TEAM LEADER, SURVEILLANCE AND OPERATIONAL RESEARCH (EPIDEMIOLOGIST)

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is an international organisation that provides technical and policy advice and assistance, training and research services to its Pacific Island members. SPC works in a wide range of sectors with the aim of achieving three development outcomes – sustainable economic development, sustainable natural resource management and development, and sustainable human and social development. SPC was established in 1947. It has 26 member countries and territories and its working languages are English and French. SPC’s headquarters are in Noumea, New Caledonia. It has regional offices in Suva, Fiji, and Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and country offices in Honiara, Solomon Islands and Port Vila, Vanuatu. Additional information on SPC can be found on its website: www.spc.int. PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION SPC’s Public Health Division (PHD) supports the development of healthier Pacific Island communities through four broad objectives under the strategic plan 2010–2014. 1. Combat and reduce the overall impact and burden of diseases. 2. Contribute to strengthening national health systems. 3. Increase the capacity of Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to address non-health sector determinants of health. 4. Increase the efficiency and impact of interventions. PHD’s primary focus is to provide technical assistance and to implement programmes in support of countries’ priorities and plans. PHD has staff based in Noumea, Suva, Pohnpei, Honiara and Port Vila. Information on PHD and the division’s strategic plan is available at www.spc.int/php. PHD DISEASE SURVEILLANCE RESEARCH AND CONTROL UNIT (Disease Unit) The Disease Surveillance Research and Control Unit (hereafter the Disease Unit) currently includes four teams: the surveillance and operational research team, the laboratory strengthening team, and two control and response teams, one for outbreak-prone diseases and one for non-outbreak-prone diseases. The Disease Unit’s activities are carried out under the mandate of the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN) according to recognised best practice. Best practice requires disease-specific expertise, and takes the broader determinants of health into account. The Disease Unit is the focal point for the PPHSN Coordinating Body. Working jointly with a number of partners, in particular the World Health Organization (WHO), the Disease Unit contributes to supporting countries and the region in addressing disease priority, to reduce the overall impact and burden of outbreak- and non outbreak-prone diseases through effective overall management (i.e. surveillance and operational research, prevention, response and control). The Disease Unit leads PHD’s contribution to SPC’s work in cross-cutting areas such as disaster relief, climate change and environmental issues, using surveillance and research to gather evidence and identify appropriate policies, strategies and practices. The unit also develops and maintains core functions (regional surveillance communication mechanisms, strengthening national and regional surveillance, strengthening laboratory systems, improving alert preparedness, strengthening response capacity) that have been identified as part of SPC’s role in enhancing surveillance capacity and disease control within the region. SURVEILLANCE AND OPERATIONAL RESEARCH TEAM The team provides comprehensive surveillance support to the Disease Unit and to PHD. It will provide surveillance data and contribute to PHD research activities through gathering evidence and identifying best practice. Within the Disease Unit, the team will lead the maintenance and support of PPHSN and focus on information dissemination and national and regional surveillance to strengthen and enhance surveillance capacity and disease control. The Team Leader is responsible for day-to-day management (including risk management strategies) of all aspects of the team’s work, including recruitment, planning and decision making. The position holder should seek to maximise technical inputs, fund utilisation, and project implementation and impact, while improving the alignment of activities, services and reporting processes with national priorities and systems, as well as regional frameworks, in line with the programmes conducted by the Unit. The position is expected to contribute expert epidemiology and information management skills, as well as specialist public health and disease expertise to PHD. The position will also contribute to the ‘whole of health’ approach of the PHD and support its cross-sectoral work through collaborating with other teams within PHD and SPC (e.g. the Statistics for Development Programme, the Animal Health programme and the Human Development Programme) in relation to planning, implementing and reporting activities. KEY RESULT AREAS 1. Reduction of overall burden and impact of diseases · Manage the team’s provision of technical assistance and surveillance services to countries and regional partners. · Lead the team’s contribution to the implementation of regional surveillance frameworks and national plans to address the overall management of disease. · Ensure appropriate technical guidance and assistance is provided, as requested, to PICTs and other stakeholders on all aspects of surveillance and research. 2. Capacity building and development of quality processes · Lead the team in maintaining and strengthening surveillance capacity at regional and national levels through increasing skills and improving systems. · Specifically plan and scale up training in field epidemiology in PICTs, and provide other health surveillance and response training as appropriate. · Supervise the team in maintaining and strengthening regional surveillance communication mechanisms, particularly PPHSN functions. 3. Determinants of health outside the health sector · Increase national and PHD capacity to act, collect, analyse and report on gender and human rights issues as key influences on health and disease prevention and control. · Contribute to the collection and analysis of data on environmental risk factors or social determinants of health. 