Epidemiologist

Organisation: Zimbabwe Technical Assistance, Training and Education Center for Health (Zim-TTECH)
Location: Harare
Deadline: 3 December 2024.

Background

Zim-TTECH is seeking highly qualified and experienced applicants to be considered for the position of Epidemiologist in Harare. Zim-TTECH is a registered Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO 125/23). Its activities occur primarily in the technical areas of health system strengthening; epidemiology and strategic information strengthening, health workforce development; operations research and evaluation; and prevention, care, and treatment of infectious diseases.

Position Summary

Providing direct client services by conducting HIV testing, initiating eligible clients on ART at healthcare facilities and in communities, and managing clients on ongoing ART through adherence support, monitoring of treatment response, and retaining them in care.

Responsibilities

Surveys and Surveillance team leadership
• Provide overall leadership and guidance to the Surveys and Surveillance team
• Supervise staff within the surveys and surveillance department (Surveillance Officer, M&E Officer)
• Carry out administrative roles e.g. stuff duty allocation, leave approvals etc. when necessary
• Budgeting for survey and surveillance activities

HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Surveillance
• Oversee the development of integrated HIV/AIDS/STI/TB surveillance systems in Zimbabwe including HIV Case Based Surveillance with Recency Testing
• Convene and facilitate stakeholder meetings for designing surveillance systems as well as protocols and SOPs
• Participate in ongoing HIV surveillance activities e.g., the ANC surveillance

Surveys
• Lead the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of MoHCC led HIV surveys
• Provide technical assistance in the design, conduct and reporting of various partner led surveys
• Participate in the generation of HIV estimates.

Research
• Participate in collaborative research activities with partners on behalf of the MoHCC AIDS & TB Unit
• Provide technical assistance to the development of research protocols to answer key questions for all the programs in the AIDS & TB Unit.

Manuscript, Abstract and Report Writing
• Write up manuscripts and abstracts as required
• Participate in report writing

Program data Support
• Provide domain expert support on HIV modules development in electronic systems e.g., E-HR
• Participate in program data analysis with a focus on translating findings to action
• Promote the implementation of science and knowledge management activities for the AIDS and TB Unit
• Participate in the development and maintenance of relevant systems to collect and review data and indicators to inform programming.

Monitoring and Evaluation
• Participate in the development and revision of M&E methods/tools
• Participate in M&E technical working group meetings
• Participate in M&E supportive supervision visits conducted to provincial and district levels.

Training and Mentorship
• Participate in identifying Strategic Information training and mentoring needs
• Participate in developing training and mentoring activities

Support Supervision
• Lead the surveys & surveillance team in conducting supportive supervision visits to sub-national level
• Supervise the design and application of visit check lists
• Consolidate and share with relevant stakeholders visit reports.

Technical Working Groups
• Participate in various TWGs giving technical input on surveys & surveillance issues
• Conduct Survey & Surveillance TWGs including the CBS and the HIV Drug Resistance TWGs

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Advanced degree in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Public Health, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ working experience in M&E training and health-related projects with increasing responsibility in senior leadership and management positions with proficiency in at least one statistical software package e.g., STATA, SAS, or SPSS.
• Experience with PEPFAR MER and MoHCC reporting systems, including proficiency in DATIM and DHIS2. Advanced Microsoft office skills especially in MS Excel, including pivot-tables, formatting, statistical functions, and formulas.
• Strong quantitative data analysis skills, including study designing, data cleaning, verification and trend-analysis coupled with demonstrable project management skills but not limited to budget preparation, monitoring and in managing electronic health information systems.
• Strong report writing and presentation skills, including study protocol administration and interfacing with relevant stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, detail orientation, problem solving and interpersonal communication skills with fluency in English and knowledge of one or more of the local languages (Shona and/or Ndebele) will be an added advantage and also have demonstrable ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Commitment to Diversity

Zim-TTECH recognizes that disparities in health around the globe stem from inequity. Therefore, the organization encourages and supports the multiple identities of staff including, but not limited to, socio-economic status, age, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity and expression, culture, spiritual practice, geography, mental and physical disability. Zim-TTECH strives to become a local, national, and international leader in developing and maintaining increased representation and recognition of each of these dimensions of diversity among its staff.