National Professional Officer (Surveillance Cluster Lead)

Contract

This is a NO-C contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 2,613 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

WHO Nepal Country Office supports GoN in formulation, implementation and evaluation of national health policies, strategies and plans as guided by the WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2018-22. WHO Country Office collaborates with GoN and relevant stakeholders to support their efforts for achieving national health goals including control of VPD as envisioned under strategic objective 2 (Effective delivery of priority public health programmes including VPD) of WHO Nepal CCS 2018-22. GoN has achieved significant gains in progress against VPD, like eliminating polio, massive reduction in incidence of measles and Japanese encephalitis, and has introduced several new vaccines in its national immunization programme. GoN has a declared goal of achieving measles and rubella elimination by 2023. Sustaining a sensitive surveillance information system for polio, measles and other selected VPD is essential to guide the immunization programme in achieving these goals.The incumbent will work within Immunization Preventable Disease (IPD) team of WHO Nepal to provide technical assistance to FWD, NPHL and/or other relevant divisions of DOHS and MOHP, Govt. of Nepal (GoN), in maintaining the core functions of a sensitive polio and VPD surveillance system for polio eradication, measles and rubella elimination, and other disease elimination and control goals. The incumbent is also expected to lead a team and use surveillance data including immunization data from surveillance and other sources for action to further national, regional and global programme goals and vaccine action plans.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision of MO (EPI) & Team lead, WHO-IPD, and overall guidance of WHO Representative, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Leadership and management: Lead, manage, supervise, and mentor the personnel in surveillance cluster to provide the necessary support to the VPD surveillance programme.

2. Coordination: Coordinate and collaborate with Govt. and non-government counterparts, especially with stakeholders in FWD and NPHL and other designated laboratory departments, as needed. He/she may also need to coordinate and collaborate with other teams within WHO as well as multiple stakeholders outside WHO and Government like other development partner organizations.

3. Surveillance network performance: Work with SMOs of WHO-IPD and key Govt. public health staff at national and sub-national levels to sustain and improve upon the VPD surveillance systems and reporting network inclusive of public, private and informal service provider networks. Review adequacy and sensitivity of the surveillance network and surveillance processes by province and district on a regular basis, and take appropriate corrective measures.

4. Outbreak investigation and response: Support team lead IPD to ensure that WHO-IPD as well as national systems and relevant departments are in readiness to detect, investigate and respond appropriately to reported polio, measles or other VPD outbreaks according to global, regional and national protocols.

5. Laboratory support: In collaboration with IPD data cluster, coordinate with NPHL and other designated laboratories for sample shipment, lab supplies, and quality assurance of labs.

6. Training and capacity building: Develop relevant technical resource documents and guidelines (preferably bilingual) and training packages for capacity building of personnel in the surveillance network. Organize and conduct interactive training sessions with well-defined behavioural objectives.

7. Surveillance data quality: In coordination with WHO-IPD data cluster, regularly review, analyse and evaluate surveillance data and case reports though desk review and/or field validation to ensure quality and integrity of surveillance data.

8. Innovation and research: Plan and engage in applied research as per needs of the programme. Link case data from surveillance with immunization and other demographic data for immunization response. Plan new surveillance designs for paediatric diarrhoea, invasive bacterial diseases etc. and including for COVID-19 surveillance if needed.

9. Resource utilization and donor reporting: Under guidance of Team lead WHO-IPD, prepare donor reports in coordination with Team-lead IPD.

10. Others: Perform any other professional duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in Medicine (MBBS) Desirable: Post Graduate Degree in public health, epidemiology, paediatrics, or medicine or in an allied discipline

Experience

Essential: At least five years' experience in public health surveillance or related area. Desirable: a. Work experience in immunization and vaccine preventable disease surveillance and /or control at a managerial level in the Government public health system or INGOs or NGOs or bilateral or multilateral international agencies.b. Previous experience working with WHO/UN experience in Country/ Region/HQ.c. Experience in public health in emergency preparedness and response.

Skills

• Self-motivated with ability to work with a minimum of supervision.• Good interpersonal skills.• Ability to participate actively and cooperatively in knowledge sharing and policy forums at various levels and also to coordinate the GoN agencies, international / bilateral agencies, NGOs / INGOs etc.• Excellent writing skills in English, including ability to write clear and concise progress reports, analytical reports, plans and proposals.• Technical Expertise; Overall attitude at work are also required mandatory competencies.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Ensuring the effective use of resources Producing results Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at NPR 3,639,139 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

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

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.