Wildlife Epidemiologist 

Job Posting: 25/Mar/2025

Closure Date: 08/Apr/2025, 11:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: FRRWA - FAO Representation in Rwanda

Job Type : Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Rwanda-Kigali

Duration: 12 months

Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination??
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, program, and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. 

The position is located at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Head Offices, Kigali, Rwanda.

FAO Rwanda is the Implementing Entity for the Pandemic Fund project “Strengthening Pandemic, Prevention, Preparedness & Response Through One Health Approach in Rwanda” in collaboration with RDB as a Delivery Partner (DP) for wildlife related activities.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Rwanda, the direct supervision of the Head of Wildlife Veterinary Unit at RDB in collaboration with the ECTAD Country Team Leader at FAO, the incumbent will support wildlife disease surveillance, reporting, and response in Rwanda.

Technical Focus 

Monitoring, analysing, and mitigating disease risks affecting wildlife populations, with a strong emphasis on zoonotic diseases and their implications for public and livestock health, with  special focus on development of standard operating procedures (SOPS) , guidelines for wildlife disease surveillance, and national wildlife disease surveillance strategy, establishment of wildlife disease surveillance system in selected  national parks, monitoring of  priority  zoonotic diseases of  wildlife origin. The incumbent will work collaboratively with other health sectors of the National One Health Platform, including human health, livestock health, and environmental health, under a One Health approach to enhance disease surveillance, early detection, and response to emerging health threats.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Wildlife Veterinary Unit at RDB, the incumbent will deliver the following specific tasks:

• Develop and implement wildlife disease surveillance protocols, guidelines and SOPs for early detection and monitoring of zoonotic and emerging diseases
• Conduct field investigations to assess disease outbreaks, collect, analyse and report epidemiological data, and identify transmission pathways.
• Utilize modelling and risk assessment tools to predict disease spread and assess the potential impact on wildlife, domestic animals, and humans
• Maintain a wildlife disease database and contribute to national and regional disease reporting systems.
• Develop and deliver training programs for wildlife rangers, veterinarians, and health professionals on disease detection, biosafety, and response measures.
• Lead and participate in rapid response teams for wildlife disease outbreaks, ensuring timely collection of field samples and epidemiological data.
• Develop and implement biosecurity measures to minimize disease spillover between wildlife, livestock, and human populations.
• Provide technical support for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease cases in collaboration with veterinary laboratories.
• Support the development of wildlife health policies and strategies aligned with international standards.
• Work closely with animal and human health sectors to strengthen integrated disease surveillance and response efforts.
• Prepare technical reports, research articles, and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Train and mentor field veterinarians, and other staff on basic epidemiology, data collection, and biosafety protocols.
• Submit a final technical report upon completion of the assignment to the Head of Wildlife Veterinary Unit at RDB and ECTAD Country Team Leader at FAO Rwanda.
• Performs any other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent.
• At least 5 Years of experience in wildlife health surveillance, epidemiological research, or veterinary fieldwork.
• Working levels (Level C) of English
• Be the national of Rwanda
• Registered with the Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors (RCVD) or eligibility to register.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationship
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in the planning and management of zoonotic diseases, wildlife disease ecology, and One Health concepts.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/  
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ 
•  Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. 

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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