Senegal: Epidemiologist (M/F) based in Dakar

Epicentre is a non-profit organization, created in 1986 by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) dedicated to research, field epidemiology and training in line with both MSF programmes and Epicentre’s Research Centres in Uganda and Niger. Epicentre is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

Under the supervision of Epicentre’s Director of Intervention Epidemiology & Training, and with technical link with Médecins Sans Frontières -Operational Center of Barcelona –(MSF-OCBA) Medical Directorate, the Epidemiologist:

· assists MSF-OCBA field teams in the monitoring of health programs.

· is responsible for the development and management of research projects, most frequently conducted with MSF-OCBA.

· participates in Epicentre’s activities and interventions related to field epidemiology and training.

A detailed job profile is attached.

Candidate requirements

· Medical Doctor (preferable) or Doctoral Degree, with a degree in epidemiology (preferable) or public health

· At least 3-5 years tropical medicine experience and/or experience in applied epidemiology

· At least 3 years experience in developing countries is preferred

· Relevant working experience with MSF and/or another NGO would be an advantage

· Experience in conducting research projects with publication peer-reviewed journals

· Fluent in Spanish, English and French

· Good communication skills, both in speech and writing

· Willing to travel 3 to 4 months a year, sometimes at short notice

Conditions

This full time position is based in Dakar (Senegal) in MSF-OCBA decentralized office and runs on a short-term contract for an initial period of 1 year. It is expected to start as soon as possible (march 2017).The salary will be commensurate with experience in line with the Epicentre/MSF salary scale.

Job description and profile for the Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists employed at Epicentre are involved in the following activities:

1- Carry out general activities as Epicentre epidemiologist

· Carry out in the field short-term (1 to 4 weeks) applied epidemiology missions. These missions include surveys, outbreak investigations, rapid health assessments during emergency situations, implementation and evaluation of epidemiological surveillance systems, evaluation of health programs

· Write the mission reports in brief delays and publish the results in the scientific literature when relevant

· Teach epidemiology and public health during training sessions organized either in Spain or abroad

· Assist the Médecins Sans Frontières field teams in the monitoring of health programs or other relevant epidemiological interventions (including the specific support for MSF-OCBA Mission Emergency Response Team (MERT)

· Participate in training sessions

2- Research

In the scope of one or several defined research domains, they will:

· Identify relevant research issues, review the literature on the subject, and translate them into research questions

· Establish and follow an annual research agenda in collaboration with Epicentre’s General Director, Director of Clinical Research and Director of Intervention Epidemiology and Training, and the medical and operational departments of the different MSF sections

· Develop and write research protocols

· Organize and conduct studies in the field

· Clean, organize and analyze data sets

· Write study reports

· Communicate results through presentations at scientific conferences and in publication in the scientific literature

· Participate in meetings of experts at international level

· Develop and maintain a network of relevant partners

3- Participate in Epicentre activities

· Participate to the exchange of information and know-how within Epicentre : organization of seminars, coaching of students, international communications

· Participate to the development of the organization, in collaboration with the General Director and the Director of Administration and Operational Support, and submit research proposals for eventual funding

Please apply online no later than 15^th february 2017 and complete the form available from following link: http://www.epicentre.msf.org/en/job-opening

For additional information, please contact Klaudia Porten: Klaudia.porten@epicentre.msf.org