARC/WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• IARC/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Participating States are particularly encourage.