Public Health Specialist

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. More about P-4 contracts and their salaries.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall objective of the WHO Division of Universal Health Coverage and Life Course is to support countries strengthen their health systems towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) goals and improve people's health and wellbeing at all ages. The essence of this work is that each country's national health system is oriented to primary health care as its foundation with strength and resilience to provide the quality services people need for their health and wellbeing without financial hardship. UHL provides global policy, programme, and technical and scientific leadership for universal health coverage and primary health care, working in close collaboration with WHO regional and country offices and other partners, working towards the Organization's goal of an additional one billion people benefiting from UHC and contributing to the achievement of all health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Within the UHL division, the WHO Global Centre of Traditional Medicine complements the core normative and country support functions of the Organization's Headquarters Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative (TCI) Unit and six Regional Offices' work on traditional medicine. The Traditional Medicine Centre will focus on complementary areas of work and scaling up the Organization's capacities in traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine with respect to evidence and learning, data and analysis, sustainability and equity, and innovation and technology to optimize the role of traditional medicine towards achieving goals for universal health coverage and sustainable development.

The Organization's holistic, integrated work on traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine - across HQ, regions, and the Traditional Medicine Centre - supports Member States to harness the potential contribution of traditional medicines to health, wellness and people-centered health care, to promote the safe and effective use of traditional medicines by regulating, researching and integrating traditional medicines products, practitioners and practice into health systems, where appropriate, promote scientific advances, access and use through innovations and technology, and protect biodiversity and local resources and rights towards equitable and sustainable development.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Generic Duties

Under the guidance of the Unit Head, Sustainability and Equity, and in close collaboration with unit staff members, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Provide specialist technical support to the work program in public health in the assigned country(ies) and assist Member States through the provision of technically sound advice to facilitate the successful implementation of national health systems.

2. Contribute to the development of national strategies and policies through technical and policy advice and recommendations on plans of actions for strengthening health systems and improvements in the planning and management of existing public health systems.

3. Develop and monitor work plans and budgets, including resource mobilization, for the work programme and follow-up on the implementation of planned activities.

4. Critically review data and provide high-level data analyses and information on best practices and partners' experiences in implementing sustainable public health systems and disseminate information. Submit proposals for the extension of health-care networks and the development of mechanisms of social health protection.

5. Develop and conduct capacity-building in public health systems and the management and financing of the systems.

6. Serve as a technical resource to the public concerning sustainable health systems that contribute to health equity, social justice and elimination of exclusion and respond to inquiries and provide detailed and technical information concerning related principles, practices, issues, measures, techniques, and procedures.

7. Conceive, coordinate, and conduct a variety of community outreach activities concerning the extension of health-care networks.

8. Advance liaison and coordinate with national counterparts, technical departments at HQ, and with donor and development partners (UN and bilateral) to harmonize recommendations on policies and strategies related to public health systems and resolve issues or concerns.

9. Seek funding for new projects and work programmes.

10. Represent WHO at various meetings.

11. Perform all other related duties as assigned,

Specific duties

• Leads the development and maintenance of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine country profiles and resources building on policy, practice, and public use data as well as sociocultural and biocultural data and the sustainable use of biodiversity. Key considerations for sustainable development include biodiversity conservation, management, and sustainable use; and carbon footprint impact/carbon credits. Equity and respect for local resources and rights, including those of Indigenous Peoples, will be guiding principles.
• Develops an interactive online resource of traditional medicine country profiles, resources, evidence, innovation, ideas.
• Hosts consultations and workshops on traditional medicine, equity, and sustainable development, with due consideration for Indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge, guided by the principles of equity, sustainable use of biodiversity and sustainability.
• Contributes to the work of the WHO Expert Working Group on Biodiversity, Climate, One Health and Nature-based solutions and other relevant expert groups, WHO departments, regional offices and institutional partners working at the nexus of biodiversity, public and global health, and sustainability to support related activities of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university degree (Master's level or above) in traditional, complementary, or integrative medicine; public health or environmental science.

Desirable: Ph.D. in traditional, complementary, or integrative medicine; public health or environmental science.

Experience

Essential:

• At least seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in traditional, complementary, or integrative medicine, and/or in biodiversity conservation, management, and sustainable use.
• Experience working on national, regional, or global policy initiatives that promote public health and One Health preventative measures, investigation, surveillance, preparedness, and/or control of various diseases.
• Demonstrated professional experience working at the community level on public health and biodiversity initiatives and related capacity-building programmes,
• Demonstrated experience in developing communication strategies and outreach material in the areas of traditional medicine, sustainable conservation and use of biodiversity, and community health.

Desirable:

• International experience related to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, and/or other international bodies at the intersection of biodiversity, health, and traditional medicine.
• Experience in leading the development of training and education modules with a focus on traditional medicine, sustainable use of biodiversity and community health.
• Demonstrated working experience in low-income countries, including with Indigenous Peoples, in the areas of traditional medicine, biodiversity and community health.

Skills

• Sound knowledge of country-level situations about public and community health systems development and management with good understanding of relevant country's needs, priorities, and policies, along with WHO's policies, practices, guidelines and procedures in the related areas and ability to apply them in the country office setting.
• Ability to conduct research and analyze results, identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations for strengthening health care systems, including at the community level.
• Ability to review and revise policies and objectives of assigned programme and activities.
• Ability to provide technical guidance and advice, taking into consideration the views of multiple stakeholders and partners, with particular attention to those most vulnerable to the impacts of biodiversity loss and other drivers of environmental change.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, diplomacy, patience, and courtesy.
• Excellent knowledge of health care systems and safety regulations.
• Proven knowledge of technical aspects in the field of specialty, including primary health care, and community-based approaches.
• Public speaking techniques and presentation skills.
• Excellent drafting and communication skills, and scientific-writing ability.
• Ability to resolve issues in a proactive manner, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics.
• Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
• Team spirit and time management skills.

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.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French or other WHO official languages.

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 2249 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.