Laboratory Diagnostics Technical Officer - Dakar, Senegal; Nairobi, Kenya & Pretoria, South Africa

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 139,275 USD and 179,566 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 Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) 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. Within EPR, and in the context of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and the International Health Regulations (IHR), the genomic surveillance programme is supporting countries to build and maintain regional genomic surveillance capacity to include: identifying the cause of outbreaks and epidemics; better understanding of transmission patterns; validating diagnostics; and tracking disease variants.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Laboratory Diagnostics Technical Officer supports laboratory activities for pathogens of epidemic potential in Member States of the WHO African region.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent supports planning and implementation of laboratory activities at country and regional levels. As a laboratory scientist, she/he is recruited to timely deliver the following activities in collaboration with the team in the assigned Hub:

1. Provide regular technical support to countries on addressing all issues to laboratory testing capacities;
2. Guide on decentralization processes using recognized testing strategy;
3. Ensure corrective actions based on the findings from External Assessment Programme;
4. Promote implementation of biosafety and biosecurity, including the timely shipment of infectious substances;
5. Develop the minutes of all the laboratory discussions during the laboratory meetings and teleconferences with country offices, partners/donors on laboratory main achievements, issues/challenges;
6. Monitor the progress made on laboratory testing in countries;
7. Support laboratory activities: assessment of the implementation of laboratory activities through interaction with country focal points and country incident manager;
8. Develop periodic PowerPoint presentations on progress made in the laboratory for pathogen response to share with the IMST, HQ, and other partners;
9. Participate in other sub-pillar meetings to contribute to laboratory activities for pathogen response;
10. Liaise with Africa CDC on lab issues in the sub-region and develop joint work plans between AFRO and Africa CDC · Liaise with the logistics pillar on the country laboratory needs;
11. Participate in IMS meetings for collecting laboratory information and best practices as well as the needs and challenges identified for various diseases in the region;
12. Update monthly summary progress report of laboratory activities in the WHO African region;
13. Ensure Weekly contribution of the AFRO RD briefs;
14. Support on mapping of laboratories involved in molecular testing and sequencing for pathogens by country;
15. Contribute to the preparation of webinar training on relevant subjects in the region;
16. Contribute to the analysis of the Laboratory Data Dashboard and monitoring of the laboratory performance indicator system.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Master’s degree in laboratory biological sciences, virology, microbiology or other related science-based discipline from an accredited institution.

Desirable: Postgraduate qualifications in public health, or epidemiology is an added advantage

Experience

Essential: At least seven years’ experience in laboratory management or planning, Experience in supervising and training in laboratory testing for emerging respiratory disease.

Desirable: Experience in WHO and/or the UN System in the areas of outbreak preparedness and response; field experience in public health programmes or emergency response programmes in developing countries.

Skills

• An understanding of the role of the public health laboratory sector in the overall health system (essential);
• An awareness of emergency planning in relation to the health sector (essential);
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (essential)
• Sound strategic and tactical thinking with ability to formulate clear comprehensive policies, strategies and plans;
• Superior organizational skills with ability to multi-task and produce results under pressure;
• Excellent interpersonal with proven ability to communicate in a clear and effective way, with tact, diplomacy and courtesy;
• Authoritative and comprehensive knowledge of the theory, principles, methods and techniques in international emergency risk management and humanitarian response, with a broad-based understanding of its growing complexity including knowledge of the workings of relevant international policy-setting bodies.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essentia****l: Expert knowledge of English

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French

The above language requirements are interchangeable.

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the Professional Category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at 77.326 USD (Brazzaville, Congo), (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable).

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.
• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.