Emergency Team Field Epidemiologist

Place within the organisation

• Overall: reports to the Head of Emergency Support Department in Amsterdam.
• During field assignments reports to relevant Management Team (MT) member at the capital level, Emergency Coordinator (EmCo) or directly to the Medical Emergency Manager in Amsterdam, dependant on the response set-up.
• Liaises with relevant Epi Advisors in OCA for technical guidance.

Emergency Team Members spend about 90% of their work days (so excluding holidays) inside field locations travelling with short notice to any required area and approximately 10% at the headquarters for briefing/debriefing/trainings/specific tasks.

Main objectives of the role

To provide epidemiological technical support to emergency responses and potential assignment to non-emergency missions for support.

The role will most often consist of providing support within existing missions/projects, to either support in key positions or respond to emergencies within those missions. These responses may be under the management of the MT in country, or under the direct management of the Emergency Desk, depending on the situation.

Description of the role

• Conduct rapid epidemiological health assessment; design and implement population-based surveys on request.
• Analyse the available medical data together with the medical team to orient emergency interventions being implemented.
• Conduct epidemiological follow-up with regards to epidemics and implementing specific monitoring systems and databases for diseases with outbreak potential.
• Strengthen existing methods of surveillance within emergency responses, supporting emergency medical teams in collecting and analysing health-related data. Implement and adapt the MSF-OCA Health Information System for emergency interventions as required.
• Support in design and implementation of alternate methods of surveillance in relevant program areas (accessible and inaccessible) in order to generate a comprehensive understanding of population dynamics and movements, existing livelihoods in these communities (access to water, shelter, food), disease burdens of greatest concern and possibly the detection of unusual health events.
• In new emergencies, assist with background research on country profiles and epidemiological risks.
• Contribute to emergency support activities including: scanning, emergency preparation, guideline maintenance, MSF trainings, nutritional surveys on request.
• Emergency Team Members spend about 90% of their work days (so excluding holidays) in field locations and the remaining at the headquarters for briefing/debriefing/trainings other.

Candidate profile

Essential:

• Graduate or post graduate qualification in Epidemiology;
• Knowledge of emergency public health, infectious and communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases programming;
• Minimal 12 months field experience with one of the MSF sections
• Field experience with one of the MSF sections in more than 3 different projects, of which at least one emergency project and one high security setting;
• Basic knowledge of standards in MSF projects, including emergencies and epidemics, rapid assessment, closed and open setting health surveillance, design and implementation of survey methodologies;
• Experience with one or more of the following emergency responses: cholera outbreak, VHF, meningitis or measles outbreak, mass vaccination, nutritional crisis;
• Good knowledge and experience with regards to IT software for processing texts, and standard software within MSF-OCA (Excel, Epi info, Stata, OCA HIS tools);
• Proven organizational skills, diplomatic skills and experience with the representation of MSF;
• Strong people management skills;
• English language skills;
• Proven flexibility and solution-oriented mentality;
• Ability to work independently and be decisive in chaotic circumstances;
• Positive, can-do attitude. Focuses on the wins and not barriers to success;
• Willingness to travel to any required area, frequently at short notice;
• Able to work in teams and under stressful conditions.

Desirable:

• Qualified Medical Practitioner or Registered Nurse.
• Has worked as a Nurse or Doctor or in a Coordination position in at least one mission.
• Experience working in middle income contexts.
• French, Spanish and/or Arabic language skills.

We offer

• A full-time appointment for 1 year with a potential option to renew;
• Salary is dependent on three main factors: domicile, level of responsibility and experience on the job. Candidate’s domicile determines which MSF section will act as employer;
• 45 days annual leave;
• Completion bonus of 1.5 months of extra salary after completion of every 12 months commitment;
• A challenging position within a stimulating, professional working environment in a major international organization.