Director, Quality Assurance of Norms and Standards

Contract

This is a D-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 16 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 267,348 USD and 322,224 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Quality Assurance of Norms and Standards Department forms part of the Science Division. The overall mission of the Science Division is to harness the power of science and innovation in a systematic way, by ensuring the excellence, relevance and efficiency of WHO's core technical functions, including norms and standards and research. Within this Division, the specific purpose of the Quality Assurance of Norms and Standards Department is to provide support to the Technical Departments in close consultation with Regional Offices, by ensuring norms and standards are produced to a consistently high standard, in a timely way, driven by what Member States need, and designed and delivered to have a real impact on the health of people.

Its mandate is structured around four key roles:

1. Ensure that all Norms & Standards (N&S) products meet WHO highest quality standards by providing tailored, state of the art methodological support and guidance

2. Support project teams developing N&S products by ensuring the utmost efficiency of the N&S process

3. Secure maximum country impact by helping to develop fit for purpose N&S products

4. Advance and ensure timely, peer-reviewed, and accessible scientific evidence and information, through the WHO Library and Digital Information Outreach, and the WHO Press.

The Norms & Standards Department is made up of 5 units: the Methods Quality unit, the Process Efficiency unit, the Product Impact unit, the Library and Digital Information unit and the Office of the Publisher.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

- Leads the Department in providing technical expertise to Member States and other Stakeholders with guidance and technical data required for the development, implementation, and monitoring of national and/or global policies and programmes.

- Provides the overall leadership, management accountability, and direction of the Department in delivering its objectives through managing and galvanizing a diverse workforce and financial resources to optimize the department deliverables and mandate.

- Provides senior level technical advice and expertise to Senior Management in the area of area of assigned responsibilities in order to position the Department and Organization as a leader in the respective area.

- Directs and leads overall establishment and development of the Department's evidence-based policies and strategies for roll out and delivery for Regional and Country Office implementation.

- Oversees the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the Department's area of work to ensure development of key performance indicators and global reporting requirements and mechanisms to ensure optimal performance of Department deliverables.

- Serves as the scientific/technical reference among UN Agencies and other key players in the respective areas.

- Promotes the integration of Regional Country Office perspectives and operational capacities into the Department's programme area of work.

- Builds strong partnerships and fosters consensus building with External Partners, Member States, UN Agencies, Donor, cutting edge research institutions and other stakeholders in the subject area to politically position the technical area of work and implementation into national and/or global policies.

- Represents the Organization and Department area of work in a diverse array of global fora to position WHO as a leader in the global health community.

- Leads and oversees the development of quality assurance processes that result in WHO's norms and standards and publications having measurable impact at country level.

- Leads and manages the transition of WHO Science resources to be fit for purpose for the evolving needs of countries.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced level university degree in health science related to the functions of the position. Desirable: A PhD in health science related to the functions of the position or an advanced degree in business.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the management of quality assurance processes for delivery of global health programmes, including experience providing senior level advice and guidance to senior management/decision makers, managing human and financial resources, as well as experience in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies. Demonstrated experience at the international level. Desirable: Experience in monitoring and evaluation for impact in complex organizations. Experience managing large technically-focused operations (e.g. publishing, knowledge curation, library services). Experience leading standards-setting organizations and/or processes at national or global level, not excluding commercial entities. Experience of working in a LMIC.

Skills

- Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies.

- Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.

- Strong understanding and skills in mobilizing resources.

- Ability to engage, build consensus and communicate effectively and diplomatically with Member States, partners and media.

- Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area.

- Globally-respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in one or more areas of international health.

- Proven leadership skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes.

- Expertise in designing and managing complex processes with a strong emphasis on service delivery, end-user satisfaction and efficiency.

- Comprehensive understanding of change management in complex organizations.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Promoting innovation and organizational learning Driving the Organization to a Successful Future Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of another WHO official language.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 114,666 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 7788 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO 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 through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• 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.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.