Medical Data Science Advisor at Medecins Sans Frontieres - Eastern Africa

Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organisation that provides assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, and natural or human-made disasters and excluded from healthcare. We provide this assistance without discrimination, irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

MSF Eastern Africa is the regional institutional office of MSF. It focuses on representation and networking, recruiting and supporting staff from the region, communications and fundraising, as well as working on other dossiers of importance to MSF such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Data Protection, mutualization, training, medical operational support and environmental health.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Medical Data Science Advisor

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Background

• Do your skills and experience not precisely match the requirements? MSF is an organization committed to promoting diversity and equity by providing equal access to professional opportunities. 
• We understand that women, people of color, indigenous individuals, members of the LGBT+ community, and other underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply for employment if they don't meet all the requirements. 
• At MSF EA, we strive to create a diverse, inclusive, and genuine workplace. 
• Therefore, if you're interested in this position but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the selection criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway. 
• You might be the ideal candidate for this or other positions.

Rationale/Objective for Position

• The Medical Data Science Advisor is responsible for leading operational research and reflection, and developing strategies on data acquisitions, analysis, visualization, and reporting in the MSF EA public health unit. 
• The incumbent will also lead investigations, healthcare research, reflections on healthcare delivery, scanning and monitoring public health emergencies and networking with partner organizations and contribute in internal and regional external platforms.
• This position will be hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Senior Health Advisor.

Tasks & Responsibilities
Strategic Responsibilities:

• Develop MSF EA operational research framework.
• Contribute to MSF EA Public Health Strategy.
• Develop and recommend strategies to control and prevent disease spread, including vaccination campaigns, public health advisories, and community education.

Technical and Operational Responsibilities:
Research and Development:

• Lead and coordinate operational research projects.
• Contribute to research projects led by other entities aimed at advancing medical knowledge and improving healthcare practices through data-driven insights.
• Participate in conducting research to improve understanding of diseases, their transmission, and effective public health interventions.

Predictive Modelling:

• Lead the development of models to predict disease outbreaks, patient outcomes, or the effectiveness of treatments, which helps in proactive healthcare management.

Collaboration:

• Provide actionable insights in humanitarian medical field by working closely with healthcare professionals, researchers, and IT specialists within MSF and external academic institutions to understand their data needs.
• Coordinate responses to health threats and implement public health initiatives in collaboration with health departments, government agencies, and other stakeholders based on specific requests to MSF.
• Collaborate with MSF field teams for gathering data through surveys, interviews, and laboratory tests.
• Support MSF teams to analyze this data to identify trends, risk factors, and potential interventions.

Data Acquisition, Management and Analysis:

• Develop systems that avail data and information to MSF operations and external regional and mission-specific platforms.
• Define and ensure application of relevant statistical methods and machine learning algorithms to analyze large datasets to identify trends, patterns, and insights that can inform clinical decisions and improve patient outcomes.
• Collaborate with anthropology and other units to provide a comprehensive analysis.

Surveillance, Visualization and Reporting:

• Create visual representations of data findings to communicate results effectively to MSF operations, health advisors, medical representatives, and policymakers.
• Monitor disease patterns and trends over time to detect potential outbreaks early.
• Share findings with MSF health advisors, public health officials, and operation managers in order to inform decision-making and promote awareness.

Outbreak Investigation:

• Enable response to disease outbreaks by identifying the source, mode of transmission, and affected populations.

Training and Education:

• Provide training to healthcare workers and community members on disease prevention, surveillance methods, and outbreak response.

Ethics and Compliance:

• Ensure compliance to MSF ethical standards, regulatory compliance, funding and resource allocation, collaboration and partnership, data management and data sharing protocols, biological materials/specimen collection and sharing protocols, use of technology, capacity building, evaluation and impact assessment, equity and inclusivity in research.

Other Responsibilities:

• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Senior Health Advisor.
• Integrate EDI & Safeguarding aspects in area of work responsibility, including policies and practices.
• Recognize, respond, and document any form of abuse or inappropriate behavior and alert the safeguarding unit of any suspected potential abuse.
• Proactively participate in the individual performance management process including objective setting, performance monitoring and performance evaluation.

Qualifications
Education:

• A Master’s Degree in Medical Data Science, Business Intelligence, Epidemiology or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
• A PhD in Medical Data Science, Business Intelligence, Epidemiology or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution will be an added advantage.
• Knowledge of programming and analysis tools like Python, R, or SQL, Power BI, Stata.
• Domain knowledge in Public Health (e.g., Epidemiology).
• Knowledge of the East Africa region context and health systems is a considerable plus.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of experience in field medical-humanitarian projects, with at least two (2) years of experience in data management and manipulations.
• Previous experience with MSF or other humanitarian organizations is an added advantage.

Competencies
Technical Competencies:

• Statistical data analysis and modeling
• Programming skills (Python, R, or SQL)
• Data Management and Manipulations
• Domain knowledge in Public Health (e.g., Epidemiology)
• Data visualization
• Medical Research methodology

Behavioural / General Competencies:

• Understanding ethical considerations
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Collaborative
• Learning and adaptability to changing contexts
• Commitment to MSF’s Principles
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision
• Cross-cultural Awareness
• Strategic Vision
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Service Orientation.

What We Offer

• An open-ended full-time employment contract through MSF East Africa Section Office in Nairobi, Kenya.
• An annual salary of EUR 40,582 at HQ Level 10 based on a full-time appointment.
• Global benefit package; includes school fee benefit/support for dependents and other allowances ranging between EUR 620 to 1,159/month based on individual & administrative status.
• Other benefits include: 25 days of annual leave, Employer Pension contribution, Medical Insurance cover (staff and family), Relocation support for non-Kenyan residents etc. based on MSF EA terms/conditions.

Application Closing Date
30th April 2025.