4. Scope and impact of interventions · Contribute to the promotion and achievement of increased harmonisation of surveillance activities within PHD and at regional and national levels. · Manage relationships and build sound and strategic partnerships with partners and PICTs, especially within the PPHSN framework. · Supervise development and maintenance of functional databases linked to PHD data systems. 5. Team management · Organise and manage all aspects of the team’s functions and activities in a manner that supports and furthers national plans, PHD strategic objectives for 2010–2014 and SPC’s corporate vision. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Essential 1.Postgraduate degree or equivalent in public health, epidemiology or related field. 2.Ten years’ experience in public health, with a strong knowledge of applied epidemiology in disease surveillance and control (communicable and non communicable diseases) 3.Experience in establishing and/or maintaining health information systems and in the design, delivery and evaluation of public health projects. 4.Track record in developing or delivering training courses and/or capacity building in public health surveillance and applied epidemiology and training of health staff. 5.Demonstrated work experience either in developing countries or the Pacific region. 6.Highly developed team management and interpersonal communication skills in English. 7.Willingness to travel and undertake assignments in SPC member countries and further afield. Desirable 8.Medical qualification (MB, BS or equivalent) and/or specialist qualifications in infectious diseases, sexual health or non-communicable diseases. 9.Knowledge and understanding of aid principles and mechanisms, donor and UN agencies and regional health agencies. 10.Knowledge and understanding of the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network of Services, including governance mechanisms. 11.Working knowledge of French. SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS SALARY AND ALLOWANCES The position is in Band 12 of SPC's salary scale. Salaries for positions advertised internationally are set in SDR (special drawing rights) and paid in the local currency (e.g. the French Pacific Franc, XPF, in New Caledonia). As per SPC’s 2011 salary scale, the salary range for this band is SDR 4,071–5,904 per month. At prevailing exchange rates, these amounts convert to approx. XPF 556,000–806,500 per month (USD 6,600–9,600; € 4,700–6,700). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. The organisation subsidises housing. An SPC-owned or SPC-rented house or flat will be made available, with the staff member contributing 25 per cent of the normal rental. In addition, an establishment grant is payable to non-residents of New Caledonia. Where appropriate, other allowances, such as an education allowance, may be payable. SPC salaries are not subject to income tax in New Caledonia at the present time. PROVIDENT FUND The appointee will be eligible for membership in SPC’s Staff Provident Fund. Staff members contribute eight per cent of their base salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution. TENURE The appointment is for a period of three years, with the possibility of renewal for a further period depending on performance and continued funding availability. DUTY STATION Noumea, New Caledonia. LEAVE Annual leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum. Sick leave is 30 working days per annum. MEDICAL BENEFITS SPC’s Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctors’ fees, cost of prescribed medicines, surgical and hospital costs, etc. up to certain percentages and limits. Supplementary medical insurance is available to increase these percentage reimbursements and limits. FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES For an appointee recruited outside New Caledonia, the cost of air fares by the most direct and / or economic route for the appointee and recognised dependants, and reasonable removal expenses by sea of personal and household effects, will be met by SPC on appointment and termination. COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office running under Microsoft Windows. SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT Smoking is not permitted in the work place. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY SPC is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment is based entirely on merit, but in cases where two short-listed candidates are ranked equal by the selection committee, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals. APPLICATION PROCEDURES The closing date for applications is 4 April 2012 Applicants are requested to use SPC’s online recruitment system: http://www.spc.int/job.html. Only those applicants who cannot access the online recruitment system may send their documents to: Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, P.O. Box D5, 98848 NOUMEA CEDEX, New Caledonia or submit them by fax (+ 687 26 38 18) or email (spc@spc.int, preferably as an electronic attachment in Microsoft Word format). All other applicants must use the online recruiting system. Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and specifically address in their cover letter how their qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrate their ability to successfully undertake the duties and responsibilities of the position. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES The closing date for applications is 5/4/2012

Applicants are requested to use SPC’s online recruitment system : http://www.spc.int/job.html. Only those applicants who cannot access the online recruitment system may send their documents to: Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, P.O. Box D5, 98848 NOUMEA CEDEX, New Caledonia or submit them by fax (+ 687 26 38 18) or email (spc@spc.int, preferably as an electronic attachment in Microsoft Word format). All other applicants must use the on-line recruiting system. Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and specifically address in their cover letter how their qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrate their ability to successfully undertake the duties and responsibilities of the position. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees.