Job Opportunity
Date: January 24, 2019
Title: Field Epidemiologist / Mentor
Number of Positions: One (1)
Application Deadline: January 31, 2019
Program: Field Epidemiology Training Program
Duty Station: Liberia
Back ground
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) has been supporting Ministries of Health in Sub Saharan Africa to implement field epidemiology training programs (FETPs) for public health workers at national and subnational levels of the health systems. FETPs are field based trainings with participants spending 25% of the time in class room and 75% in the field providing public health services while acquiring core competencies in field epidemiology. In order to address the need to improve field epidemiology capacity at all levels of the health system, US CDC developed a three – tiered pyramid model for FETP implementation. At the base of the pyramid is the 3-months Frontline FETP that targets public health workers at the local level, the middle of the pyramid is the 9-months intermediate FETP for regional level health workers and at the peak is the 2-years Advanced FETP for national level public health managers.
US CDC and AFENET have since 2015 been supporting the Liberia Ministry of Health and National Public Health Institute to implement a frontline and intermediate FETP that has to date trained 188 surveillance officers from the district and national levels at frontline level and 30 at intermediate level.
AFENET is seeking to recruit one (01) highly qualified & experienced Field Epidemiologist to serve as trainer and field mentor for the FETP in Liberia.
Duties and Responsibilities
Work with the Liberia AFENET FETP Resident Advisor (RA) to:
- Develop and implement a field epidemiology training plan for public health workers at the national and subnational levels.
- Review and adapt the existing field epidemiology curriculum and training materials as may be required to suite the specific needs of the country.
- Participate in the selection of appropriate public health workers to be enrolled into the field epidemiology training programs.
- Conduct the in class field epidemiology trainings for the selected public health workers.
- Provide mentorship, coaching, and supervision for the trainees during the field placement periods to ensure acquisition of key field epidemiology skills and competencies.
- Provide technical assistance to participants to identify public health problems and conduct surveys to generate data that will guide public health decisions to solving such problems.
- Provide technical assistance to trainees in preparing scientific presentations for local and national level dissemination of key findings and recommendations from their field projects.
- Participate in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation and response activities at the national and subnational levels together with the trained surveillance officers as a means to demonstrate best practices.
- Prepare regular and timely technical reports on program implementation in Liberia for submission to AFENET, CDC Liberia, MoH, NPHIL and other partners.
- Any other duties as shall be assigned by the Liberia AFENET FETP Resident Advisor for the seamless implementation of the FETP
Position Qualifications:
- Master of Public Health (with a concentration in epidemiology), MSc. Epidemiology/Biostatistics and/ or any other relevant qualifications from an Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Program in Africa.
- Bachelor’s degree in any of the following fields: Human Medicine, Nursing, Public/environmental Health, laboratory Science, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine.
Experience and Skills
- At least 3 years of experience working in the field as a practicing field epidemiologist
- Sound knowledge of WHO standards and policies such as the IDSR and IHR.
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of the functionality of surveillance systems at national, sub national, local and community levels of the health systems in Africa.
- Experience in preparing and facilitating trainings for in – service public health workforce development initiatives in Africa preferably within an existing FETP.
- Experience with participatory and adult learning activities.
- Strong scientific writing, publication and presentations skills including presentations at national and international scientific conference.
- Experience verifying, analyzing and presenting data.
- Proficiency in the use of the following software:
- Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Additional IT knowledge would be an asset.
- Statistical Packages: Epi Info, Stata or SPSS or SAS
Required qualities:
- Ability to work collaboratively with multiple partners and teams at national and sub national levels.
- Good team player
- Strong interpersonal, communication, leadership, collaborative and good listening skills
- Ability to work independently with minimum supervision
- Openness to new ideas and willingness to accept different opinions and feedback
- Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner
- Patience and sense of humor
- Willingness to travel for extended periods of time within the country, sometimes through rough terrain and weather conditions
Benefits: A competitive remuneration
Others: Candidate must be able to begin work in February 2019.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit their Application Letters detailing their experiences and skills, Curriculum Vitae, copies of relevant academic documents and 3 references to: The Human Resource Office, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET). Email: sec@afenet.net on Thursday Jan 31, 2019 by close of business (East Africa Time).
Note: In your application provide: Your name, nationality, email address, reliable telephone numbers.