Consultant - Data Scientist for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical input to data analysis, develop tools supporting data analysis and data sharing, and package code, to be reusable and shared in a transparent way for different settings for pandemic and epidemic intelligence.

Background  

The Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems Division (WSE) is responsible for building a system of collaborative intelligence enabling better decisions to avert and manage public health threats and risks. Its goal is to enable, strengthen and support countries, regional and global actors in averting and managing public health threats and risks through collaborative problem solving and decision-making for short-term action and long-term policies, informed by better data and analytics. 

The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence is a new office of WHO, located in Berlin. It works with partners to enable the generation of public health relevant information to provide timely actionable insights and improve decision making to prepare for, avert and respond to public health threats. It also aims to reduce fragmentation and inefficiency by creating an ecosystem that promotes collaboration across multiple professional disciplines, sectors, and initiatives; and empower decision makers, public health professionals, and civil society to make informed public health decisions.

Deliverables

• Prepare pipelines for data that can be used for joint analysis to model pandemic and epidemics.
• Summarize existing models and advanced analysis on issues relevant for current pandemic and epidemic intelligence.
• Carry out analysis on existing data and develop pipelines for information products, such as presentations, briefings, activity reports.
• Document analysis and store in order to make it sharable and reusable.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• First university degree in health informatics, data science, biostatistics, applied mathematics, computer science, engineering or other related technical disciplines. 

Desirable:

• Postgraduate diploma in any of the above areas.

Experience

Essential:

• At least two years' relevant experience with successful track record in data analysis or data visualization. 

Desirable:

• Experience in the analysis of infectious disease data using surveillance data and context data. 
• Experience in WHO or UN, UN Agencies.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Skills in database management and statistical analysis, secondary data review, epidemiological analysis and public health information management. 
• Good computer skills in Microsoft office, and a statistical package such as R, SAS or Python. 
• Strong skills in coding, data management, data analysis and data visualization. 
• A theoretical and practical understanding of health statistics, spatial statistics, and modelling methods.
• Demonstrated competency in the application of Bayesian statistics. 
• Excellent presentation and communication skills. 
• Ability to synthesize information in a clear and concise manner. 
• Ability to understand technical issues in the field of public health as well as knowledge of epidemiology, quantitative methods, and surveillance in the area of emerging/re-emerging diseases.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting environment.
• Excellent organizational skills combined with ability to multi-task and produce accurate results under pressure. 
• Knowledge of public health sector and issues.

Languages required:

Essential:  

• Expert knowledge of English.

Location 

Off-site – Home based. 

Travel 

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level A - USD 3,955 - 6,980 per month