Epidemiologist at Medecins Sans Frontieres - Spain

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid in more than 60 countries to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters or exclusion from healthcare.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Epidemiologist

Job No.: MS059
Location: Maiduguri, Borno State (with frequent visit to projects i.e Pulka, Gwoza & Damaturu (75% in projects)

Main Objective of the Position

• Carry out investigation, implement assessment and epidemiological surveillance systems/monitoring (if needed) according to MSF protocols in order to contribute to appropriate evidence-based decision making using well managed health data in outbreak and emergency MSF programs.

Accountability

• Carry out key epidemiological activities in outbreak investigation (description including time, place, people with emphasis on mapping when it is needed) and advise on the operational response
• Supervise epidemiological activities in community-based surveillance (mortality, malnutrition),in outbreak investigations (description including person, place and time with emphasis on mapping when needed) and advise on operational response.
• Monitor data quality in the data collection tools used through follow up with appropriate staff on missing, erroneous and duplicate data, correcting data errors in a timely manner, and liaising with staff to ensure data integrity is maintained.
• Develop and maintain community-based and hospital-based surveillance systems to monitor health status of beneficiaries.
• Monitor epidemiological trends of relevant outbreak-prone diseases.
• Guide activities of medical staff and community staff for surveillance and/or active case finding, including ensuring understanding of the need for consistent case definitions and data recording (briefing of all new staff).
• Develop and maintain accurate and high quality data systems/databases.
• Performs quantitative data analysis using descriptive, statistical and spatial methodologies and computerized statistical software,
• Prepare regular written reports on progress and findings for medical coordinator, and when appropriate to external collaborators/networks (MoH, other NGOs).
• Conduct initial assessments (for emergency situations), rapid health assessments and (baseline or follow-up) surveys to inform appropriate response.
• Where standard protocols are not available or appropriate, develop a protocol seeking extensive feedback and pilot testing of robust tools to ensure the objectives will be met with support of HQ epidemiologist.
• Prepare / adapt routine documentation (survey forms, training materials, letters of request/notification, locally appropriate consent forms etc) with support of HQ epidemiologist.
• Prepare an appropriate sampling frame and sample selection guidelines with support of HQ epidemiologist
• Hire, train and supervise survey staff, including ensuring staff exhibit required skills after training and pilot test.
• Analyze results and report on findings
• Manage data systems and ensure accurate, high quality databases
• Analyze results and report on findings
• Implement/maintain relevant epidemiological surveillance systems/monitoring
• Provide training sessions to medical teams on relevant aspects of epidemiology to enhance team response capacity.
• Follow up, monitor and provide result interpretation of community-based nutrition and mortality surveillance system in the projects where implemented.
• Support implementation of remote surveillance system in Jakusko.
• Follow up on reported cases of communicable diseases and conduct analysis of the data to support early detection and to help inform appropriate response.
• Monitor epidemiological trends of relevant outbreak-prone diseases (e.g. meningitis, measles, cholera etc), and provide appropriate technical advice and support to the PMRs .
• Follow up and harmonize project’s Health Information System (HMIS) and support analysis of this data.
• Ensure timely reporting for monthly and quarterly indicators.
• Support and manage surveillance data tools when requested Provide technical support to field team in building capacity regarding surveillance for meningitis outbreak preparedness.
• Update the medical dashboard to support programme improvement, and sharing with the medical coordinator on a weekly basis.
• Ensure external data management tools (e.g MOH, Nut 5W cluster) are updated with weekly and monthly data for external sharing purposes.
• Ensure regular reporting on progress, challenges and findings at medical meetings or coordination meetings if applicable.
• Support emergency team on analysis of the data during/after exploratory missions if relevant.
• Participate in relevant team, inter-sectional and inter-agency/ governmental meetings if requested by medical coordinator
• Design/develop protocols of epidemiological study, carry out epidemiological study and publish results in norms with studies internal regulations.
• Being flexible to any other task to be carried out asked by the supervisor according to the mission need.

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities:

• 50% of the time in the the projects: Damaturu, Gwoza, Maiduguri and Pulka
• Monthly reports to Logco registering all the activities, problems, soutions proposed and plans for following month
• Responsible of updating monthly IT material inventory, location, passwords and status
• Responsible of configuring computers and printers according to MSF standards and programmes

Requirements
Education:

• Medical Doctor (preferable), Nurse or Biomedical background with a Degree in Epidemiology.

Experience:

• At least 2 years of tropical medicine experience (having assumed coordination position is a plus).
• Experience in field epidemiology

Languages:

• Mission working language essential (English), local language a plus (Hausa).
• Knowledge Use of epidemiology related analytical software (excel, Epi-info, STATA or SPSS).

Competencies:

• Commitment to MSF’s Principles
• Cross-cultural Awareness
• Behavioral Flexibility
• Stress Management
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Service Orientation
• Initiative and Innovation
• Teamwork and Cooperation

Other Required skills:

• Organization and planning skills, initiative and proactive.
• Committed to humanitarian principles.
• Due to the nature of MSF operations, flexibility is indispensable and unavoidable.
• Committed to humanitarian principles.
• Sensitive and respectful of religious and cultural differences
• Identification with Humanitarian, Cross Cultural Awareness, Self-Control, Quality and Results Orientation, Commment, Stress Management.

Salary

• As per the MSF salary scale (national contract).

Application Closing Date
29th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Motivation Letters either by email to: msfe-abuja-recruitment@barcelona.msf.org
Or
In person to:
MSF Spain Office,
Plot 394, Etang O. Obuli Street,
Off Idris Ibrahim Crescent,
Jabi-Abuja.
Or
To any MSF Spain Base in Maiduguri, Gwoza, Pulka - Borno and Damaturu - Yobe States.

Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.