Field Epidemiology Specialist Consultant

Call for Applications

Field Epidemiology Specialist Consultant

Background:

The Vietnam Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) was established by the Vietnam Ministry of Health (MoH) in 2007 to train public health workers in disease surveillance and response, and meet the development needs of the preventive medicine system. The Vietnam FETP is led by an FETP office housed under Vietnam’s General Department of Preventive Medicine (GDPM), part of the country’s Ministry of Health. Since 2018, Vietnam FETP has been renovating its 2-year advance training program into a three-training-level progressive model which consists of a 3-month basic program (frontline), a 9-month intermediate, and an advanced 12-month capstone. The model is termed “progressive” because participants can only enter the intermediate and advanced levels after successful completion of the lower levels.  FETP training are competent based and hands on learning with <25% of the program time in classroom and >75% of time on the job to practice field epidemiology and solve real life problems.

In partnership with the Vietnam FETP and CDC Vietnam, Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET) is seeking a consultant local to Vietnam who speaks Vietnamese fluently to serve as a Field Epidemiology Specialist (FES) to assist FETP training and other activities.

Specific Work:

The FES will work closely with CDC Vietnam, the Senior Technical Advisor and FETP staff at FETP training centers to successfully implement activities. The activities for which the contractor will be responsible include but are not limited to the following:

Teaching and mentoring

• Teach at FETP training courses for FETP fellows and other types of capacity building activities for mentors.
• Mentor fellows who attend FETP short courses, intermediate courses and/or advanced 12 months capstone courses. This includes coaching the fellows to improve their field assignments; review and rate their reports, presentations, and abstracts.

Application of field epidemiology

• Support FETP fellows, FETP office and regional institute to implement field activities and/or outbreak investigations which can range from concept note and protocol development, data collection tools, field surveys, data management and analysis and writing reports.

Other technical support and activities

• Teach at FETP trainings for FETP officers and other capacity-building activities for mentors.
• Work closely with the CDC Vietnam Workforce Development Team Lead to prepare for the implementation of the FETP training course. This includes finalizing training materials, curriculum, and course guidelines.
• In collaboration with FETP training centers, provide mentorship support to the FETP intermediate group project, which includes developing concept notes, protocols, data collection tools, and field surveys; management and analysis of data; and writing reports.
• Assist monitoring and quality improvement of FETP training courses.
• Support implementation, data quality improvement and use of the FETP information systems, which are Moodle and Redcap, that hold data of FETP training courses, fellows, and mentors.
• Identify needs and capacity development plan for FETP mentors.
• Support FETP network strengthening activities such as literature reviews, seminars on emerging public health issues, and scientific conferences.
• Other duties as requested.

The above tasks will be scheduled in a specific work-plan that will be developed together with CDC partners and in accordance with the evolution of the FETP over time.

TIMELINE

July 2024 – September 2024.

Annual contract with possible extension depending on work performance and funding availability.

CONSULTANT BACKGROUND – EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE

Academic Qualifications:    

• Medical doctor or Masters in Public Health or international equivalent

Experience:              

• At least 5 years in applied public health epidemiology (surveillance, outbreak investigation, public response)
• Previous experience in teaching, mentoring, curriculum development, or implementation of FETP or similar training program
• Experience in surveillance, outbreak investigations, field work, or large survey implementation
• Strong interpersonal skills and proficiency in written and verbal communications in Vietnamese
• Working experience handling multiple priorities that are subject to change in a fast-paced environment
• Working experience discussing implications of data, including management, analysis and interpretation.

Competencies and special skill requirements:

• Track record of scientific publications
• Vietnamese fluency in reading and writing
• Knowledge and experiences in adult learning and hand-on coaching
• Evidence of diplomacy, discretion, sound judgment, tact, professionalism and flexibility

Application Process:

• When to apply: Applications will be accepted through July 8, 2024.
• Application package:

1. Curriculum vitae with background/qualifications and work experiences (required)
2. Cover letter summarizing expertise and relevance to the proposed scope of work (required)
3. List of three (3) references

• Process

1. Only shorted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
2. The successful candidate will discuss with CDC and TEPHINET detailed activities and a work plan.

How to apply: Please submit required documents and/or any questions you may have to Dr. Shalonda Freeman, Project Manager, at [email protected].