Medical Officer

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 204,886 USD and 256,769 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 Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness (EPP) advances global efforts to prevent and control existing and emerging infectious diseases by increasing access to evidence-based interventions; fostering impactful innovation; and leveraging technical, operational and strategic partnerships. In addition, EPP develops global mechanisms to facilitate coordination and collaboration between countries and multi-sectoral partners for catastrophic events of natural, accidental or deliberate origin. The department of EPP committed to delivering GPW13 Outcome 2.2 Epidemics and pandemics prevented, through: Delivering risk assessment, technical guidance, interventions and control strategies for country impact; Promoting innovation and adoption of new technologies and aligning and coordinating international action through trusted partnership; Ensuring vulnerable populations have access to life-saving interventions and supplies. The Emerging Diseases and Zoonoses (EZD) team develops strategies, guidance, global mechanisms and interventions to address high threat pathogens responsible for epidemics or pandemics thereby reducing their impact on affected populations and limiting their international spread. This team deals with known emerging and re-emerging high threat pathogens such as (i) zoonotic diseases (for example MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, mpox virus); (ii) arboviruses (for example zika and chikungunya); (iii) respiratory pathogens (for example MERS and plague); and (iv) bio-risks (for example smallpox).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities: 1. Serve as the lead of WHO's Global Arbovirus Strategy and coordinate the work of the secretariat for all aspects of control of Zika virus disease and Chikungunya virus disease, including engagement with internal and external partners to ensure alignment and harmonization of clearly planned activities. 2. Provide technical leadership and authoritative expert advice on WHO's overall technical work on Zika and Chikungunya developing a global, evidence-based, comprehensive strategic and operational framework, guidance and establishment of a prioritized and programmatically-relevant research agenda. 3. Lead the technical aspects of resource mobilization activities, coordination of inputs from various WHO departments in line with the Zika and Chikungunya global strategic framework and advocate with stakeholders and partners. 4. Establish coordination mechanisms, partnerships and networks to facilitate knowledge-generation and -sharing on all aspects of the viruses, the diseases control measures to mitigate the public health impact through identification and prioritization of gaps in knowledge. Develop, implement and monitor progress on the plan of activities through relevant WHO departments. 5. Collaboratively monitor the risk of Zika and Chikungunya and creation of new knowledge, ensure quality of information received from all related fields (maternal and child health, reproductive health, mental health, vector control, immunizations, etc.) and inform timely senior management to ensure that the Organization is proactively prepared for any the situation. 5. Take a lead role in the collaboration with the transfer of knowledge to the team to develop user-friendly materials for risk communication and training. Establish strong collaborations with other teams/departments at WHO and other partner agencies to cover the various aspects of the public health response to outbreaks. 6. Provide high-level technical support and advise to WHO Regional and Country Offices on the development and implementation of strategic plans to establish and strengthen regional and national control, prevention and response measure for outbreaks of Zika and Chikungunya and its consequences. 7. Act as the technical lead in the incident management structure and establish strong collaborations with other teams/departments at WHO and other partner agencies to cover the various aspects of the public health response to outbreaks of Zika and Chikungunya. 8. Welcome opportunities to support multi-disciplinary, cross-cutting approaches to work and facilitate participation in such approaches. 9. Perform other related duties including replacing and backstopping as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university degree (master's or above) in medicine, with emphasis on infectious diseases or maternal and child health or epidemiology. Desirable: Post graduate training in epidemiology, microbiology or infectious diseases.

Experience

Essential: At least 10 years of experience combined working on infectious diseases epidemiology and public health programs for the control and prevention of infectious diseases including on epidemic diseases, some of which should be at a regional or international level. Proven experience in developing study and research protocols for public health projects related to infectious diseases. Desirable: Experience in field research in developing countries. Experience in epidemic diseases and/or in pandemic diseases. Proven primary responsibility for managing cross-cutting initiatives involving different departments or organizational entities in a multinational context such as the UN, WHO or similar. Proven primary responsibility in developing strategies in prevention and control of infectious diseases or public health programs requiring multidisciplinary approaches.

Skills

- Theoretical and practical knowledge of global infectious disease epidemiology and risk assessment, in particular epidemic and pandemic diseases. - Proven understanding of the management of acute and urgent public health responses, including infectious disease outbreaks. - Demonstrated effectiveness in building sustained partnerships and working with others in international settings. - Capacity to work on cross-sectoral projects.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Moving forward in a changing environment Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of Spanish.

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 90,664 (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 6218 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.