Epidemiology Activity Manager

Main Purpose

The Epidemiology Activity Manager will be responsible for defining, coordinating and monitoring the epidemiological activities, ensuring the development of appropriate methodology and the quality of studies according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures in order to identify risk factors for diseases and to determine the optimal treatment approaches to clinical practice and the preventive medicine to be used in the missions.

Accountabilities

• Defining, scheduling and organizing, in close collaboration with other medical team members, the annual epidemiological activity plan as well as its associated budget, in order to improve early detection of risk factors to better define treatment approaches and preventive practices. Leading the implementation of the protocols and epidemiological methodology, ensuring all related staff follows them in order to improve research efficiency.
• Supervising, according to annual plan, the epidemiological research activity ensuring that contacts with community groups and authorities are aligned with the objectives of the research and that the population participating in the research is properly informed. Reporting on the progress of data collection, on ongoing analysis of research or on any issue causing delay, in order to achieve epidemiological goals on time.
• Advising the MSF medical team on epidemiological matters that arise in the course of their activity research, and when necessary, designing and implementing epidemiological tools and data collection to meet new epidemiological needs.
• Ensuring, in coordination with logistics department, that national or international shipment of laboratory samples acquired for research purposes is done within datelines and according to protocols, following security rules and keeping conditions needed for the sample
• Supervising data filing procedures, ensuring that all epidemiology software tools are properly used and are updated regularly, in order to ensure full data traceability and availability
• Planning and supervising, in close coordination with the HR department and the MSF vision, policies and values, the associated processes (job description, recruitment, training, performance evaluation, development and internal/external communication) of the epidemiological staff in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required, to improve staff technical capabilities, contribution and commitment to MSF values.
• Supervising, in close coordination with the Logistic Manager that research equipment and materials are properly maintained and stock level is above minimum point in order to ensure availability and research activity continuity.
• Participating in operational monthly reports and organizing and/or assisting medical staff in preparing epidemiological reports related to health facilities and to researched areas

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

1. Monitoring and Surveillance

• Regularly reviewing, assessing, maintaining and  updating, if/as needed and with the projects’ and medical coordination’s support, the data collection, monitoring tools to respond to projects’ needs and be in line with the set strategy. This includes the support for the  logframes, the choice and analysis of indicators, data management processes and system  as well as the typology exercise ensuring reporting of quality data and guiding the interpretation of epidemiological trends.
• Guiding the choice and implementation of relevant data systems needed based on the planned activities and related monitoring indicators and supporting the management of these data systems and regulary verify and assess the quality of the data collected.
• Supporting  the medical and paramedical staff as well as support departments and specifically the project medical referents, data teams and the mission and project ITC to make sure that that the principles of security and confidentiality of data is respected and supporting/conducting relevant trainings to improve literacy of staff in that matter.
• Regularly analyzing and/or overseeing data analysis and data visualization according to medical teams’ needs at projects’ and mission level and based on priorities identified by the relevant teams. Supporting the teams in the interpretation of the data analyzed.
• Providing technical support to the data teams at projects’ level; ensure continuous training or support of trainings to the respective data and medical teams on epi/data related matters to improve skills, knowledge.
• Responding  to ad-hoc  requests related to the above responsibilites.

1. Epidemiological surveillance for outbreaks (or other emergencies) monitoring and response

• As needed, proposing/conducting and supporting the medical teams in carrying out key epidemiological activities in outbreak initial assessment, investigation. Alert and advise medical teams on potential operational response.
• Supporting together with the medical coordinator and medical referents the set-up of a surveillance strategy to monitor epidemiological trends of relevant outbreak-prone diseases during regular situations and outbreaks. Together with the medical coordinator/ deputy medical coordinator, project medical referent and epidemiology advisor guiding activities of medical staff for surveillance, active case finding, contact tracing and reporting including ensuring understanding of the need for consistent case definitions, data recording.
• Organizing, setting, training and implementing data collection tools (e-record management) to support outbreak monitoring with support of   epidemiology advisor and relevant technical referents. Use of existing standard tools if/when available
• Keeping an updated outbreak and emergency yearly log for centralization and institutional memory

1. Operational research, survey and assessments

• Leading, supporting or contributing to the monitoring and implementation of various initial assessments or surveys during regular and emergency situations, rapid health assessments and baseline or follow-up surveys. Where standard protocols are not available or appropriate, contribute in developing a protocol seeking extensive feedback and pilot testing of tools to ensure the objectives will be met robustly with support of the regional epidemiologist and other referents.
• Drafting, preparing or supporting the preparation and adaptation of routine documentation (survey forms, training materials, letters of request/notification, locally appropriate consent forms etc.) with support of epidemiology advisors. Preparing an appropriate sampling frame and sample selection guidelines with support of HQ epidemiologist.
• Leading the drive and implementation of the operational research protocols and ensure their proper and efficient implementation. Supporting development/reviewing of research related documents/tools: concept note/protocol(s) writing, data collection and management strategy of operational research to ensure feasibility and alignment with MSF standard practices and protocols around data management with the support of the epi advisor and the operational research advisors.
• Leading or supporting the implementation and follow up of any ongoing or new operational research: development and supervision of study data collection sheets - paper and electronic - extraction and cleaning of data, training of medical staff on data collection from outside the data system, data analysis, overviewing of data quality and support in manuscript write-up, with the support of the Epi advisor and the operational research advisors.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Epidemiology or Public Health with extensive training in statistics and epidemiology
• Desirable medical doctor or nursing diploma.
• Desirable specialization or training in tropical diseases

Experience

• Essential working experience of at least two years in data management and/or outbreak investigation and response.
• Desirable working experience with MSF or other NGOs
• Desirable working experience in developing countries

Knowledge

Essential computer literacy (word, excel, internet); autonomous level in using statistical software such as STATA or R.  Desirable knowledge in other relevant tools used for epidemiological visualization such as basic GIS or Power BI.

Languages 

Essential: English and Arabic

Competencies

• People Management and Development 
• Commitment to MSF Principles 
• Behavioural Flexibility 
• Results and Quality Orientation 
• Teamwork and Cooperation