Public Health Specialist

About the Job

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking a Public Health Specialist to support the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS). This role will involve implementing comprehensive training modules on EWRS, Epidemic Intelligence, and digital event-based surveillance. The successful candidate will also create a well-organized curriculum for e-learning packages on EWRS, regularly assess the quality of e-learning materials, and lead digitalization efforts for event-based surveillance systems.

Job Description

• Implement comprehensive training modules on EWRS, Epidemic Intelligence, and digital event-based surveillance provided by WHO, targeting central and provincial level staff.
• Create a well-organized curriculum for e-learning packages on EWRS, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and adherence to industry best practices and liaising with relevant RO or HQ counterparts as needed to adopt WHO endorsed training packages where relevant.
• Regularly assess the quality of e-learning materials, guaranteeing accuracy, relevance, and interactivity, and revise content based on feedback and field updates.
• Together with RO/HQ technical team, lead digitalization efforts for event-based surveillance systems, integrating technological solutions for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to implement digital tools and platforms enhancing event-based surveillance capabilities.
• Deliver training on epidemiological data analysis, including statistical tools, data visualization, and interpretation of surveillance data.
• Provide guidance on best practices for analyzing and interpreting epidemiological trends and patterns.
• Work with the transfer of knowledge team to develop user-friendly risk communication materials and training.
• Assist the Ministry of Health in carrying out real-time monitoring of infectious disease outbreaks by utilizing a combination of Google Trends search results or other methodologies.
• Establish strong collaborations with WHO and partner agencies to cover various aspects of public health response to outbreaks.
• Support multi-disciplinary, cross-cutting approaches to work and facilitate participation in such approaches.
• Stay updated on emerging technologies and best practices in EWRS, proactively recommending enhancements and updates.
• Perform other related duties including replacing and backstopping as required.

Requirements

• Education: First university degree in Medicine or Public Health or other health-related fields from an accredited institute.
• Desirable: Advanced degree (Master's) in Public Health or other health-related fields from an accredited institute. Training on epidemiological surveillance and response/outbreak investigation/field epidemiology.
• Experience: At least 5 years' experience working on the control and prevention of infectious diseases including on epidemic diseases and networking with clinicians. At least 3 of the 5 years with international exposure.
• Desirable: Proven primary responsibility for managing cross-cutting initiatives involving different departments or organizational entities in a multinational context such as the UN, WHO or similar. Knowledge of WHO policies and procedures.
• Skills: Proven ability to successfully coordinate, manage and lead projects, and build partnerships, across agencies and organizational departments in the context of health emergencies.
• Expert level knowledge of infectious diseases, particularly in those areas such as influenza, critical for promoting a public health perspective and approach, such as infectious disease epidemiology, prevention or control, monitoring and vaccination and significant practical application of this knowledge in an international context.
• Proven understanding of the management of acute and urgent public health responses, including infectious disease outbreaks and experience in outbreak investigation and management. Proven experience in management (finances, budgets and staff) and clear proof of responsibility for management of work plan activities.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in building sustained partnerships and working with others in international settings.

Salary

The annual base salary for this position is USD 64,121, with a variable post adjustment of USD 2,367 per month, bringing the total monthly salary to approximately USD 6,488. Additionally, the employee will receive benefits such as 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.