Epidemiologist (Communicable Diseases)

Vacancy Notice No: WPRO/12/TASR45
Title: Epidemiologist (Communicable Diseases)
Grade: NO-C
Contract type: Temporary Appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Duration of contract: 12 months  
Date: 16 October 2012
Application Deadline: 1 November 2012
Duty Station: Hanoi, Viet Nam
Organization unit: WPCO Countries (WP_ACO) / WP_VNM Viet Nam (WP_VNM)
                        Emerging Disease Surveillance and Response

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :

The Emerging Disease Surveillance and Response (ESR) team provides technical advice to appropriate Ministry of Health departments, laboratories and hospitals responsible for epidemiological or clinical risk assessment, disease surveillance, and preparedness and response in order to strengthen Viet Nam's core capacities to prevent, detect and respond to emerging infectious disease threats, such as hand, foot and mouth disease, avian influenza, pandemic influenza, dengue, malaria and other outbreak prone diseases. This support has resulted in Viet Nam achieving a number of public health milestones including: developing, implementing and maintaining a FETP; strengthening country surveillance and response systems; implementing new food safety legislation; enhancing laboratory diagnostic capacity; and, developing an Infection Prevention and Control Master plan. These are notable achievements, and continuing support is required to maintain Viet Nam's momentum toward meeting the core surveillance and response capacity requirements of the IHR (2005) and key actions identified in APSED (2010).

Description of duties:

Under the direct supervision and direction of the Team Leader ESR and the general supervision of the WHO FETP adviser, and in collaboration with the General Department of Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health (GDPM/MOH) FETP office, national and regional institutes, partners and other stakeholders, the incumbent will be responsible for but not limited to the following functions:

- Provide technical support for the identification, verification and conduct of outbreak investigations, and epidemiological analyses;
- Manage the national pilot of the event-based surveillance system, and devise tools and methodologies for the monitoring and evaluation of the surveillance system;
- Develop guidelines, curricula, and training materials for applied epidemiology training;
- Develop and implement plans for evaluating existing training courses and provide recommendations to update and standardize these curricula;
- Assist in the design and implementation of research projects aimed at developing more effective public health interventions, and participate in the preparation and submission of manuscripts to international peer-reviewed journals;
- Assist in the selection of FETP trainees, and identification of appropriate assignments and supervisors;
- Prepare special reports and other programmatic documents required by the MOH, WHO and donor organizations;
- Serve as a mentor and first-line supervisor for FETP fellows;
- Provide training for FETP fellows in relevant areas of expertise, including study design, outbreak detection, investigation and response and, data analysis and interpretation;
- Serve as a lead trainer to assist other FETP faculty members, especially for field supervisory visits, outbreak investigations, curriculum, and faculty training needs, and mentoring workshops;
- Conduct periodic evaluation of the work conducted by FETP fellows; and
- Other relevant duties as may be assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
- Degree in medicine from a recognized university is essential. Postgraduate degree or training in public health, communicable diseases or epidemiology is desirable. Graduate of a recognized Field Epidemiology
- Training Programme is preferred.

Skills:
Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of communicable disease surveillance, prevention and control. Demonstrable knowledge and experience of epidemiology, operational research and conduct of epidemiological investigations. Knowledge and use of personal computers, word processing, spread sheets, epidemiological/statistical software. Sound analytical and writing skills. Excellent knowledge of MS Windows and MS Office software. Knowledge of statistical and GIS software and management of databases (MS Access). Demonstrable teaching and presentational skills is an asset. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

Competencies:
- Producing results
- Communicating in a credible and effective way
- Moving forward in a changing environment
- Setting an example
- Knowing and managing yourself

Experience:
At least five years working experience in the area of communicable disease, public health or epidemiology is essential. Experience of working with WHO or other UN organizations is desirable. International working experience is an asset. Teaching experience, research experience and publications in peer-reviewed journals is an advantage.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English. Excellent knowledge of Vietnamese.

Additional Information:
Post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the office.

Annual salary: (Net of tax)
USD35 403 at single rate
USD35 403 with primary dependants

A written test and interviews may be used as a form of screening

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.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

Currently accepting applications

Off-line applications should be sent to:
Administrative Officer
World Health Organization
63 Tran Hung Dao, Hanoi, Viet Nam

Or by email at:
[email protected]

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.