Epidemiologist

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) (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 Department (HIM) 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.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Contribute to all aspects of early detection of acute public health events, including but not limited to event-based surveillance; verification and risk assessment; and information-sharing on events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern.
2. Support the emergency response to Syria and oPt with regard to detection, verification, risk assessment of acute public health events, development of situation reports, information management and visualization.
3. Support the piloting and implementation of Rapid Risk Assessment tools for the WHO and Member States, as well as the Public Health Situational Analysis.
4. Monitor/update the events in the Event Management System (EMS) to ensure the improvement of the new WHO's Event Management System (EMS2).
5. Provide technical input to development and maintenance of the Event Information Site (EIS).
6. Participate in the development of communication products related to public health intelligence (EIS, DON, daily and weekly bulletin, annual reports on acute public health intelligence).
7. Contribute to 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.
8. Participate in emergency field risk assessment missions as required.
9. Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: First university degree in epidemiology, public health, international health, or related field.
Desirable: Master of Public Health; Epidemiology; In-service training in field epidemiology such as Field Epidemiology Training Programmes (FETP), the European Program for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Programme, or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential: At least two years relevant experience with successful track record in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of acute public health events; epidemic intelligence plus demonstrated field experience in the context of large epidemics or public health crisis.
Desirable: Field experience in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of acute public health events experience in resource limited countries. Experience of working with event-based surveillance and risk assessment

Skills

Essential:

• Knowledge of WHO processes of verification, alert and response operations.
• Excellent skills in developing technical documents.
• Demonstrated knowledge of surveillance issues and emerging diseases in international context.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with emphasis on writing skills.
• Sound analytical and organizational skills.

Desirable:

• Demonstrated ability to interact in complex situations involving technical, cultural and political elements.
• Proven ability to work and produce results under pressure in critical situations.
• Tact, diplomacy and courtesy.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.
Desirable: Knowledge of French. Knowledge of Arabic.

Other Skills (e.g. IT)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications

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 50,377 (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 1264 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.
• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:
  1 -Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated;
  2- All required details regarding your qualifications, education, training and experience are provided under relevant sections; 3- Your experience records are properly entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

• 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.
• Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model:
  https://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=1”

• 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 shws@who.int.

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

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• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.

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