Consultant - Epidemiologist

Purpose of consultancy

To effectively coordinate the Epi Parameter community and contribute to the development of the epidemiological parameter repository.

Background

The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence is a new office of WHO, located in Berlin. It will work with partners to enable the generation of public health relevant information to provide timely actionable insights in response to health emergencies and improve decision-making in response to public health threats. It also aims to reduce fragmentation and inefficiency by creating an ecosystem that promotes collaboration across multiple professional disciplines, sectors, and initiatives, and empower decision-makers, public health professionals, and civil society to make informed public health decisions. 

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Coordination of the Epi Parameter community of the Collaboratory.
  Expected by: end of each Quarter (29 March 2024, 28 June 2024, 30 September 2024, 31 November 2024).
  • Organize meetings of the Data Preparedness community of practice during 2024, including development of the agenda and participant list.
  • Document the presentations and discussions of the meetings and produce summaries of each meeting along with an archive of files and documents for each meeting.
• Deliverable 2: Contribute to the collection, handling and updating of the epiparameter data set.
  Expected by: end of each month.
  • Review literature and partners to see if potential updates for epi parameters are available.
  • Coordinate the update of data to the data set.
• Deliverable 3: Data model for Epi-parameters.
  Expected by: end of March and at each end of quarter.
  • Implementation of data-model and review and update to fit needs.
  • Organize review and feedback.
• Deliverable 4: Linkage of Epi-parameter data to analysis packages.
  Expected by: end of 2024.
  • Review and ensure analysis packages can use epi-parameters.
  • Update packages and document use of epi-parameters.
• Deliverable 5: Documentation and training on Epi-parameter data base.
  Expected by end of June 2024 with updates in December 2024.
  • Document use of epi-parameter data base and ways to update and use.
  • Develop training material for users and providers of epi-parameter.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• First university degree in Epidemiology or data science.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree in Epidemiology or data science.

Experience

Essential:

• 5 to 10 years of relevant experience in Epidemiology or data science.
• Experience in extracting, judging, and using Epidemiological Parameters.
• Experience in community management.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Proven skills in using epidemiological parameters.
• Strong community management skills.
• Ability to adapt and manage deliverables and resources in a climate of change and to think and act quickly under pressure yet remain effective.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with teams in an international, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary environment; separated by geographical locations and working under different time-zones.
• Ability to promote best practices, advise on improvements, independently perform research, and apply information from a broad range of sources.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written), problem solving and analytical skills.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations.

Location

Off site: Home-based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B - USD 7,000 - 9,980 per month

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for 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.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• 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 Member States are particularly encouraged.
• 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.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html