Project Officer (Mental 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 policies that are people centered, promote health, prevent illness, and address 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, and mental health, public health, and social care services. To do so, CPS supports country efforts to facilitate access to leave nobody behind, to improve financial protection, to strengthen the health workforce, to increase access to affordable medicines and technologies, and to promote the uptake and implementation of digital technology.

The WHO European Centre of Excellence for Quality of Care and Patient Safety located in Athens (Athens Quality of Care Office/QoC), works to achieve the highest level of well-being, health, and health protection in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Its main aim is to support the Member States in the European region, with a special focus on southern European countries, in building safe, qualitative, effective, and resilient health systems at the core of post-COVID-19 strategies. The Athens Office acts on the following major areas:

1. Country support, national strategies and frameworks and sharing lessons to scale up successful interventions. This involves inter alia documenting and collating practices and country-specific assistance for strengthening quality of care and patient safety. 2. Quality of care and patient safety innovation and knowledge synthesis. This includes the creation of an innovation hub to share novel quality of care and patient safety approaches. 3. Policy analysis in the sphere of quality of care and patient safety. This stream of work aims to systematize evidence on quality of care and patient safety to inform national health policies. 4. Network building, alliances, and stakeholder engagement. Under this pillar partnerships with relevant stakeholders such as leading academic institutions and think tanks are developed and scaled up.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To provide support in a variety of efforts aimed at the improvement of the mental health and well-being of children, adolescents, and young people. These include advocacy, prevention initiatives, development of tools and quality standards, strengthening of partnerships with existing networks, development of new policies and programmes.

Key duties:

1. Support the supervisor(s) in the implementation of the workplan of the Programme on Quality of Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents, in close coordination with counterparts and partners.
2. Facilitate procurement of goods and any local services within the project in collaboration with relevant partners and ensure proper distribution and deployment of the resources procured.
3. Contribute to the preparation and update of a communication and visibility plan for the mental health program facilitating advocacy, promotion, and communication activities.
4. Contribute to the development, update, and adaptation of relevant WHO standards, protocols and guidelines, training materials and tools, and to training needs' assessments as necessary in the context of the Athens Quality of Care Office Mental Health Programme for Children and Adolescents; provide technical input and national context expertise in the organization of project training activities in coordination with relevant partners and ministries.
5. Provide technical support to the Implementation of the National Mental Health Action Plan in Greece and assist in the coordination of project activities at country level and ensure effective coordination and collaboration among related institutions, local authorities, and NGOs.
6. Provide support in the organization of regular meetings of project partners and NGOs and other events to increase national awareness including visibility and media events whenever required.
7. Provide technical and organizational support for study visits and country missions of WHO staff, and experts planned for the duration of the project including documentation of and reporting on capacity building events as well as ensure follow up on recommendations.
8. Perform other related duties as required by the supervisors for the successful implementation of the program.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Bachelor's level) in, public health, medicine or equivalent areas relevant to this position. Desirable: Master's degree or advanced training in one of the above fields or areas related with Mental Health.

Experience

Essential: At least 2 years of professional experience at national level working in health systems/public health related areas. Demonstrated experience of work with/within public projects and of working with multiple stakeholders such as national policy makers, NGOs, and the private sector in public health. Desirable: Experience in working with mental health projects and health services. Experience in planning and implementation of health-related projects or programmes.

Skills

1. Familiarity with mental health in health systems and public health. 2. Knowledge of the principles of behavioral sciences and mental health interventions at individual and population level. 3. Ability to collect, analyse and report on information. 4. Proven ability to work comfortably in an international, multi-disciplinary, fast-paced environment. 5. Demonstrated knowledge of the goals and procedures of international organizations (United Nations system, donors, major non-governmental organizations) and European Union-funded health projects in countries. 6. Ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as helping others do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Producing results Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of local language. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Russian.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at EUR 50,665 (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.
• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
• 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.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion)are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to [email protected].
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• 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.
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