Project Officer (Human Resources for Health)

Contract

This is a NO-B 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 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about NO-B contracts.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Policies and Systems (CPS) assists countries in the Region with the design and implementation of appropriate health policies and systems to strengthen universal health coverage. It works to strengthen data-driven, evidence-informed, contextually tailored health policy development and implementation at national, regional, and local levels, taking an inclusive approach across the life course. The Division advocates strengthening of public health leadership, focusing on implementing people-centred policies, promoting health, preventing illness, and addressing the social and economic determinants of health while fostering leadership on equity, human rights and gender mainstreaming in health. It focuses on building capacity for health systems innovation to enable the sustainable delivery of high-quality primary health and community services that are effectively linked to hospitals, mental health, public health, and social care services. To do so, CPS supports country efforts to facilitate access to leave nobody behind, improve financial protection, strengthen the health workforce, increase access to affordable medicines and technologies, and promote the uptake and implementation of digital technology.

The Health Workforce for Service Delivery (HWD) unit provides strategic direction, technical assistance and tailored support to countries to improve access and quality of health and long-term care services delivered by a competent and sustainable workforce. It engages with professional bodies and patients to support the design and transformation of services which are geared to improve: patient experience of care across the health and social sector; health of the population, healthcare efficiency and the experience and engagement of the health and care workforce. In order to deliver these objectives aligned with the European Programme of Work and GPW 13, the unit supports countries through the development of policies, strategies, tools and capacities in the areas of the health workforce, (including nursing and midwifery and the public health workforce) to improve working conditions, retain and motivate the existing workforce; and align the education, training and production of the future workforce with population health needs, promote integration in service delivery to better bridge the divide between health systems and social care across the whole continuum of care, as well as supporting Member States efforts to put people at the centre of services.

The WHO country office works with the National Authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions are engrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectives of promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressing health emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal Health Coverage. WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions:

(i) providing Global Health leadership;

(ii) shaping the health research agenda;

(iii) setting norms and standards;

(iv) articulating evidence-based policy options;

(v) providing technical support to countries; and

(vi) monitoring and assessing health trends.

The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work 2020-2025 - “United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a vision of how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries in meeting citizens' expectations about health. WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavour; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all national and international partners in the country, provision of direct technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation, and to promote health equity.

The Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for Romania was approved by the European Council to support the implementation of sustainable reforms. The Ministry of Health (MoH) is the national agency responsible for the implementation of the reforms related to health care. Within the RRP, WHO is responsible for the provision of technical assistance to the 3.2 component that addresses Romania's country-specific recommendation for improving healthcare access and cost-efficiency, including through the shift to outpatient care. It also focuses on strengthening the health system's resilience, including in the areas of health workers and medical products, and improving access to health services.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To provide technical support to the Ministry of Health of Romania in developing appropriate human resources for health at different levels of the health care system that respond to national needs within the context of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for Romania component 3.2 “Increasing capacity for health management and human resources in health” and the Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA) between the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the Ministry of Health of Romania.

To facilitate effective Human Resources for Health reform planning by contributing to the development and implementation of policies, strategies and frameworks aimed at educating, attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining health workers as well as improving health service management.

To contribute to the timely and successful delivery of project work, ensuring in coordination with HWD staff at the Regional Office that the agreed timelines and funding provisions are fully followed and implemented.

Key duties

1. Assist in updating and implementing project implementation plans and the subsequent project activities across the Human Resources Development subcomponents of the RRP. Track the implementation of activities planned for the human resources for the health subcomponent of the project, taking into account the agreed deadlines, and highlighting any gaps and possible risks. Draft the monitoring and evaluation of the activities implementation, evaluation of results, and assist in the follow-up on the related indicators relevant to the expected outcomes. Prepare and coordinate with the Regional Office updates on the project budget, procurement plans and processes. Draft asper reporting requirements of the project.

2. Act as a focal point on the ground for the coordination of human resources for health subcomponents of the project, exercising oversight to ensure that support to the Ministry of Health (MoH) is provided on time.

3. Provide and facilitate technical support and advice to the MoH in developing, implementing, and evaluating respective national health strategies as well as in revising specific aspects of the national human resources policy (i.e., linked to legislative provisions, development needs, etc.).

4. Provide technical content support as well as operational coordination to the MoH in updating and upgrading relevant guidelines, materials, and tools, performing training needs assessments, and organizing and implementing training activities on human resources for health.

5. In coordination with other members of the RRP and HWD team, provide support with and technical input to the preparation of workshops and interview sessions with stakeholders and multidisciplinary meetings for policy dialogue. Promote and develop collaborative activities with national alliances, networks, and professional and academic organizations aimed at advancing the health system management reform agenda.

6. Contribute towards building an adequate evidence base required in the human resources for the health subcomponent of the project by procuring all the national and local documents/data needed for baseline assessment, such as legislation, protocols, guidelines, SOPs, etc.

7. Propose, develop, and organize a variety of training for healthcare professionals, managers, and other stakeholders on topics related to human resources for health and continuous professional development, necessary for the implementation of the project.

8. Regularly review and propose a list of national stakeholders whose participation is crucial for the implementation of certain activities and ensure the dissemination of invitations, related documents, and any other information. Develop and maintain a network of key national stakeholders at all levels of the healthcare system and related areas, such as educational institutions and accrediting bodies.

9. Conduct field visits to project-related sites as required.

10. Perform other related duties as required by the supervisors for the successful implementation of the project.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in a health science such as, but not limited to, public health, health systems/services administration. Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master's) or post-graduate qualification in either HRH Planning and Data systems, information management, education, and training programs in healthcare or health systems quality management.

Experience

Essential: At least 2 years of professional experience in public health, hospitals and/or health service management with demonstrated experience in implementing and/or managing health projects/ activities. Desirable: Relevant work experience in the development and implementation of strategies and action plans for supporting the health sector.

Skills

1. Demonstrated broad knowledge of the health service management sector and the types of continuous professional development of health professionals and related issues. 2. Demonstrated knowledge of the political, social, education and health systems in Romania. 3. Demonstrated skills in working effectively with multiple stakeholders in the area of public health. 4. Demonstrated skills in managing and/or providing coordination support to health projects. 5. Strong skills in data management, analysis and reporting. 6. Good knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 key applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). 7. Ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as help others to do the same. 8. Ability to work comfortably in an international, multi-disciplinary and fast-paced environment.

WHO Competencies

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

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Romanian. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Russian.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at RON 217,145 (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.

• 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.

• 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.