Epidemiologist

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.

As an Epidemiologist, you assess, implement, and maintain epidemiological surveillance and monitoring systems. Through effective management and analysis of health data, you contribute to evidence-based decision-making MSF programmes and projects.  

You define, coordinate, and monitor epidemiological activities, ensuring appropriate methodologies and high-quality studies in accordance with MSF protocols, standards and procedures. This supports the identification of disease risk factors and informs clinical treatment approaches and preventive medicine strategies within medical projects.  

You work closely with the health promotion team as well as the entire medical team. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 

As an epidemiologist, you can be employed in the field of programme monitoring, evaluation and/or field epidemiology: 

Programme monitoring 

  • Ensure the availability of relevant and validated data 
  • Facilitate discussion of key indicators within the medical team to inform operational decisions 
  • Ensure that data collection and analysis adapt to changes in project activities and priorities  

Programme evaluation 

  • Assess the performance of projects and formulate recommendations for operational research 
  • Use programme data to evaluate new tools (such as drugs and laboratory tests) as well as new operational strategies 
  • Support the design of studies, noting that prospective studies are less frequent 

Epidemiology in outbreak response 

  • Conduct initial assessments when outbreaks are suspected 
  •  Ensure that epidemiological surveillance and monitoring systems are in place to support timely and effective responses during outbreaks and other emergency programmes 
  • Contribute to surveys when needed to guide interventions 

PROFILE  

  • General medicine diploma or a paramedical diploma with: 
  • Master in Public Health with relevant professional experience in epidemiology, or 
  • An MSc in epidemiology, or 
  • A doctorate in epidemiology (for specialists in infection prevention and control (IPC) - Please view the profile IPC Specialist here 
  • Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience  
  • Proven practical skills in design, implementation and evaluation of surveys, and in quantitative/qualitative research methods 
  • Experience in humanitarian settings or previous work experience with an NGO is an asset 
  • Outbreak management experience is an asset 

LANGUAGES 

  • Proficiency in English and French, both spoken and written 
  • Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic are an asset.  

COMPETENCIES 

  • Collaborate and communicate clearly; build trust with colleagues   

  • Lead, support, guide, and motivate teams with confidence and empathy 

  • Take initiative, remain solution-oriented, and act proactively 

  • Translate strategic vision and operational realities into clear priorities and actions 

  • Work independently, plan effectively, and organise your and your team’s work properly 

  • Remain resilient and manage stress in challenging situations 

  • Practise cross-cultural awareness and work effectively with diverse teams 

  • Show flexibility by adjusting plans, locations and ways of working in coordination with others when circumstances and priorities change  

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS   

  • Read the MSF principles and commitments outlined here  

  • Availability to work in complex environments and to leave on an assignment without partner/family  

  • A health status compatible with the nature of our activities and operational contexts and compliance with all vaccinations for MSF project assignments