National Cancer Registry & Digital Transformation Expert

About the role

The project provides technical assistance to the Syrian Ministry of Health to strengthen institutional capacity and governance. The expert will lead the design, establishment, modernisation and integration of national cancer registration systems with digital health infrastructure.

Key responsibilities

• Design and implement standard operating procedures, case‑definition manuals and data‑quality assurance protocols for a population‑based cancer registry.
• Configure and operate CanReg5 or equivalent software, ensuring case ascertainment, de‑duplication and quality algorithms.
• Integrate registry data flows with national health‑information platforms such as DHIS2, applying interoperability standards like HL7 FHIR.
• Deliver competency‑based training to registrars and health‑information staff at central and peripheral levels.
• Produce quality reports aligned with IARC/GLOBOCAN submission requirements.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Health Informatics, Biostatistics, Oncology or related field (medical degree with oncology/epidemiology specialization acceptable).
• Minimum 8 years professional experience in cancer registration or health‑information systems, with at least 4 years in designing or modernising a national/sub‑national registry.
• Proven experience in fragile or conflict‑affected settings is a strong asset.
• Excellent written and spoken English; working knowledge of Arabic is advantageous.

Required skills

• CanReg5 (or GRECC, Registry Plus/SEER*DMS) configuration and operation.
• ICD‑O‑3 topography and morphology coding.
• HL7 FHIR and DHIS2 integration.
• Data governance, confidentiality and ethical safeguards for population‑based registries.
• Microsoft Office Suite and statistical/database tools for registry data management.