Key Job Responsibilities

• Provide epidemiological expertise and support to all activities of the SAFETP, with specific reference to providing academic and field epidemiological support to Frontline and Intermediate FETP training across South Africa.
• Collaborate with mentors and SAFETP secretariat staff to provide mentorship, coaching, and supervision for the trainees during their field training to ensure acquisition of key field epidemiology skills and competencies.
• Provide technical assistance to trainees to identify public health problems and conduct surveys to generate data that will guide public health decisions to solving such problems.
• Provide technical assistance to trainees in developing research protocols and compiling reports for FETP core learning activities.
• Collaborate with mentors to assist trainees to develop adequate and timely field investigations in response to acute public health problems such as epidemic outbreaks, clusters of disease cases, and case investigation.
• Provide technical assistance to trainees in preparing scientific presentations for local, national and international level dissemination of key findings and recommendations from their field projects.
• Assist with the development and teaching of in-class field epidemiology trainings.
• Participate in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation and response activities at the national and subnational levels together with the trainees as a means to demonstrate best practices.
• Orientate supervisors and mentors of trainees about the expectations for their roles in relation to the FETP.
• Keep up to date with relevant, current and emerging research, methods and technologies to ensure personal growth and development, perform appropriate research and publish in relevant scientific journals.
• Contribute to relevant training and service activities of the Division of Public Health, Surveillance and Response
• Comply with any reasonable and lawful instruction issued by the manager. 

Minimum requirements & key competencies

• Master Degree in Public Health or MSc Epidemiology and Biostatistics or other relevant qualification
• 3 years field experience in disease outbreaks
• Knowledge and understanding of the functionality of surveillance systems at national and subnational levels of the health system in South Africa.
• Knowledge and experience with FETP programme structure, coursework, and core learning activities
• Strong scientific writing, publication and presentations skills including presentations at national and international scientific conference.
• Experience verifying, analyzing and presenting data.
• Proficiency in the use of the following software: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in the use of the following statistical packages: Epi Info and Stata
• General management and administration
• Attention to detail
• Communication skills (verbal & written)
• Self-motivated and ability to work under pressure
• Interpersonal skills
• Flexibility / Adaptability
• Diplomatic skills
• Analytical Skills
• Report writing skills
• Teaching / Training
• Time management
• Research skills.