Employment
JOB TITLE: Epidemiologist (Senior Staff Associate)
LOCATION: New York
OVERALL JOB FUNCTION:
The International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) at Columbia University, and a consortium of 6 partner organizations, has received funding from the U.S. Government (USG) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen HIV-related strategic information (SI) systems in five Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). The Consortium for AIDS Strategic Information in Central Asia (CASICA), comprised of internationally recognized HIV and SI experts as well as regional partners in Central Asia, will implement a series of capacity building activities to strengthen HIV-related SI systems. Led by ICAP, CASICA will work to build capacity within its Central Asian partners to provide technical assistance in the Central Asian nations to strengthen, expand, and utilize SI (surveillance, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and informatics) to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Working under the general direction of Central Asia HIV Strategic Information Program Director, the Epidemiologist (Senior Staff Associate) will coordinate ICAP's consortium activities, and provide technical direction in the development and implementation of a SI technical assistance work plan for the Central Asia region. Incumbent will work closely with consortium partners, in-country CASICA staff and Central Asian Ministries of Health (MOH) to coordinate and undertake activities to build and strengthen high quality and sustainable SI activities. Activities in each country will include critical evaluation of M&E systems for HIV prevention, enhancing HIV sentinel surveillance systems, planning and implementing population surveys and strengthening data use and analysis skills. Incumbent will be expected to have regular and frequent communication with the in-country CASICA staff and travel to sites 3 to 4 times a year with trips lasting 1 to 2 weeks.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
• Coordinate work plans and implement CASICA activities with US based partners, Almaty based CASICA staff, Central Asian MOH, and CDC.
• Assist in the development and implementation of a Central Asia regional technical assistance work plan.
• Provide direct technical assistance to Almaty-based CASICA technical team to support the implementation of work plan activities.
• Evaluate existing MOH HIV-related M&E systems with a particular focus on prevention to strengthen existing M&E systems.
• Assess and provide technical assistance to strengthen existing HIV-related health databases, including sentinel surveillance systems.
• Participate in the design and implementation of key population surveys to assess HIV prevalence and behaviors in hard to reach populations. Activities will include identifying need, developing sampling design and data collection tools, and monitoring implementation progress.
• Analyze and summarize data from routine M&E systems, health databases and population surveys for program evaluation purposes.
• Compile findings from key SI evaluations into reports for use by partners, regional and CDC.
• Prepare relevant training materials to build capacity around SI activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree
• At least 8 years of professional experience in a relevant field
• Experience and knowledge in monitoring and evaluation and/or public health surveillance systems
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and analytical capabilities
• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal and team-building skills
• Basic understanding of the Russian language - both oral and written
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master’s Degree in Public Health or PhD
• Experience working with U.S. government or other bilateral donors, especially CDC
• Experience collaborating with MOH, NGO and/or CDC
• Experience in HIV/AIDS surveillance and/or monitoring and evaluation, ideally in Eastern Europe, Russia or Central Asia
TO APPLY: Please copy and paste academicjobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=54184 to your web browser. Interested applicants should apply online.
Columbia University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. It does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, religion, creed, national and ethnic origin, age, citizenship, status as a perceived or actual victim of domestic violence, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, status as a Vietnam era or disabled veteran, or any other legally protected status.