Epidemiologist at Medecins Sans Frontieres

Main Purpose 

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

Job Description 

• Carry out key epidemiological activities in outbreak investigation (description including time, place and 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  disease based on the country hazard calendar. 
• Guide and support the implementation of initial assessment (for the emergency situation), rapid health assessment  (baseline or follow-up) and surveys with support from both Medical coordination and 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 (dhis2; linelists; alert management tool)  analyzing results and preparing regular written reports on progress and findings (weekly epidemiological report;  sitreps; capitalization reports...) 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 (ensure all the EPREP staff at project level have the basics to carry out investigation and surveillance) 
• Collaborate with federal and state ministry of health through respective counterparts in order to mutualize efforts  in surveillance, outbreak response and coordination (active participation in the EOC and technical working groups)  
• Provide a weekly epidemiological report with clear and concise analysis about the epidemiological situation at country level with emphasis on potential outbreak.  
• Detect and analyze potential alerts received from different states and trigger an investigation when relevant with  support from Medical coordination  
• Participate actively in the implementation of the mission EPREP strategy and lead the projects team in the kick-off  of the intervention (training on case definition; implementing a linelist; coordinate the sampling in collaboration  with the state; follow up the active case search...)  
• Brief all the medical managers and data entry supervisors about the new tools to be implemented for better  monitoring and surveillance (new linelists; diphteria; measles; meningitis) 
• Ensure the collection and follow up of line-list including data quality, analysis and report writing, updating of  dashboard and feedback from the project and HQ. 
• Provide technical support to the Medical coordination and field in data analysis using the existing data management systems (Praxis; dhis2; dashboard...) 
• Be ready and committed to be deployed wherever there is need in accordance to the operational response and  strategy 
• For the sake of the emergency response, the mission epidemiologist is expected to spend 60% of his time on the  field and 40% in coordination  
• Supporting the Ministry of Health to improve surveillance systems as necessary 
• Other tasks as appropriate and assigned

Requirements 

• Education: Medical doctor (preferable), nurse or biomedical background with a degree in epidemiology (not in public health) 
• Experience: Previous experience as an epidemiologist with MoH is a plus.  
• At least a few years of tropical medicine experience (having assumed a  coordination position is a plus)  
• Experience in field epidemiology.

Languages:
Essential: Mission language, English. 

Competencies:

• Results and Quality Orientation L2  
• Teamwork and Cooperation L2  
• Behavioural Flexibility L2
• Commitment to MSF Principles L2  
• Stress Management L3.

Knowledge:

• Use of epidemiology related analytical software (Excel, Epi-info, STATA or SPSS).

Remuneration
According to MSF salary scale plus 13th month allowance equivalent to 1 month of gross salary.