Epidemiologist

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (TheProgramme) 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 Intelligence and Surveillance Systems division (WSE) is responsible to build a system of collaborative intelligence enabling better decisions to avert and manage public health threats and risks. Its goal is to enable, strengthen and support countries, regional and global actors in averting and managing public health threats and risks through collaborative problem solving and decision-making for short-term action and long-term policies, informed by better data and analytics. 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; 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.

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 needs:

• Provide epidemiological expertise and support for the conception, development and implementation of strategies and tools for the early detection of acute public health events, including but not limited to detection, verification, risk assessment, visual analytics, and information-sharing on events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern.
• Conduct analyses for the formulation of briefing documents and materials
• Contribute as needed to the elaboration and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools for the harmonization of the public health intelligence function across WHO and other international organisations, regional and supra-national networks and organisations, and Member States.
• As delegated, participate in activities such as but not limited to
  • developing and updating SOPs and strategic policies for all-hazards, one-health public health intelligence
  • providing technical guidance to further the development of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) Initiative and the Emergency Management Suite 2 (EMS2)
  • encouraging or promoting the implementation of new approaches and innovative methods to systematically detect, verify, assess and analyse events of potential significance to international public health, with emphasis on building partnerships networks
  • elaborating state-of-the-art processes to critically monitor and evaluate performance and results of public health intelligence activities
  • enhancing and encouraging world-wide information sharing as a key component of promoting and nurturing a culture of multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting approaches within WHO and with keypartners and collaborators.
• Participate in emergency epidemiological field missions as required.
• Capacity Building and Training: identify key knowledge, experience and skills to enhance and continuously adapt strategies and policies developed by the team and implement best practices.
• Capacity Building: Support the development and, where required, the delivery of public health intelligence training for WHO, partners and collaborators, including Ministries of Health.
• Perform other related responsibilities asassigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: First level university degree in epidemiology, public health, international health, or related field.
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

Essential: At least five years' experience with successful track record, in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of acute public health events; and/or epidemic intelligence at the national and/or international levels plus demonstrated experience in the context of large epidemics or public health crisis at the national and international levels. Experience with non-traditional surveillance methods (e.g. event based surveillance), particularly media monitoring initiatives and systems such as ProMed, the Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN), and/or the EIOS system.
Desirable: Experience with the EIOS system and its functionality, and a good understanding of open source information feeds. Experience contributing to the technical enhancement of surveillance and/or other public health tools. Field experience in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of acute public health events. Experience in resource limited countries. Experience with inter-agency collaboration or in WHO, UN, UN Agencies or other international organisations.

Skills

• Demonstrated and applied expertise in public health surveillance, field epidemiology and emerging diseases in an international context.
• Proven ability to interact in a multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting environment involving technical, cultural and political elements.
• Sound analytical and organizational skills.
• Willingness to deploy at short notice in support of international emergency health interventions.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with emphasis on writing skills.
• Provenability 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
Knowing and managing yourself

Use of Language Skills

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

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 2303 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.