Epidemiologist

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Position Title: Epidemiologist
Location: Remote
Country: Remote
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian organization founded in 197

• MSF provides medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. The organization operates in over 70 countries, employing thousands of staff members, including medical professionals, logistical experts, and administrative personnel. MSF's mission is to deliver emergency medical care and to advocate for the rights of those in need, ensuring that healthcare is accessible to all, regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation.

Job Overview:
The role of the epidemiologist at MSF is vital for the effective management of health emergencies and outbreaks. Epidemiologists are responsible for establishing and maintaining surveillance systems that are crucial for monitoring health trends and guiding operational responses during crises. They collect and analyze health data to support evidence-based decision-making, ensuring that interventions are timely and effective. The position requires a proactive approach to investigating outbreaks, monitoring disease trends, and providing guidance to medical staff on surveillance activities. This role not only supports the immediate response to health emergencies but also contributes to the overall improvement of public health outcomes in affected communities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The epidemiologist will be tasked with assessing, implementing, and maintaining epidemiological surveillance systems in accordance with MSF protocols and standards. Key responsibilities include conducting epidemiological activities during outbreak investigations, advising on operational responses, and implementing surveillance systems to monitor diseases prone to outbreaks. The role also involves guiding medical staff in surveillance and active case finding, ensuring they understand case definitions and data recording processes. Additionally, the epidemiologist will monitor and conduct initial assessments and rapid health surveys in emergency situations, develop protocols for assessments with feedback from headquarters, and prepare routine documentation. The position requires planning and supervising human resources processes for staff, managing data systems to ensure high-quality databases, analyzing results, and preparing regular reports. Training medical teams on relevant epidemiological aspects is also a critical component of this role, aimed at enhancing the overall response capacity of the organization.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a medical degree (preferably), nursing qualifications, or a biomedical background with a specific degree in epidemiology, distinct from public health. A few years of experience in tropical medicine is essential, along with field-level experience in epidemiology. Proficiency in relevant analytical software such as Excel, Epi-info, STATA, or SPSS is also required to effectively manage and analyze health data.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a degree in epidemiology, which is crucial for understanding the principles and practices of disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. A medical degree or nursing qualification is preferred, as it provides a solid foundation for understanding clinical aspects of health emergencies.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have several years of experience in tropical medicine and field-level epidemiology. This experience is critical for effectively managing health crises and implementing surveillance systems in challenging environments. Familiarity with the operational aspects of humanitarian work is also beneficial.

Languages:
Proficiency in the language of the project location is mandatory, with English, French, Arabic, and Spanish being desirable languages. This linguistic capability is essential for effective communication with local teams and stakeholders during health emergencies.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote, allowing for flexibility in work location. Specific details regarding contract duration, seniority level, and compensation are not provided in the job description. However, candidates should be prepared for a role that may involve international travel to various project sites, depending on the needs of MSF's operations.