Epidemiologist at Medecins Sans Frontieres

Main Purpose

• Assessing, implementing and maintaining the epidemiological surveillance systems / monitoring (if needed) according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures in order to contribute to appropriate evidence-based decision making using well managed health data in outbreak and emergency MSF programmes.

Accountabilities

• Carrying out key epidemiological activities in outbreak investigation (description including time, place, people with emphasis on mapping when it is needed) and advising on the operational response
• Implementing and maintaining a surveillance system to monitor epidemiological trends of relevant outbreak-prone diseases. Guiding activities of medical staff for surveillance and/or active case finding, including ensuring understanding of the need for consistent case definitions and data recording (briefing of all new staff)
• Monitoring and Implementing initial Assessment (for emergency situation), rapid health assessments and (baseline or follow-up) surveys. Where standard protocols are not available or appropriate, developing a protocol seeking extensive feedback and pilot testing of tools to ensure the objectives will be met robustly with support of HQ epidemiologist
• Preparing and adapting routine documentation (survey forms, training materials, letters of request/notification, locally appropriate consent forms etc.) with support of HQ epidemiologist. Preparing an appropriate sampling frame and sample selection guidelines with support of HQ epidemiologist
• Planning and supervising the associated HR processes of the staff under his/her responsibility (recruitment, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication) and ensuring that staff exhibits required skills after training and pilot test
• Managing data systems and ensuring accurate, high-quality databases; analyzing results and preparing regular written reports on progress and findings for medical coordinator/HQ and when appropriate to external collaborators/networks (MoH, other NGOs, etc.)
• Providing training sessions to medical teams on relevant aspects of epidemiology to enhance team response capacity

Requirements
Educational Qualification:

• A Degree in Medicine, Nursing, Biomedical background, Statistics, Mathematics and program evaluation.

Experience:

• 2 years’ experience in Monitoring and Evaluation in a medical organization

Languages:

• Mission language essential

Knowledge:

• Use of epidemiology related analytical software (excel, Epi-info, STATA or SPSS) Salary
• According to OCBA salary grid scale (National contract)