Epidemiologist

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 WHE Response Division (WRE) is responsible for rapidly detecting and responding to health emergencies while leveraging relevant national and international partnerships, ensuring that emergency-affected populations in acute and protracted emergencies have access to essential health services and that systems are maintained and strengthened in fragile, conflict and vulnerable settings while implementing at scale, proven prevention strategies for priority pandemic/epidemic-prone diseases. Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) engages public health institutions, networks, technical partners including academic institutions, UN and international organizations to coordinate and provide technical expertise to support countries in infectious disease outbreak alert and response, and during public health emergencies. GOARN fosters national, regional and global networking and capacities to support outbreak preparedness and acute response. The WHO Operational Support Team (OST) for GOARN facilitates network communications; coordinates technical and operational support for acute outbreak response; and provides day-to-day running of the network, activities, and projects. In addition, the OST provides the secretariat for the Steering Committee (SCOM) of the network.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the guidance of the Go.Data focal point / project lead and in close collaboration with GOARN Manager, the incumbent will perform the following duties:
1) Design and implement tools for improved data collection, analysis, and interpretation in support of detection, verification, and response to public health incidents.
2) Support GOARN Areas of Work with primary focus on GOARN-Research, including the conceptualization and validation of tools to facilitate operational research as an integrated part of outbreak response and development of standard operating procedures around research partnerships and outputs.
3) Provide technical support and guidance to Member States for optimal design of outbreak analytics and system interoperability for early warning and response, including integrations between Go.Data and routine surveillance systems.
4) Prepare and disseminate informational and advocacy products on GOARN project activities, including activity dashboards and technical documentation for open-source collaborators.
5) Collaborate with other divisions and teams within WHE and across WHO on digital health, data-related initiatives, primarily in the context of field epidemiology support.
6) Provide support for the other GOARN-related activities as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A first level university degree in epidemiology, medicine and/or public health; specialization in Epidemiology.
Desirable: An advanced university degree in one of the above-mentioned areas.

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years of experience working in epidemiology, conducting monitoring and evaluation of diseases and public health issues.
Desirable: Relevant international experience in the areas of outbreak investigation and response for emerging and re-emerging diseases.

Skills

- Sound knowledge and skills in database management and statistical analysis, secondary data review, survey designing and implementation, monitoring and evaluation systems design or use, and public health information management.
- Demonstrated ability in planning, organization and management of health information systems and digital health solutions for outbreak response (i.e., Go.Data) and routine surveillance (i.e., DHIS2).
- Ability to implement statistical methods and information pipelines for analyses during outbreak response.
- Strong skills in area of data collection and database management at the field level and international level.
- Strong knowledge of the principles and practice of operational research in outbreak response and translation of research findings into improved response activities.
- Excellent skills in Statistical software such as R and/or STATA and in Computer Applications such as advances Excel, data entry and performing structured literature searches.
- Excellent public speaking and ability to lead consultations, webinars, trainings.
- Excellent technical writing and ability to develop reports and guidance.
- Ability to work independently as well as in close collaboration with different nationalities, scientific areas and cultural backgrounds, with an ability to multitask across various planning and implementation processes.
- Strong knowledge of interoperability standards and linkages between commonly used data platforms (i.e., DHIS2, EWARS, national HMIS) is highly desirable.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Knowing and managing yourself

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of WHO Languages.

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 62,692 (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 4018 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.

• 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.

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