Health Operations Officer

Overview

Manage health operations in emergencies and ensure effective response and recovery efforts.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in medicine, public health, epidemiology, or related field.
• At least seven years of related experience, at the national and international levels, in health operations, with proven experience in managing outbreaks and health emergencies in low and middle income countries.
• Demonstrated skills in and knowledge of the rapid response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to public health.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Working knowledge of Arabic.

Contract

This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 90,970 USD and 117,287 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 mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme.

Depending on the level and complexity of the incident, the incumbent might be performing all or some of the following duties:

• Manage the team, guide, and ensure implementation of the response plan. Set standards and norms, develop and disseminate technical guidance and validate training, resource mobilization and communication materials.
• Under the guidance of the Incident Manager, manage the coverage of all health operations in support to the MOH, work with partners and facilitate the implementation of WHO's most effective prevention, control and response measures.

Communicable diseases

1.Ensure the planning and implementation of communicable diseases programmes addressing the risk of outbreak and/or health emergency, co-develop action plans for interventions in high-risks groups and recommend measures for special attention.

2.Monitor the early prevention, detection, verification, assessment and investigation of any risks of outbreaks and the dissemination of data related to the occurrence of outbreaks.

3.Manage the rapid response teams responsible for the rapid investigation of alerts, field risk assessments and early response.

4.Support the information systems on communicable diseases and the monitoring of progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) facilitating integration with the national health information systems.

5. Conduct the periodic reporting and treatment of communicable diseases activities.

6.Ensure that the messages are technically sound and socio-culturally appropriate to induce, engage and empower stakeholders in the prevention, mitigation and control of risks.

Health service delivery

7.Support national authorities and partners on equipping the health facilities with the necessary infrastructure, equipment, drugs, public health laboratories and blood safety, and medical supplies to address the existing and foreseen risks and to prevent the dissemination of infectious diseases within the facilities.

8. Monitor that health facilities provide quality preventive and curative healthcare to the affected population and continue to deliver routine essential health services in addition to responding to the cause of the crisis. Make appropriate recommendations where necessary.

9. Support capacity-building and training of local staff on best preventive, diagnostic, control and curative knowledge, practices and standards.

Prevention and control measures

10. Make recommendations and give guidance on relevant courses of actions to be taken in affected as well as non-affected areas/countries in order to prevent and/or control cause of excess morbidity and mortality.

11. Provide technical assistance on vaccination, enhanced surveillance, vector control, infection control (including personal protection), enhanced sanitation and hygiene, increased provision of water and/or nutrients, prepositioning of drugs and medical supplies, etc.

Sciences and research

12. Conduct research in etiology, physiopathology, transmission, reliable and rapid diagnostic, effective prevention and treatment of any of the causes of excess morbidity and mortality of the affected population and recommend remedial actions.

13.Perform all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• Advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in medicine, public health, epidemiology, or related field.

Desirable:

• First University degree in Medicine or public health from an accredited /recognized institute.
• Specialized training in emergency management; specific training in humanitarian response.

Experience

Essential:

• At least seven years of related experience, at the national and international levels, in health operations, with proven experience in managing outbreaks and health emergencies in low and middle income countries.
• Related experience in managing human and financial resources.

Desirable:

• Relevant work experience in outbreaks and/or health emergency management.
• Related experience in development and implementation of strategies and action plans within WHO and/or UN agencies.
• Experience working in relevant nongovernmental, health cluster partners or humanitarian organizations.

Skills

• Demonstrated skills in and knowledge of the rapid response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to public health, complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations.
• Proven skills to manage multidisciplinary and multinational staff.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the theory, principles, methods and techniques of public health, communicable diseases and health service delivery.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Promoting WHO's position in health leadership Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Working knowledge of Arabic.

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 86,027 (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 4380 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

• Staff members separated due to the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will receive special consideration according to the applicable regulatory framework.

• 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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

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

• The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.

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

• WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to a fixed-term position in the International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical Mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].

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

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

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Potential interview questions