Polio Eradication Programme Roster - Operations Manager

Contract

This is a Multiple grade levels contract. More about Multiple grade levels contracts.

Purpose of the Position

The Outbreak Operations Manager is responsible for assessing needs and existing infrastructure for implementation of polio outbreak response at the country level and contributing to the development of outbreak response strategies and plans. S/he will lead the work on operational planning of polio outbreak response activities, readiness to conduct immunization activities against polio as well as their implementation and monitoring. The operations manager reports to the Outbreak Coordinator.

Please note that opportunities exist at P3 and P4 levels.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate Strategic Objective

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) aims to protect future generations of children from the threat of polio paralysis. The primary means of achieving this goal is to halt poliovirus transmission in countries where the disease is still endemic and to ensure a rapid and effective response to poliovirus outbreaks in polio-free countries.

Organizational context

Reporting to the Outbreak Coordinator and under the leadership of the Head of WHO/UNICEF Office, in close coordination with other members of the GPEI team, the incumbent manages operational aspects of the GPEI support to polio outbreak response and has front line responsibility for the Health Operations team (admin, finance, logistic teams). This requires ongoing contacts with counterparts from ministries of health (MOH) and GPEI via regional response systems.

Summary of Assigned Duties

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, guiding the polio outbreak response operations.
• Under the guidance of the Outbreak Coordinator, manage the coverage of all response operations in support to the MOH, work with partners and facilitate the implementation of GPEI polio outbreak response activities.
• Support the country GPEI teams to organize and oversee the polio outbreak response operations, ensuring that the response is consistent with the government/Ministry of Health (MOH) plans and strategies and the polio outbreak response standard operating procedures.
• Coordinate with regional and headquarters counterparts to report and resolve issues affecting the outbreak response.
• Collaborate with GPEI and MoH teams to assess existing infrastructure and human resources (HR) and assess operational/logistical gaps at the country level to determine what is required to carry out all aspects of a successful polio outbreak response.
• Under the direction of the Outbreak Coordinator, and in collaboration with MoH and GPEI teams, develop operational aspects of the outbreak response plan, such as a budget (and a mechanism for financial tracking), a chronogram of activities, an HR surge plan, and administrative support that feeds into the overall national outbreak response plan. Work with partners and the technical lead to review, adjust, and adapt the plan on a regular basis.
• Direct and supervise the operational outbreak response plan's implementation, as well as provide authoritative advice and support to operational units. As a priority, ensure that the necessary financial, human (including consultants and other surge team staff and their logistics), and material resources (including vaccines, cold chain equipment, transport, and surveillance tools) are requested, received via expedited procedures, and distributed so that the outbreak response can take place within the time frame specified in the SOPs.
• Collaborate with national and international partners to pool operational resources to establish common operational hubs to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Provide frequent and regular reports to the Outbreak Coordinator on all aspects of operations and contribute updates on operations for SITREPS, bulletins, and newsletters.
• Oversee the logistics related to the periodic external outbreak assessments.
• Work with the security partners to assess the security situation in the geographic areas included in the outbreak response; as necessary, engage appropriate partners to discuss logistical aspects of special strategies and resources for insecure areas.
• Monitor and manage the transparent and effective use of resources, developing detailed lessons learned reports, documenting achievements and obstacles to project implementation, and recommending improvements for future field operations.
• Undertake other assignments and responsibilities as requested by heads of country offices, regional directors, and other partners to support the successful response to the outbreak.

Competencies

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

Functional Knowledge and 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 polio outbreak response standards and principles.

Education Qualifications

For the P3 level

Essential: A first level university degree in public health, business administration or related field. Desirable: Specialized training in emergency management; specific training in humanitarian response.

For the P4 level

Essential: Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in public health, business administration or related field. Desirable: Specialized training in emergency management; specific training in humanitarian response.

Experience

For the P3 level

Essential

• At least five (5) years of related experience, at the national and international levels, in health operations, with proven experience in managing outbreaks and health emergencies.
• Related experience in managing human and financial resources.

For the P4 level

Essential

• At least seven (7) years of related experience, at the national and international levels, in health operations, with proven experience in managing outbreaks and health emergencies.
• Related experience in managing human and financial resources.

Desirable

• Relevant work experience in outbreaks and/or health emergency management.
• Experience managing polio outbreak response operations.

Use of Language Skills

• Excellent knowledge of English or French (depending on the country of assignment).
• Knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic would be an asset.

Other Skills

Knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications.

Additional Information

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for 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: https://www.whed.net. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review. For information on WHO's operations please visit: https://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice - https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values
• 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.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant. WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.