Epidemiologist, Health Operations, Monitoring and Data Collection

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The main purpose of the post is to provide technical advice and guidance to the health operations monitoring and data collection area within the health emergency information and risk assessment programme area of the WHO Health Emergencies programme.  Specifically to i) support the development of the outbreak data management toolkit ii) assist in improving the monitoring of detection and response to outbreaks and emergencies; ii) improve after action review and situation report performance standard; iii) develop country health emergencies profiles; iv) multi-year disease outbreak reports; and v) disease outbreak risk assessment.

The incumbent will be deployed to emergencies when required.

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.

Under the supervision of the HIM Programme Area Manager and overall coordination of the Regional Emergency Director, the incumbent provides technical oversight for design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public health policies and related data and information management pertaining to disease surveillance and monitoring of health outcomes in emergencies.

S/He is particularly expected to contribute to the delivery of the following outputs i) a package of standard forms that will assist in designing a suite of outbreak applications; ii) monitoring and improving situation report performance standard ; iii) country health emergencies profiles; iv) multi-year disease outbreak reports; and v) contribution to the process of disease outbreak risk assessment.

Duties involve close consultation and collaboration within Health Operations Monitoring & Data Collection, The Programme, WHO HQ, Regional and Country Offices and with a broad range of partners, to provide technical expertise and promote information-sharing. Successful results involve ongoing contacts with a broad range of external partners, Member States, UN and UN Agencies, national and international institutions to exchange findings and promote information-sharing, experience and lessons learnt.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following duties which are performed according to the needs and agenda\:

• Develop an outbreak toolbox following review of existing forms and tools for key epidemic prone diseases in the region. The toolbox will serve as a basis for the design of a suite of outbreak applications;

• Develop generic templates and guide which should be used during acute public health events as part of the outbreak data management toolkit;

• Develop SOPs/guidance on situation reports which include among others criteria and standards for assessing the quality of situation reports;

• Design and advise on databases development, data entry, carrying out data analysis using quantitative methods to produce communication products such as situation reports, bulletins, alerts, and other ad-hoc reports using standard tools and templates;

•  Contribute to the development of guidelines / standard operating procedures for monitoring public health events and emergencies;

• Support the production of information  products, namely the weekly outbreak and emergencies bulletin and end of outbreak summary dashboards

• Develop multi-year specific disease reports as well as scientific articles on outbreaks occurring in the region;

• Review, develop and/or updated country profiles for major outbreak and public health emergencies occurring in the region;

• Proactively participate in outbreak and other epidemiologic investigations in emergencies in carrying out epidemiological and technical analysis using appropriate quantitative methods to interpret and analyze disease or health outcome data;

• Foster a culture of collaboration toward the development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for WHO-wide tools for data collection, management and analysis of public health data in emergencies;

• Develop and provide capacity building and training to colleagues within WHO and partners, including Ministries of Health, with focus on enhancing epidemiology and information management core competencies; and stimulate collaboration with officials at the regional and national levels, to ensure a coordinated response using standardised, innovative information systems and tools;

• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\:

First university degree in epidemiology, quantitative methods and/or medicine, complemented by degree in public health, international health or a related discipline.

Desirable\: Advanced degree and specialization in one of the above fields.

Experience

Essential\: At least five years’ experience with a successful track record in epidemiology, information management, quantitative methods, surveillance and/or control of outbreaks, with proven field experience in epidemics or public health emergencies in international settings. 

Desirable\: In-service training in field epidemiology such as Field Epidemiology (and Laboratory) Training Programmes (FELTP), the European Program for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service programme, or equivalent experience.

Experience in designing and implementing large databases, and managing complex flows of information at field and global level, with focus on the design, implementation and interpretation of quantitative research activities.

Experience in WHO or UN, UN Agencies would be an assets.

Skills

WHO Competencies

1. Moving forward in a changing environment

2. Fostering integration and teamwork

3. Promoting innovation and organizational learning

4.   Knowing and managing yourself

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English or French

Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of one of the above language.

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 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.

• 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.

• 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.