EPIDEMIOLOGY ACTIVITY MANAGER (Khartoum) – MSF Belgium
Job Description
| Organization | Médecins Sans Frontières Belgium |
| Job Title | EPIDEMIOLOGY ACTIVITY MANAGER |
| Location | Khartoum |
| Section/Unit | Medical and Paramedical |
| No. of Post | 1 |
| Grade Level | Level 10 |
| Duration | 6 Months with 3 months trial period |
| Supervisor | Country Medical Coordinator/ Project Medical Coordinator |
| Closing Date | 17 May 2026 |
Background:
Defining, coordinating and monitoring the epidemiological activities, ensuring the development of appropriate methodology and the quality of studies according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures in order to identify risk factors for diseases and to determine the optimal treatment approaches to clinical practice and the preventive medicine to be used in the missions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Defining, scheduling and organising, in close collaboration with other medical team members, the annual epidemiological activity plan as well as its associated budget, in order to improve early detection of risk factors to better define treatment approaches and preventive practices. Leading the implementation of the protocols and epidemiological methodology, ensuring all related staff follow them in order to improve research efficiency.
- Supervising, according to the annual plan, the epidemiological research activity, ensuring that contacts with community groups and authorities are aligned with the objectives of the research and that the population participating in the research is properly informed. Reporting on the progress of data collection, on ongoing analysis of research or on any issue causing delay, in order to achieve epidemiological goals on time.
- Advising the MSF medical team on epidemiological matters that arise in the course of their activity research, and when necessary, designing and implementing epidemiological tools and data collection to meet new epidemiological needs.
- Ensuring, in coordination with the logistics department, that national or international shipment of laboratory samples acquired for research purposes is done within deadlines and according to protocols, following security rules and keeping conditions needed for the sample
- Supervising data filing procedures, ensuring that all epidemiology software tools are properly used and are updated regularly, in order to ensure full data traceability and availability
- Planning and supervising, in close coordination with the HR department and the MSF vision, policies and values, the associated processes (job description, recruitment, training, performance evaluation, development and internal/external communication) of the epidemiological staff in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required, to improve staff technical capabilities, contribution and commitment to MSF values.
- Supervising, in close coordination with the Logistics Manager, that research equipment and materials are properly maintained and the stock level is above the minimum point in order to ensure availability and research activity continuity.
- Participating in operational monthly reports and organising and/or assisting medical staff in preparing epidemiological reports related to health facilities and to research areas.
General Objective:
The Mission Epidemiologist Activity Manager is responsible for the design, implementation, and oversight of epidemiological activities across the mission. The role ensures the availability of high-quality data for operational decision-making, supports outbreak detection and response, strengthens surveillance systems, and contributes to evidence generation and capacity building in line with MSF principles.
1. Surveillance, Monitoring & Evaluation (Routine Activities)
Ensure continuous generation of high-quality epidemiological data to inform operational decision-making.
Key responsibilities:
- Design, implement, and maintain routine monitoring/Health Information systems (mortality, morbidity, nutrition, program indicators, etc.) using standard MSF OCB tools (DHIS2, PBI, etc.)
- Ensure data quality assurance (completeness, timeliness, accuracy) across all projects
- Develop and monitor key indicators aligned with mission objectives (medical, nutrition, WASH, etc. where relevant)
- Conduct regular data analysis and interpretation to identify trends and anomalies
- Produce weekly, monthly, and ad hoc epidemiological reports
- Support projects in data-driven decision-making and program adaptation
- Strengthen integration between medical, nutrition, and community-level data systems
2. Outbreak Surveillance, Detection, Investigation & Response (including EPREP)
Lead early detection and effective response to epidemics and public health events.
Key responsibilities:
- Establish and maintain surveillance (event-based, indicator-based) & early warning systems (EWS), including alert thresholds and verification mechanisms in the projects and coordination
- Ensure timely detection, validation, and reporting of alerts (integrating alerts into surveillance systems)
- Lead or support outbreak investigations (data collection, descriptive epidemiology, hypothesis generation, risk factor analysis)
- Coordinate rapid response activities in collaboration with medical, WASH, and coordination teams
- Support the development and updating of Emergency Preparedness & Response Plans (EPREP)
- Integrate nutritional and food security surveillance (GAM, SAM trends, MUAC screening data, etc.) into outbreak risk analysis
- Monitor outbreak evolution and evaluate response effectiveness
3. Surveys, Operational Research, Needs Assessments & Emergency Preparedness
Provide evidence for strategic planning through targeted epidemiological assessments.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead or support the design and implementation of epidemiological surveys (SMART, vaccination coverage, mortality surveys, KAP, etc.) and Operational Research activities
- Lead or support rapid health and nutrition assessments in emergencies or new project areas
- Contribute to context analysis and risk profiling (seasonality, displacement, disease patterns)
- Ensure proper survey/study protocol development, sampling methodologies, data collection tools, analysis and report/manuscript writing
- Translate findings into actionable recommendations for operations
- Support scenario planning and preparedness activities based on epidemiological evidence
4. Capacity Building & Technical Support
Strengthen epidemiological capacity within the mission and across projects.
Key responsibilities:
- Provide technical guidance and mentoring to epidemiology/data team staff and relevant team members
- Develop and deliver training (surveillance & health information systems, outbreak response, data analysis, surveys)
- Support recruitment and onboarding of epidemiology/data team staff
- Standardise tools, guidelines, SOPs, and practices across the mission
- Foster interdisciplinary collaboration (medical, nutrition, WASH, health promotion)
- Ensure knowledge transfer and sustainability of epidemiological functions
5. Coordination, Supervision, Technical & Administrative Guidance
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate and coordinate epidemiological activities with medical teams at the coordination and project levels, including during the Annual Review of Operations (ARO)
- Ensure alignment of epidemiological priorities with mission strategy
- Coordinate with external stakeholders (Ministry of Health, NGOs, UN agencies) and attend relevant technical meetings
- Represent MSF in epidemiological and surveillance forums
- Provide functional supervision and professional guidance to staff under his/her line management
- Support performance management, work planning, and follow-up of epidemiology team members
Minimum Qualification, Skills, and Experience Required:
Education:
- Essential: Medical doctor (preferable), nurse or biomedical background
- Essential: a degree (master’s) in Epidemiology or Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) (not in public health)
- Desirable: training in Monitoring & Evaluation, Data management.
Experience:
- Essential working experience of at least two years in Epidemiology, or relevant Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation within health projects in a humanitarian setting
- At least a few years of tropical medicine experience (having assumed a coordination position is a plus)
- Desirable working experience with MSF or other NGOs.
Knowledge:
- Essential computer literacy (Word, Excel, internet)
- Essential knowledge of DHIS2 and of an analytical/statistical software (Epi-Info, STATA, R, etc.)
- Desirable knowledge of QGIS, Osmand, Power BI, KoboCollect, ODK, and RedCap.
NB: Candidates from the humanitarian sector, including MSF, whose experience does not meet the requirements outlined in this job description will not be considered.
How To Apply:
Interested candidates are requested to send their applications with documents (Updated CV, Educational certificates, work experience certificates, previous employers’ references and a copy of their national ID):
Via hand delivery of the application through MSF Belgium offices in Khartoum (Erkawit – House # 263- Block 48) or Port Sudan office (House # 237, Block no.1, Hai Almattar area, Port Sudan).
