Health Specialist - Epidemiologist (PHE)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a large workforce dedicated to its mission, fostering a culture of inclusivity and belonging, and providing attractive compensation and benefits to its staff.

Job Overview:
The Health Specialist - Epidemiologist position is crucial for UNICEF's Public Health Emergency (PHE) Preparedness and Response Team. The role involves providing technical leadership and coordination on monitoring public health events, supporting early responses, and ensuring effective communication and collaboration across various teams within UNICEF. The incumbent will focus on emerging and re-emerging pathogens, contributing to epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response efforts. This position is integral to integrating vaccine responses into UNICEF's operational frameworks and coordinating vaccination efforts within broader public health response activities. The role requires a proactive approach to surveillance, monitoring, and providing technical assistance to countries, ensuring that UNICEF's mission to promote health for every child is effectively realized.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the surveillance and monitoring of public health events, ensuring timely alerts and support for early response initiatives.
• Provide technical assistance and support to countries in managing public health emergencies, focusing on infectious disease outbreaks.
• Coordinate with internal teams, including the Global Health Practice, EMOPS, and the Immunization team, to align efforts and share information effectively.
• Develop and disseminate reports and newsletters to inform public health responses and enhance communication strategies.
• Engage in risk assessment and data analysis to support decision-making processes related to public health emergencies.
• Foster collaboration with external partners and stakeholders to strengthen public health response frameworks.
• Contribute to the development of guidelines and best practices for outbreak preparedness and response initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (MPH, MSc, Dr PH, PhD) in Epidemiology, Public Health, or Social Sciences.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience in public health emergency response and infectious disease management.
• Demonstrated leadership in coordinating outbreak preparedness initiatives and producing informative reports.
• Strong expertise in epidemiological surveillance, data analysis, and stakeholder coordination.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in a relevant field such as Epidemiology, Public Health, or Social Sciences. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of public health emergencies and the necessary response strategies.

Experience:
The position requires at least five years of relevant professional experience, particularly in public health emergency response and infectious disease management. Candidates should have a proven track record of leadership in coordinating outbreak preparedness initiatives and experience working as an epidemiologist during health emergencies.

Languages:
Proficiency in English and French is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset, enhancing communication capabilities in diverse contexts.

Additional Notes:
This position is part of UNICEF's commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. The organization offers a wide range of benefits, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of their background, and UNICEF promotes a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination and misconduct. The role may involve international mobility and requires adherence to medical clearance and vaccination requirements. UNICEF does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and ensures that all selected candidates undergo rigorous background checks.