Programme Officer (OSPO)

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 135,454 USD and 174,640 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 WHO Hub for Pandemicand Epidemic Intelligence is a new office of WHO, located in Berlin. It will work with partners to enable the generation of public health relevant information to provide into timely actionable insights in response to health emergencies; improve decision making in response to public health threats. It also aims to reduce data fragmentation and inefficiency by: creating an ecosystem that promotes collaboration across multiple professional disciplines, sectors,and initiatives; and empower decision makers, public health professionals, and civil society to make informed public health decisions.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The incumbent will be responsible for establishing and management of the Open-Source Programme (OSPO) for the development of open-source software and open data guidelines, recommendations, policies, and strategies. The incumbent will partner with WHO legal and information management technologies department, procurement, communication office and other stakeholders in development of guidelines, recommendations, policies, and strategies for WHO open-source software projects and initiatives.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Establish the Open Source Programme and be responsible for all related activities and deliverables
• Engage with WHO legal and information management technologies department, procurement, communication office and other stakeholders in development of guidelines, recommendations, policies, and strategies for WHO open-source software projects and initiatives
• Create services and functions to provide legal, procurement, technical, programmatic, capacity building and community management advice to open-source software and open data projects and initiatives within the scope and mandate of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence
• Lead the development and optimisation of all aspects of the outgoing open-source software development process, including people, their activities and tooling automation
• Steer involvement in the global open-source software community of practice, build awareness of the WHO open-source strategy and recognition of using, releasing, and contributing to the open-source software initiatives internally within the WHO, and externally throughout global health security initiatives and beyond
• Work alongside Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems and WHO Health Emergency Programme leadership to integrate open-source objectives with the strategic WHO objectives and UN Strategic Development Goals
• Establish WHO as a leader and actively contributing member of open-source initiatives for supporting the improvement and maintenance of the global health security

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced level university degree in software engineering, computer science or related field from a recognized institution. Desirable: Specialization or relevant professional training in information technology law, including open-source software, data protection and related disciplines.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the software engineering field with specific experience in managing teams engaged in using, releasing, and contributing to successful and widely recognised open-source software projects. Hands-on experience with multiple programming languages, software development tools, distributed version control systems, GitHub and DevSecOps processes and CI/CD tools. Experience with selection of fit-for purpose open-source software and open data licenses and general open-source compliance issues for projects and initiatives in different domains in private and public sector. Experience working across geographic and cultural boundaries. Demonstrated leadership experience at the international level. Experience with governance processes, including risk management and quality assurance as well as with general management, budgeting, administrative and financial management.

Desirable: Experience establishing and/or managing an Open-Source Programme Office of an organisation with an international reach in a public or private sector. Experience working in a large national, multi-national or international organization with inter-agency collaboration or in WHO, UN, UN Agencies, or other international organisations. Professional software development experience for public health, preferably health surveillance and intelligence decision support systems.

Skills

• In-depth knowledge of the open-source software and open data eco-systems and a balance of passion and pragmatism for open-source software and open data
• Proficient knowledge of the software licenses and general compliance issues, including the advantages and disadvantages of different proprietary, open-source and dual licensing models
• Expert knowledge of information and communication technologies and software engineering best practices, including agile frameworks, DevSecOps, cloud native technologies and explainable AI
• Excellent communication, inter-personal, negotiation, organizational and leadership skills
• Ability to adapt quickly to shifting priorities and situations
• Real passion for improving global health security through development of efficient and effective health intelligence systems on a global scale

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Promoting innovation and organizational learning

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of WHO Language.

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 75,602 (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 2514 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.