Public Health Officer

Overview

Lead disease control initiatives and partnerships for public health.

You have:

• Medical Doctor with post graduate degree in Public health, Biology, Entomology, Parasitology, Environmental health, or other relevant disciplines.
• At least seven (7) years of experience in communicable and non-communicable diseases-related activities.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Working experience with the WHO or other international organizations is desirable.
• Strong knowledge in communicable disease and surveillance.

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 122,264 USD and 157,634 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

As part of the agenda to end diseases in the WHO African region, the UHC/CND cluster in the WHO Namibia country office is guided by the regional strategic agenda: “disease burden reduction through using analytics to informtailored interventions and guide disease control investments”.Objectives pursued by UHC/CND are to: (i) provide leadership on diseasecontrol coordination, partnership and resource mobilization; (ii) contribute to the development of WHO disease control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) supportgeneration and use of strategic information for action and decision makingincluding optimizing investment; and (iv) facilitate country support -Technical assistance in deployment of WHO technical products and institutional capacity building including support to national disease programmes andregulatory authorities - towards improved program governance, improved interventions coverage and improved interventions quality.UHC/CND investments towards these objectives are developed and deliveredas guided by two guiding principles:• Comprehensive, whole of society approaches involving: (a) coherent implementation of triple response -technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance,promoting interventions mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systemsresponse: building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic andenvironmental determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors,communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public andprivate sectors, health and non- health sectors; and (c)community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health services demand creation and accountability bylocal health stewards.• People-centered,integrated approaches involving: (a) integrated guidance ondisease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away fromstand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient diseasecontrol investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate healthservices delivery platforms - deploying appropriate technologies andanalytics to guide: stratification of risks and impact of diseases acrosspopulation groups, development and deployment of comprehensive packages ofinterventions appropriate for each health service delivery platform, andmonitoring population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the directsupervision of the WHO Representative, Namibia and the strategic orientation ofthe Director WHE Cluster, the incumbent will to contribute towards• Leadership on coordination, partnerships andresource mobilization for disease control, elimination and eradication through:a) Effective coordination of communicable and non-communicablediseases programmes (TB, Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, NTDs, etc.)b) Facilitating development, review, update, implementation,monitoring and evaluation of national strategic plans for priority diseases inthe country.c) Facilitating effective partnerships, planning, proposaldevelopment and national resource mobilization efforts that promote delivery ofdisease control, elimination and eradication services.d) Strengthening mechanisms for collaboration and capacitybuilding of national public health institutes.e) Supporting capacity building and mentoring of staff in thecluster• Adoption and adaptation and monitoring andevaluation of the implementation of disease control, elimination anderadication technical products, services, and tools through.a) Facilitating development, review, update and monitor use oftools and guidelines in line with WHO global and regional policy guidelines,norms, standards and tools.b) Supporting integration of diseases control, elimination anderadication initiatives into national health sector policies, strategies, plansand primary health service packages to promote universal coverage of the threediseasesc) Facilitating implementation of disease control programmeactivities in the community in coordination and collaboration with the MoH,achieving results such as: Close follow up with the Ministry of health andother partners on the proper and timely implementation of the programmeactivities, including the administrative procedures; visiting the communitiesand sites where target population are residing and reporting on the findings;attending field health coordination meetings; and preparation of regular sit-repson health condition of target populations.d) Supporting healthemergency preparedness and response including providing technical assistance inpreparedness, response and recovery to emergencies and disasters with focus onrefugees' crisis; providing facilitation to the team in the implementation ofthe activities planned for Crisis Response; and ensuring continuity ofessential services during emergencies, recovery and beyond.• Generation of analytics-driven strategicinformation for disease control, elimination and eradication agenda setting andinterventions through.a) Facilitating generation of evidence for improving the impactof interventions of disease control, elimination and eradication includinginvestments in surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, operational research,and documentation of best practices.b) Ensuring collection and compilation of data on various targetpopulations, including analysis and interpretation of data.c) Facilitating management of information systems and timelydissemination of WHO updated information (e.g., reports and website) on aregular and prompt basis.d) Coordinating design and maintenance of databases of indicatorsrelating to public health activities in the country office.e) Facilitating development of a research agenda for endingdiseases in the country.• Other related tasks/duties as assigned by supervisors

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Medical Doctor with post graduate degree in Public health, Biology, Entomology, Parasitology, Environmentalhealth, or other relevant disciplines from an accredited/recognized institute. Desirable: Training in communicable and non-communicable disease prevention, building strategiesand approaches; knowledge of neglected tropical disease epidemiology, andpractices of bi-lateral and multi-lateral agencies or Training in communicableand non-communicable disease control and elimination and other tropicaldiseases.

Experience

Essential: Essential:At least seven (7) years of experience in communicable and non-communicable diseases-related activities/ planning, management and implementation. Desirable: Working experience with the WHO or other international experience would be an asset. Aminimum of 3 years of working experience in large public health projects wouldbe an asset. Working experience on emergencies in Africa.

Skills

1. Ability to work under pressure to make decisions,to elaborate strategies and organise priorities2. Ability to coordinate activities and undertakemultiple tasks 3. Strong knowledge in communicable disease andsurveillance4. Strong analytical skills and good judgement5. Sense of prioritization and attention to detail6. Discretion and tact7. Ability to liaise with people at all levels andto proactively search for information8. Self-motivated, flexible and able to innovate 9. Professional commitment10. Excellent interpersonal skills with ability tonegotiate with and convince officials with tact and diplomacy11. Ability to write in a clear and concise manner,and to present factual information. 12. Ability to work in aninternational and multi- cultural environment.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Producing results Creating an empowering and motivating environment### Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Beginners knowledge of French. Beginners knowledge of Other UN 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 77,326 (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 2764 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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• 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.

• 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 reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• 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.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.

• 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.

• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].

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

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• In case the website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click this link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates

Potential interview questions