Hub Public Health Officer

Overview

Provide technical and operational support to WHO health programs in South Sudan.

You have:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in planning, developing and implementing programmes/projects in the area of public health, including emergency response; ideally in a humanitarian setting.
• Training in emergency response or disaster management in the context of public health, is desirable.
• Excellent knowledge of public health programmes with focus on outbreak investigation and response.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of operational management of health aspects/consequences of humanitarian crises.
• Demonstrated skills in capacity building, proposal and report writing and knowledge of and experience with needs assessments in emergency settings.

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The Hub Public Health Officer position is established to strengthen WHO’s field-level public health coordination and operational support at regional hubs in South Sudan. This role is critical to ensure effective implementation of WHO health programs, facilitate timely communication between field teams and country/state offices, and support emergency response and surveillance activities in the region. The position responds to the increasing complexity of health challenges in South Sudan, including outbreak response, routine immunization scale-up, and health system strengthening.

Purpose of the Position To provide technical, operational, and coordination support to WHO health programs at the hub level, ensuring alignment with WHO’s strategic priorities and the State Ministries of Health’s plans, while facilitating smooth communication among the WHO Central, Hub and state offices.

Objectives of the Programme and Immediate Strategic Objectives The mission for Hub Office Coordination of WHO Operations is to serve as operational and technical backstops for WHO activities within the hub, ensuring effective coordination, program implementation, and strengthened collaboration among WHO, government, partners, and communities to achieve health objectives and emergency preparedness in the hub.

The immediate strategic objectives of the Hub team are to strengthen disease surveillance, outbreak detection, and response; support routine immunization and new vaccine introductions; enhance coordination among WHO, government, partners, and communities; facilitate the implementation of WHO technical guidelines and operational plans at the hub level; and contribute to improving health emergency preparedness and response readiness

The Hub Public Health Officer reports to the WHO Hub Coordinator and works closely with state health authorities, humanitarian partners, and WHO technical teams. Positioned within the hub office, the incumbent acts as a key liaison between field surveillance teams, program implementers, and WHO central, Hub and state-level decision-makers. The role demands frequent engagement inside and outside the organization, including coordination with State Ministries of Health staff, UN agencies, NGOs, and community stakeholders.

Under the general supervision of the WR, the National Operations coordinator, and the direct supervision of the Hub Coordinator, the incumbent will be performing the following duties: 1. Assess threats to human life and health, damage to health infrastructure for primary and secondary care, the state of health referral and support systems, including cold chain, laboratory, essential drugs and health information systems, and the vital needs of the affected populations during outbreaks and health emergencies. 2. Collaborate with Hub authorities and health partners to coordinate and implement public health response activities aligned to WHO’s strategic response plans.
3. Support analysis of the public health risks needs and capacities and advise on priority interventions for WHO and partners, challenges and operational course correctors, as applicable. 4. Facilitate the implementation of effective, evidence-based policies, public health programmes and interventions through all life cycles in an integrated approach ensuring gender and health equity. 5. Contribute to the identification and targeting of health inequities and the inclusion of vulnerable groups to ensure equitable access to quality health services during emergencies.
6. Identify gaps in the delivery of health services or emergency interventions, recommending appropriate actions and innovative approaches to improve the situation. 7. Contribute to the development, planning, and training of human resources in health aimed at increasing the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of the workforce; organize, conduct, or facilitate capacity-building activities. 8. Support strengthening of the capacities of surveillance teams for the effective and sustained surveillance of epidemic prone diseases through training courses on field investigation, detection, and rapid response to epidemics and health outbreaks. 9. Promote inter-programmatic coordination with other technical entities in the development and implementation of emergency nutrition activities. 10. Prepare detailed reports on the status of public health and outbreak response activities, their outcomes, and challenges for WHO management and external donors. Document lessons learned and best practices for future reference and improvement of emergency response. 11. Provide technical guidance and operational support to WHO field health teams within the hub. 12. Support planning, monitoring, and evaluation of immunization campaigns and routine vaccination services. 13. Strengthen collaboration and information sharing between WHO, State Ministries of Health, and other health partners. 14. Support logistics and operational arrangements including prepositioning of medical supplies. 15. Promote adherence to WHO policies, guidelines, and safeguarding standards in all public health activities. 16. Perform any additional duties related to public health and emergency response as assigned by WHO, as requested.

Functional Knowledge and Skills

• Describe the essential knowledge and the skills specific to the position
• Excellent knowledge of public health programmes with focus outbreak investigation and response.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of operational management of health aspects/consequences of humanitarian crises.
• Demonstrated skills in capacity building, proposal and report writing and knowledge of and experience with needs assessments in emergency settings.

• Teamwork • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences • Communication • Producing results

• Excellent knowledge of public health programmes with focus outbreak investigation and response.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of operational management of health aspects/consequences of humanitarian crises.
• Demonstrated skills in capacity building, proposal and report writing and knowledge of and experience with needs assessments in emergency settings.

Experience Minimum of 3 years of experience in planning, developing and implementing programmes/projects in the area public health, including emergency response; ideally in humanitarian setting.

Desirable Training in emergency response or disaster management in the context of public health, is desirable.

This is a national assignment the candidate is responsible for their accommodation.

Potential interview questions