Technical Officer (Surveillance)

Viacomcbs; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 69,593 - 85,058; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Education grant for dependent children

Home leave

Job summary

World Health Organization in New Delhi, India, seeks an experienced public health professional to provide strategic advice and technical assistance to strengthen national surveillance systems and epidemiology capacities for IHR(2005) implementation. The role involves coordinating with ministries and other stakeholders across countries.

The position requires advanced public health degree, 7+ years of surveillance experience, international exposure, and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Essential: Advanced university degree in public health, epidemiology or preventive medicine.
• Desirable: University degree in medicine or veterinary medicine.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice and technical assistance to strengthen multi-source collaborative surveillance.
• Review and assess national surveillance systems and capacities to inform planning.
• Collaborate with authorities to develop national action plans for surveillance and epidemiology.
• Develop and revise guidelines, SOPs, and protocols for surveillance and investigations.
• Introduce innovative or non-traditional surveillance approaches to improve performance.
• Support risk assessment for acute public health events in LMICs.

Skills

Public health surveillance

Stakeholder engagement

Data management & analysis

Communication with ministries

English proficiency

Education

Advanced degree in public health/epidemiology

Medical or veterinary degree desirable

Job description

Overview

Grade: P4, Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): Two Years
Primary Location: India - New Delhi
Organisation: WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)
Schedule: Full‑time, Contractual Arrangement: Fixed‑term appointment

Responsibilities

1. Provide strategic advice and technical assistance to countries to strengthen multi‑source collaborative surveillance, enabling the effective use of multi‑source information to guide decision making during emergencies. This involves strengthening collaboration among surveillance stakeholders.
2. Support countries to review and assess national surveillance systems and capacities to inform planning to strengthen surveillance systems and to further advance implementation of IHR(2005).
3. Collaborate with relevant authorities of the countries to develop national plans of action to strengthen surveillance systems and epidemiology capacities, including assisting prioritisation of infectious diseases and other health security threats.
4. Provide technical assistance to countries in the development, review, and revision of guidelines, standard operating procedures, and protocols for surveillance systems, risk assessment and epidemiological investigations.
5. Facilitate provision of technical assistance to countries to introduce innovative or non‑traditional approaches of surveillance that may improve performance of the national surveillance systems.
6. Support countries to build capacities for risk assessment for acute public health events.
7. Provide technical assistance to countries to strengthen field epidemiology, data management and analytics capacities, in collaboration with concerned colleagues.
8. Provide technical support to advance One Health approach in surveillance, risk assessment and field epidemiology to address public health risks at the human-animal-environment interface.
9. Provide technical assistance to countries in strengthening health information systems for public health surveillance, advancing interoperability and incorporating analytics functions.
10. Support regional public health intelligence activities, including detection, verification and assessment of acute public health events, and production of relevant information products.
11. Take part in health emergency response, as part of the surveillance and epidemiology pillar of the Incident Management Support Team, which may involve deployment or remote technical support to affected countries or areas.
12. Represent HIM/WHE/SEARO at various technical meetings related to surveillance, epidemiology and monitoring, and related training.
13. Provide technical inputs in developing project proposals and reports.
14. Perform any other duties as required by the PAM/HIM, including back‑stopping for others.

Qualifications

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in public health, epidemiology or preventive medicine.
Desirable: University degree in medicine or veterinary medicine.

Experience

Essential:
- At least seven years of experience in managing or strengthening public health surveillance, with at least three years of experience on surveillance for infectious diseases of epidemic and pandemic potential in low‑ and middle‑income countries;
- Demonstrated experience engaging various stakeholders in collaborative efforts to strengthen surveillance systems;
- Demonstrated experience in conducting rapid risk assessment for acute public health events in low‑and middle‑income countries;
- At least four years of international exposure, defined as work experience in a multicultural environment and/or working on projects across different geographical/cultural settings.
Desirable:
- Experience designing and implementing national information systems for public health surveillance and managing complex flows of information at country or regional level;
- Experience in leading roles in information management of large‑scale health emergencies as part of incident management systems;
- Experience working for a broad range of acute public health events (not just through a vertical programme focusing on a specific disease);
- Relevant experience in WHO or other UN agencies would be an asset.

Skills

• Demonstrated experience and technical knowledge in public health surveillance of emerging diseases and outbreak‑prone diseases, risk assessment and epidemiological investigation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to advise Ministries of Health in low and middle‑income countries.
• Sound knowledge and skills in data management and statistical analysis, survey designing and implementation, and public health information management.
• Proven ability to multi‑task across various planning and implementation processes within a highly demanding environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge, competency and professional skills on the public health aspects of infectious disease control, epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response with particular attention to application of an all‑hazard approach in the context of IHR(2005).
• Expert knowledge of English. (Essential)
  Desirable: proficiency in other languages.

Benefits

Remuneration for this position comprises an annual base salary starting at US$77,326 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance). A variable post‑adjustment, reflecting the cost of living in the duty station, amounts to US$2,713 per month for the duty station indicated. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

Legal and Equality Statement

The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio‑economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. The WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and other types of abusive conduct. All staff members have a role in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report any actual or suspected cases. The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual govern appointment and extension.