RTI International Senior Program Epidemiologist, Tanzania Vector Control Scale-up Program

Senior Program Epidemiologist, Tanzania Vector Control Scale-up Program
Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

 

RTI International is seeking highly-qualified Senior Program Epidemiologist candidates to provide strategic, senior-level technical assistance to support implementation of the Tanzania Vector Control Scale-up Program (TVCSP). Funded through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) / United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by RTI in collaboration with the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) through the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDRS). The Senior Program Epidemiologist will be responsible for overall technical guidance and supervision of the malaria epidemic early detection system (MEEDS) and monitoring Parasitemia Prevalence and Malaria Epidemic Preparedness and Response Plan.

 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

Overall Technical Support

• Responsible for provision and oversight of technical assistance relating to epidemiological surveillance. This includes: o Surveillance and response activities in both the Lake Zone and Zanzibar;

o NMCP, ZMCP, DHMTs and other key stakeholders for survey protocol development, training, field implementation, data analysis, maps, and report writing.

 

Implementation of Surveillance Systems

• Provide hands-on leadership in the development, implementation, and monitoring of surveillance systems such as: o Malaria Epidemic Early Detection System (MEEDS);

o Active malaria case detection and notification;

o Parasitemia Prevalence among Pregnant Women and Children in RCH sites in the Lake Zone;

o Epidemiological Surveillance in health facilities. Specifically, support the development and/or implementation of appropriate data analysis systems for all information collected in all health facilities.

 

Capacity Building and Engagement with Stakeholders

• Contribute to capacity building of ZMCP, NMCP, MOH and other relevant stakeholders to enable them retain the capability to undertake effective IRS independently in the future.

• Lead regular/semi-annual dissemination meetings with stakeholders.

 

Program Management and Implementation

• Prepare oral and written reports, posters and presentations, including scientific papers for peer-reviewed journals and specialist scientific meetings

• Contribute to TVCSP reports: annual work plans, monthly work plans and quarterly reports.

• Represent TVCSP at special meetings, technical conferences, and non-technical meetings with donors and the public.

• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the COP.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Education and Experience

 

• Masters-level or higher advanced degree in public health, epidemiology, demography, or

biostatistics with at least nine (9) years of relevant experience in infectious disease control (including malaria) in Africa.

• Experience with large scale health intervention programs in resource-poor settings, project and field team management.

• Track record of authoring and contributing to scientific publications.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced epidemiological knowledge.

• Capacity to operate computer databases: proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.) and advanced database and statistical analysis software (MS Access, SAS, STATA, Epi Info, SPSS).

• Ability to independently work through all stages of an operational research project: identifying the question; writing a concept paper; writing a proposal; developing a manual of operations; developing data collection tools; understanding the need for review and ethical clearance; recruiting and training field staff; data collection; data entry and management; analysis; interpretation; preparation of reports and manuscripts; and dissemination of results.

• Excellent English writing and verbal communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills.

• Ability to interact with staff at all levels in a fast paced environment and with a high level of professionalism and integrity.

• Passion and enthusiasm for the aims of the program.

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in surveillance of malaria.

• Experience with USAID-funded program implementation and management.

• Written and spoken fluency in Swahili.

 

TO APPLY: Qualified candidates should submit curriculum vitae (with current contact information) to www.rti.org/job14275 . Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

RTI is proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.