Vacancy Notice No: EMRO/14/FT136
Position Title: Technical Officer
(Epidemiologist) Position 173952
Grade: P4
Contract type: Fixed-Term
Appointment
Duration of contract: 2 years
Application Deadline: 17 April 2014
Duty Station: Cairo, Egypt
Organization unit: EMRO Eastern Mediterranian Regional Office (EM/RGO) / EM/DCD Division of
Communicable Disease Control (EM/DCD)
Surveillance, Forecasting & Response (CSR)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :
The Communicable Disease Surveillance, Forecasting and Response (CSR) unit
is responsible for providing technical and strategic support to the Member
States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) affected or potentially
affected by infectious disease epidemics including that from emerging and
re-emerging diseases with unknown pathogens. The unit, under the Division of
Communicable Disease of EMRO, works on (i) building health systems capacity for
detection, verification and containment of infectious disease outbreaks or any
other public health events of international concern including avian and
pandemic influenza as well as other emerging public health threats; (ii)
strengthening epidemiological and laboratory surveillance and response
capacities of the member states of EMR Region for epidemic forecasting and
monitoring through real-time analysis of health intelligence data on
communicable diseases burden in the Region; (iii) improving public health
preparedness for any emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases with epidemic
and pandemic potentials.
Overall, the unit ensures availability of and access to technical support
and strategic guidance for detection, verification, risk assessment,
communication and adequate real-time response to public health emergencies that
might constitute national, regional and international public health concern in
the EMR countries.
Purpose of the Post:
To maintain a focal point responsible for epidemic intelligence, alert and
response operations in the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean
Regional Office (EMRO) to monitor and provide technical support to Member
States in the implementation of this strategy.
Organizational Context:
Reporting to the Regional Adviser, Surveillance, Forecasting and Response,
the incumbent provides technical support and coordination to epidemic
intelligence, alert and response activities; designs work plans/project
proposals, studies and researches epidemiological activities; develops
technical guidelines and SOPs in support of epidemic intelligence and outbreak
response operations, and prepares technical and administrative reports.
Description of duties:
Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to
achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected):
1. Epidemic intelligence:
§ Provide technical advice, guidance and leadership for developing a
sustainable system for epidemic forecasting, alert and response for emerging,
re-emerging and epidemic-prone infectious diseases in the Region through
systematic use of epidemic intelligence;
§ Collaborate with the Member States of the EMR for conducting trend
analysis of epidemic prone infectious diseases and reporting of all public
health events of epidemic potentials as stipulated in the International Health
Regulations (IHR, 2005);
§
§ Analyze epidemic data on a regular basis for monitoring trend and risk
assessment of ongoing acute events and plan appropriate response strategies and
public health interventions for limiting trans-boundary spread and transmission
of the events;
§ Develop technical guidelines, manuals and standard operating procedures
for conducting epidemic risk assessment for emerging and re-emerging infectious
diseases, particularly those with epidemic and pandemic potentials;
§ Provide technical expertise to the Member States for conducting epidemic
risk assessments through systematic use of epidemic intelligence data and
advise Member States on recommended public health actions recommended for
response to public health emergencies of international concern;
§ Conduct training courses for the Regional Office and WHO Country Office
staff on the use of organization-wide event management system (EMS) for
managing acute public health events across all levels of the organization;
§ Actively coordinate with the Global Alert and Response (GAR) Operations of
WHO HQ for epidemic detection and verification process, conducting joint risk
assessment and develop joint response plans for containment and mitigation of
epidemics and pandemics;
§ Conduct retrospective analysis of reported health events and outbreaks,
determine trends, distribution patterns of epidemics, efficiency of the
verification process as well as the quality of epidemic response operations;
2. Epidemic Preparedness and Response
§ Provide technical support to the Member States of the EMR for development
of public health preparedness and response plans for epidemic and pandemic
prone infectious diseases;
§ Develop training curriculum for field epidemiology training courses of
surveillance officers involved in outbreak detection, verification and field
investigation;
§ Conduct training courses on outbreak investigation, epidemic preparedness
and response for the surveillance officers of the Member States;
§ Develop and coordinate the work of the Regional Outbreak Alert and
Response Network as part of the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response
Network (GOARN) in order to support the Member States respond to outbreaks of
international importance;
§ Provide technical support to the Member States for verification, field
investigation and detection of acute public health events of international
concern;
§ Participate with the GOARN/Regional Outbreak Alert and Response Network
for field investigation of outbreaks of unknown and dangerous pathogens as
needed or requested by the Member States;
§ Provide technical support for development of rapid field assessment and
outbreak investigation protocols for specific priority diseases with epidemic
and pandemic potentials;
§ Assist the Member States in setting up a disease early warning system for
epidemic prone infectious diseases in the conflict and humanitarian emergency
settings;
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Essential: University degree in medicine, with masters degree in Public Health and/or
other related health scienceDesirable: Certificate/diploma in outbreak
management/response leadership training.
Skills:
1) Communicating in a credible and effective way
2) Producing results
3) Fostering integration and teamwork 4) Creating an empowering and
motivating environment
Functional Skills and Knowledge:
Excellent knowledge of the principles of field epidemiology and public
health. Ability to process, analyzes and interpret epidemiological surveillance
data. Familiarity with health problems in the Region. Ability to use
epidemiological and statistical computerized software would be an asset.
Knowledge on international health regulations (IHR, 2005), epidemic
preparedness and response to communicable diseases are an advantage.
Other Skills:
Computer literacy: word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.
Experience:
Essential: At least seven years experience at national and international level in
the areas of epidemiological surveillance for communicable diseases. Field
experience in major outbreak investigations.
Desirable: Familiarity with WHO technical/administrative systems.
Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English. Good knowledge of Arabic and/or French
would be an asset.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
US$67,605 at single rate
US$72,605 with primary dependants Post
Adjustment: 39.4 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered
as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards
due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your
profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment.
The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the
vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy
announcement.
How to Apply:
If you are qualified and interested in discussing this engagement in more
detail,
please submit your resume in confidence to the website on the link below:
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