Epidemiologist Emergency Pool

CONTEXT 

The Emergency Unit or the Epool is part of the Operations Department of MSF-OCB and plays a fundamental role in responding to humanitarian emergencies. The Epool scans constantly and broadly to timely identify potential crisis situations; conducts exploratory and assessment assignments; initiates and manages large scale emergency interventions; and supports emergency interventions managed by regular cells. Its primary function is to intervene with medical activities directly and quickly in crisis situations like conflicts, epidemics and natural catastrophes while guaranteeing the quality of interventions. 

The Epool consists of the head of Epool, 1 medical deputy head of Epool, and 2 emergency coordinators (EMCOs) based in Brussels, as well as officers in logistics, supply, medical, finance, and human resources, all based in Brussels, and a mobile team of around 20 to 30 emergency responders. 

To further improve the timeliness and quality of emergency assessments and interventions, and to support teams to ensure proper data collection, management and analysis, the Epool is looking for an epidemiologist to join the medical Epool team based in Brussels. 

The Epidemiologist position is part the MSF-OCB medical department referent positions based in Brussels. The position will be line-managed by the operational deputy medical director but working under the daily management of the medical deputy head of Epool and technically supported by a senior epidemiologist and by the head of the E-health unit in the medical department.  As part of the Epi Advisor support structure, the position will also work in close collaboration with the other MSF-OCB Epi advisors, and Epi Advisors from other Operational Centers.

OBJECTIVE

The Epidemiologist will be embedded in the daily functioning of the Epool of MSF-OCB and will provide direct epi and data monitoring support to all countries/projects where the Epool has medical operational activities, as well as direct day-to-day support to epidemiologists in the projects and data managers embedded inside these countries/projects.  Ad-hoc epi support for emergency interventions managed by regular cells can be requested. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Support to the Epool operations at program and headquarter level

Towards program level in Epool countries/projects:

• Lead and ensure the implementation of routine medical project and activity monitoring
• Supervise data collection procedures, ensuring that all data collection tools, and software tools are available, properly used and are updated regularly, in order to ensure data relevance, traceability, availability and security
• Provide direct technical support and mentoring to the epidemiologists and data managers (or in absence of an epidemiologist, to the team member assuring coordination/follow up of data monitoring and epi activities) in the areas of alerts and surveillance, project/activity monitoring, outbreak investigation, assessments, surveys, horizon scanning, statistics and analysis, reporting, use and validation of tools, software packages, etc.
• Assist the teams in setting up data dashboards that allow regular/timely monitoring and decision making (including intersectional dashboards)
• Support projects, jointly with the Ariadne (E-health Unit) on the process of implementation of routine data monitoring and surveillance
• EPI emergency work: Lead, design, be part or guide:
  • Outbreak investigations
  • Health needs assessments
  • Surveys/Assessments in order to improve early detection of health events and potential risk factors.
  • Outbreak surveillance, including when relevant outside the ‘fence’ (e.g.also community-based surveillance)
• Link the Epi/data team with the different Epidemiology Advisors, Ariadne (E-health Unit), GIS, and other experts inside and outside the MSF-OCB Medical Department
• Perform briefings and debriefings of epidemiologists and other relevant profiles (e.g., MedCo, Deputy MedCo, PMR, Project coordinator, etc)
• Contribute to matching of International Mobile Staff epidemiologists and support in the recruitment of Locally Hired Staff field epidemiologists (and Data Managers if necessary)
• Explore, develop and organize training and capacity building activities for epi/data teams
• Support operational research (OR) activities in the projects of the Epool in collaboration with the LUXOR unit or Epicentre
• Conduct project visits to 1) support and better understand the epi/data monitoring needs of the projects, 2) set up the data monitoring system, 3) conduct assessments/investigations/surveys. Visits to the projects can take up to 40 % of working time.

At headquarter/Regional level:

Epool

• In collaboration with the Medical deputy head of Epool, epi advisors and the E-health unit, analysis department (data for medical advocacy/speaking out), LUXOR, as well as with peers in the intersectional Epidemiology Network, improve Emergency data collection tools, methodologies and the standardization of it for each of the frequent intervention scenarios
• In collaboration with the Medical deputy head of Epool, OCB and intersectional Epi-advisor(s) participate in horizon surveillance scanning (public health/humanitarian emergencies, nutrition situation, …).
• Support the Medical deputy head of Epool to build/maintain ‘live’ data overviews (dashboards) of E-pool medical/humanitarian activities
• Lead the Epool data contribution to the yearly medical activity report, typology, etc
• Knowledge management: contribute to an organized library of technical documentation such as; guidelines, protocols and tools (epi, data monitoring) to make them accessible to epidemiologists in the projects
• Contribute to networking in & outside of MSF related to emergency intervention medical monitoring and epidemiological work

Medical department

• Actively collaborate with other Headquarter epidemiologists, Units (e.g. Ariadne/E-health unit, LUXOR, GIS, ) and referents (e.g. malaria, health promotion, environmental health, vaccinations, nutrition, mental health, etc.) in their activities including in training and provision of epidemiological input
  • Participate in relevant Circles and meetings of the MSF-OCB Medical Department (e.g., Epi Circle, med department meeting etc.)

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience  

• University degree (MSc or higher) in a (para)-medical field

• A (field) epidemiology degree or certificate is mandatory

• A minimum of 2 years work experience as a field-epidemiologist is mandatory

• At least 12 months of international MSF experience or another INGO as Epidemiologist with at least one assignment in an emergency context is mandatory

Competencies

• Previous experience of implementation of rapid (nutrition, mortality) assessment surveys in humanitarian contexts

• Experience with the implementation of Early Warning and Surveillance Systems is an asset

• Experience with Power BI is an asset 

• Keen interest and experience in project monitoring 

• Good knowledge of different EPI data collection and analysis tools

• Ability to work under very basic conditions within emergency contexts

• Experience in supervising, coaching and training

• Diplomatic skillset that allows you to work in multi-cultural settings and with an array of humanitarian actors

• Professional and personal flexibility and adaptability

Languages

• English and French are essential; knowledge of another language is an asset (Spanish, Arabic and/or Portuguese in particular)

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: May 2025
• Location: Brussels (Belgium)
• Mobility: 30 - 40% of time of visits to the projects
• Contract type: Fixed-term contract – full time
• Contract duration: 2 years
• Salary:  according to MSF-OCB HQ grid
• Meal Vouchers – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

How to apply? 

• Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button

• You will be directed to the online application form for this position 

• It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter ready to upload 

Deadline: 14 April 2025

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

MSF values diversity and is committed to create an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

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