Job# 6018 - Resident Technical Advisor (Epidemiologist or Medical Officer) (Tajikistan, Afghanistan)
Full Time
Posted: February 4, 2013
Closes: March 4, 2013

Position Opportunity: Resident Technical Advisor (Epidemiologist or Medical Officer), Tajikistan-Afghanistan 

Deadline for Applying: March 15, 2013

Series & Grade: GS-14 or 15, 601 or 602 or comparable USPS Commissioned Officer grades
Duty Location: Dushanbe, Tajikistan (~25% travel (security permitting) to Kabul, Afghanistan will be required)

USAJOBS Announcement Numbers:
Epidemiologist(GS-601): HHS-CDC-OM-12-621505: Internal (for federal employees); HHS-CDC-OD-12-621510: External (for non-federal employees)

Medical Officer (GS-602): HHS-CDC-OM-12-621500: Internal (for federal employees); HHS-CDC-OD-12-639923: External (for non-federal employees)

Primary Purpose: To serve as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resident technical advisor to the Tajikistan Ministry of Health (MOH) and Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) for the purpose of strengthening host country capabilities to address public health surveillance and epidemiology-related priorities, including support to the Tajikistan-Afghanistan Regional Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP).

Duties and Responsibilities: Supports the MOHs with preventing and controlling emerging infections and endemic communicable diseases; reducing the burden of disease related to non-communicable diseases, environmental, toxicological, and occupational health events; and assisting with disaster preparedness and response efforts. The incumbent will give special attention to improving or establishing effective and sustainable public health surveillance in-country and applying public health science to prevent and control diseases.

Specific tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as the lead technical advisor for the implementation of a FETP to develop cadres of field epidemiologists who can practice evidence-based public health and strengthen surveillance
• Strengthen public health workforce capacity to effectively use science-based information for decision making. The RA shall ensure that MOH staff who participate in capacity-building programs achieve the competencies that will lead to improvements in health outcomes and implementation of appropriate and effective public health interventions.
• Develop a training curriculum and implement mentored training based on epidemiologic methods in collaboration with the MOH to strengthen outbreak detection and response and disease surveillance
• Assist FETP faculty and trainees in the design and implementation of applied epidemiological research projects aimed at developing more effective public health interventions
• Mentor Tajik and Afghan FETP officers during field activities, including outbreak investigations, surveillance system evaluations, etc.; support and review officers’ projects and work for scientific quality and appropriateness; assist officers in preparing written and oral scientific presentations/publications; periodically evaluate work and progress of the officers
• Support training of FETP graduates to become mentors/supervisors for future FETP officers
• Assist FETP trainees in preparing written and oral scientific presentations/publications
• Assist MOH/FETP with the selection of FETP trainees, including assisting the MOH to implement guidelines for selection and placement of FETP trainees and identification of appropriate assignments and supervision
• Assist with the training of FETP graduates to become mentors/supervisors for future FETP trainees
• Conduct periodic evaluation of the work conducted by FETP trainees
• Promote the institutionalization of the FETP within the MOH, by advising the MOH in the development of mid- and long-term sustainability plans and a career path for FETP graduates. 

Preferred skills: Ability to communicate in Russian or other local language is a plus but not required – translator will be provided for non-native speakers.

This message is intended for medical officers in job series 602 at the GS-14 and 15 grade levels, epidemiologists in job series 601 at the GS-14 and 15 grade levels and commissioned corps officers in the 05 and 06 grade levels. Lateral re-assignments will be considered as well.

To inquire further about this position please contact Nabil Ahmed at hbq4@cdc.gov or 404-639-7764 or Russell Gerber at rag2@cdc.gov or 404-639-3456.

These are open continuous positions. Indicate Tajikistan as country of choice.

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