Scientist, Public Health Laboratory

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Vacancy Notice No: EMRO/13/FT369 Title: Scientist, Public Health Laboratory position no.348039 Grade: P4 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract:  For two years	Date: 5 September 2013 Application Deadline: 26 September 2013 (4 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  Cairo, Egypt   Organization unit: EM Eastern Mediterranean (EM) / EMRO Eastern Mediterranian Regional Office (EM/RGO) Division of Communiicable Disease Control (DCD), (HSR/PHL)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate unit or field activity: The International Health Regulations unit is responsible for providing technical and strategic support to the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region affected or potentially affected by public health events that might be of international concern. The unit, under the Department of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control works for: (i) building health systems capacities for detection, verification and containment of public health events of international concern (ii) strengthening epidemiological and laboratory surveillance and response capacities (iii) improving public health preparedness for potential events that might be of international concern and in accordance with IHR 2005 Purpose of the Post: To assist Member States in strengthening their diagnostic capacities required for IHR implementation, in activities related to influenza and influenza-like illnesses and in strengthening and supporting countries to develop and maintain the laboratory core capacities required for epidemiological surveillance, alert and response systems in accordance with International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR 2005).
Description of duties: Organizational Context : Under the direct supervision of the Regional Adviser, PHL and overall guidance of Director, Department of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, the incumbent will provide technical guidance and advice for strengthening public health laboratory services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region with a strategic focus on improving the capacities of public health laboratories in accordance with IHR 2005. The incumbent will also be responsible for mobilizing resources, conducting training courses for public health laboratory personnel and preparing reports and documents related to the objective of strengthening the laboratory core capacities. This will help in rapid and timely detection and diagnosis of public health risks. This will also imply the development of collaborations and partnerships with relevant laboratory networks, professional societies, and internal coordination with the other EMRO divisions and headquarters focal points. Summary of Assigned Duties : Under the direct supervision of the Regional Adviser, PHL and overall guidance of Director, Department of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, the incumbent will perform the following duties: Assist the Member States in assessing their existing capacities of public health laboratories for surveillance, alert and response in accordance with core requirement for Implementation of IHR 2005; Provide technical assistance in strengthening public health laboratories' core capacities in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in line with IHR 2005; Provide technical support to EMR countries in establishing/strengthening National Influenza Centers in collaboration with Regional Adviser, PHL; Assist EMR countries in setting up virological surveillance capacities for Influenza, Influenza-like Illnesses and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) in collaboration with Regional Adviser, PED; Develop cross-cutting regional plans and activities for the strengthening of laboratory surveillance component for implementation of IHR 2005 in the Member States; Establish collaboration and networking with international laboratories of excellence in the EMR region, in particular NAMRU3 in Cairo and laboratories outside of the region in accordance with the IHR 2005; Support the Member States in designing and implementing national strategies, plans and policies for the strengthening of their public health laboratory services, through adequate human resources and infrastructure, laboratory regulations, specimen collection and transport, quality assurance, bio-risk management, data management and reporting systems as per the requirements of IHR 2005; Provide technical support to the Member States of EMR for development and implementation of policies and programmes related to laboratory based services for strengthening the required core capacities needed for IHR 2005 implementation; Provide technical input in activities related to other units in DCD when needed.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Essential: University degree in Medicine and Master's degree in Microbiology or life sciences. Desirable: Training in public health laboratory quality control and management and biosafety.
Skills:  Competencies; 1) Knowing and managing yourself. 2)Producing results. 3)Moving forward in a changing environment. 4)Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences. 5)Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Functional Skills and Knowledge : -Good knowledge and demonstrable skills in laboratory science with an understanding of resource-limited countries' needs. -Ability to assess laboratory capacities and propose solutions to fill the gaps. -Knowledge of public health laboratory systems including its quality assurance systems. -Analytical and interpersonal skills. -Knowledge and skills in laboratory surveillance and event detection. -Effective presentation and writing skills. -Ability to process and prioritize laboratory support for outbreak verification and systematic event detection. Other Skills (e.g. IT): Proficiency in MS Office
Experience: Essential: - At least seven years experience combined at national and international levels in laboratory practice, in any of the following areas: virology, microbiology, food safety, hygiene or environmental health. Desirable: - Experience in laboratory regulations, quality management and quality standards. - Experience in professional networks and information management.
Languages: Excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of Arabic and/or French an asset
Additional Information: Applicants are kindly requested to pay attention to the screening questions as they will be used to screen out unqualified candidates. Only qualified applicants with the relevant experience will be considered. Other similar positions at the same level may be filled from this vacancy notice. Written test may be used as an elimentary tool. Candidates will be interviewed using a competency-based approach. This position is under the cluster Public Health Laboratory Unit. This vacancy is published in English only
Annual salary: (Net of tax) US$ 67483.00 at single rate US$ 72467.00 with primary dependants	Post Adjustment: 38.6% % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.
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