Health Specialist - Epidemiology (P3), Health - HEPR, Geneva # 00124350 (Temporary Appointment 8months)

UNICEF is a critical contributor to and leader in guidance and thinking around each of these areas of expertise and has the existing programming capacity to respond in each of them worldwide. This critical sectorial specialization, is essential to health emergency preparedness and response (HEPR), complements the roles of WHO, GOARN and other GOARN partners and highlights the need for enhanced integration within the Network.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

UNICEF contributes to public health emergencies preparedness and response through its unique role in targeting the specific needs of the most vulnerable, including children and women. UNICEF simultaneously addresses both the causes of the public health emergency, controlling its spread, and responds to its socio-economic consequences. UNICEF is a leader in pillars critical to outbreak prevention and control (e.g., immunization, WASH, RCCE, community-based health and surveillance, supply and logistics, HSS and MHPSS).  UNICEF is also a leader in the multi-sectoral response to the socio-economic impact of public health emergencies including but not limited to the areas of nutrition, child protection, prevention, mitigation and response to GBV and other forms of violence against children, social protection, and education.

For every child, good health…..

UNICEF is a critical contributor to and leader in guidance and thinking around each of these areas of expertise and has the existing programming capacity to respond in each of them worldwide. This critical sectorial specialization, is essential to health emergency preparedness and response (HEPR), complements the roles of WHO, GOARN and other GOARN partners and highlights the need for enhanced integration within the Network.

How can you make a difference?

As part of the PHE unit, you will:

• Represent UNICEF with WHO, NGOs and academic partners for collaborative epidemiological and outbreak analysis during Public Health Emergencies (PHE). More specifically for the Global Cholera emergency, participate to the WHO cholera Epi pillar to develop a harmonized cholera database and a robust risk analysis to prioritize countries for response and preparedness to Cholera outbreaks. 
• Produce evidence review and an analysis on the situation of children during the cholera multi country emergency and other PHE.
• Lead and coordinate a UNICEF internal weekly epidemiological review based on new and monitored PHE signals.
• Produce the UNICEF’s PHE weekly newsletter, providing a focused review, summary and analysis of the latest relevant grey and peer-reviewed literature, with a view to informing UNICEF’s programmatic & operational response and support the UNICEF Cholera Situation report.
• Support global advocacy and fund raising by providing the epi evidence base.
• Support Integrated Outbreak analytics based on need identified by the IOA core group
• Provide technical support to UNICEF’s cholera and other PHE global, regional and country preparedness and response activities,
• Draft technical briefs, epi updates on ongoing cholera outbreak, public health threats or public health emergencies, including summary analysis of latest epidemiologic trend, and socio-economic impact
• Based on need provide remote or surge support to the cholera and other PHE response in selected country(ies).
• Perform any other related duties, as required by the PHE units..

 To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in epidemiology, public health, biostatistics, international health is required.
• A degree or diploma in medicine, public health, pharmacy, veterinary science, midwifery, nursing, medical biology or a related discipline is an asset
• A minimum of 5 (five) years of progressively responsible professional experience with successful track record in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of acute public health events and working experience in humanitarian and development program response (with UN-Govt-INGO) is required.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required, and Proficiency in French is highly desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA), and sustainability

Please click Here to view UNICEF's core values and Here to view our competency framework.

UNICEF competencies required for this post are.

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to including everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. 

Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF.

UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

“UNICEF 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 at http://www.whed.net/”

For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page.  If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.