Consultant on Laboratory Genomic and Diagnostic Capacity

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Thursday 10 Nov 2022 at 22:59 UTC

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Method(s) to carry out the activity

Under the overall supervision of the World Health Emergencies Team Lead, the Consultant will contribute to strengthening the country’s genomic surveillance and support the development of the Philippine Public Health Laboratory System. In addition, the consultant will provide technical support to the Laboratory Pillar in the COVID-19 IMT.

Description of duties:

  1. Assess the current national landscape for public health laboratory services.
  2. Facilitate and provide technical oversight on laboratory and genomic surveillance strengthening activities, including expansion and integration per APSED and EMPaCT strategies.
  3. Assess the current national laboratory testing and genomic sequencing capacity and support the delivery of training workshops as needed.
  4. Contribute to strengthening the national diagnostic capacity for priority diseases at the health laboratories; assess training needs and provide training for laboratory personnel in the related technical areas.
  5. Coordinate the development and implementation of technical guidelines and standard operational procedures for laboratories.
  6. Coordinate work on addressing the gaps in the IHR-JEE on areas related to biosafety, biosecurity and risk assessment and management.
  7. Provide laboratory technical expertise in coordination with the COVID-19 incident management team to ensure laboratory priorities and activities are managed effectively and in compliance with WHO technical guidelines and national standards
  8. Maintain strong and productive relationships with local and international collaborators, donors, and partners.
  9. Perform any other related technical support required by the functional supervisor.

  10. Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:

Responsible Officer:

Dr Yui Sekitani

Email:

[email protected]

Manager:

Dr Graham Harrison

Email:

[email protected]

  1. Specific Requirements

Education

Essential

  • Master’s level degree relevant to the job, such as biomedical science, public health, molecular biology, infectious diseases or molecular epidemiology.
  • At least five years of practical and operational application and management of public health laboratory services and laboratory diagnosis of communicable diseases nationally in low middle-income countries including genomic surveillance. Demonstrated international experience.

Desirable

  • PhD degree in a field relevant to infectious disease microbiology and/or global public health.
  • International experience, especially in low middle-income countries
  • Experience with the UN System or WHO.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

  • Strong track record in managing activities to strengthen laboratory capacity in low and middle-income countries.
  • Relevant academic background and/or experience in public health laboratory services
  • Advanced knowledge of biosafety, biosecurity and risk assessment frameworks
  • Broad knowledge of public health laboratory functions and disease surveillance
  • Demonstrated skills in developing and delivering laboratory-based training
  • Good written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to manage and effectively negotiate interactions with internal and external partners, including funders.
  • Ability to lead, guide and motivate partners towards success and to manage and plan strategies in relation to objectives.

  • Planning and execution of demanding projects, including strategy development, activities planning and prioritization

  • Thinking strategically and problem-solving in a fast-paced, limited- structure and multicultural environment
  • Excellent analytical (qualitative and quantitative) skills and communication (written and verbal) skills
  • Previous experience in UN organizations/agencies, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations, international institutions or nongovernmental organizations, particularly in developing countries

Language requirements****:

  • Fluent written and spoken English language required.

Other Requirements****:

  • The contractor shall have no direct or indirect involvement or interest, in any form, in arms dealing, drugs, alcohol industry, tobacco industry or human trafficking. The contractor and personnel involved in this work shall have no conflicts of interest in relation to the work being undertaken.

Competencies

  • Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond.
  • Moving forward in a changing environment.
  • Ensuring the effective use of resources.
  • Fostering Integration and teamwork.
  • Communication credibly and effectively.

WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: who.int