Position Title :  Epidemiologist

Duty Station  :   Cairo, Egypt

Classification  :   Professional Staff, Grade P4

Type of Appointment  :   Special short-term graded, Six months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date  :   As soon as possible

Closing Date  :   01 October 2019

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.  Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM.  For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process.

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates

2. External female candidates:

3. Candidate from the following non-represented member states: Antigua and Barbuda; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Cook Islands; Cuba; Djibouti; El Salvador; Fiji; Gabon; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Libya; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Montenegro; Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Seychelles; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM and female candidates.

Context:

Learning from experiences and witnessing the growing number, scale and intensity of humanitarian emergencies worldwide, there is a critical need to strengthen the internal capacity of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to prepare for and respond to public health aspects of humanitarian emergencies. This includes establishing specialized humanitarian emergency response capacities that can assess risks, prevent avoidable epidemics and respond rapidly and effectively to public health emergencies.

In this context, the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded IOM under the initiative entitled “Advancing the Global Health Security Agenda through Strengthening Capacities for Rapid Response to Humanitarian and Public Health Emergencies” to improve IOM’s capacity as dependable operational response partner in global health emergencies. Within this award, IOM will capitalize and build on its health technical and operational expertise to better respond to humanitarian and public health emergencies globally and contribute to advance the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).

Under the administrative supervision of the Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the direct technical supervision of the Regional Migration Health Specialist for MENA, and in close coordination with the Director of Migration Health Division (MHD),  relevant colleagues in  MHD and the Department of Operations and Emergencies (DOE), the successful candidate will contribute to strengthening the organizational capacity in response to global humanitarian and public health emergencies, particularly in the MENA region, through staff capacity building for rapid response and assessment of IOM’s existing health information system. S/he will also be deployed as a rapid response officer, in case of a public health emergency.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Enhance IOM’s capacity in emergency migration health for preparedness and response by conducting rapid response missions to the field, providing technical support in the development of epidemiological surveys and monitoring/surveillance systems for detection, verification and response to public health incidents in relation to migration; ensuring efficiency of data collection, correlation, analysis, interpretation and timely reporting at health facility at the district levels.

2. Support in the development of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation tools for IOM health programming in coordination with MHD HQ. Conduct field visits to monitor and analyze the health projects’ process, specifically aimed at increasing effectiveness recommending appropriate action, and assist in the development of any technical guidance or evaluation protocols.

3. Support to collate and verify data on reported outbreaks or rumours received from multiple sources, conduct retrospective analysis of reported incidents: determine trends, distribution patterns, and efficiency of the verification mechanism.

4. Lead Participatory Mapping Exercises (PME) at the Mission level and support the capacity building of Mission staff to advocate with governments and conduct PMEs (preparedness and response scenarios). Liaise with Displacement Tracking Matrix to support the writing and reviewing of the maps and reports as well as the selection of possible flow monitoring points.

5. Support the development of early warning systems (including event based and indicator-based surveillance) for epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases for early detection and response to public health incidents; conduct field investigation. Provide technical support for vulnerability assessment, risk mapping and development of preparedness/contingency plan at district level.

6. Prepare and disseminate disease outbreak news, technical documents, updates and assessments to key decision-makers in the organizational hierarchy and to the national health authorities, as required using standard tools and templates.

7. Co-lead efforts to improve the existing Health Information System (HIM) in IOM in coordination with IOM working group on HIM by developing an action plan including development of recommended tools, software, platform.

8. Review and finalize the Field Epidemiology Module for the IOM Health in Emergencies Training for staff capacity building. The module should include lessons learned.

9. Conduct relevant technical capacity building trainings to contribute to strengthening national health sectors’ capacity and IOM internal capacity to prepare and respond to the public health emergencies, including the delivery of IOM Health in Emergencies Training.

10. Liaise and coordinate with national and international health and development assistance authorities, agencies or organizations regarding strategic planning, capacity building and field-level epidemiological investigations.

11. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Quantitative Epidemiology, Statistics, Biostatistics, Database Management or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or

• University degree in the above fields with nine years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• At least five years of relevant experience at the international level especially in Africa in implementation of public health surveillance, outbreak investigation and response to major public health emergencies including Ebola Disease Virus.

• Experience in designing and conducting trainings on public health surveillance, outbreak investigation and response for the field level in low and/or middle-income countries is a requirement.

• Experience in the United Nations and/or an international non-governmental organization is an asset.

• Relevant experience in specialized training in communicable diseases.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Arabic, French and/or Spanish is an advantage.

1 Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 3

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results. • Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.

• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 3

• Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision; assists others to realize and develop their potential.

• Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

• Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via PRISM, IOM e-Recruitment system, by 01 October 2019  at the latest, referring to this advertisement.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information please refer to: www.iom.int/recruitment

Posting period:  01.10.2019

No Fees:

IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.