Regional Adviser, Public Health Laboratories

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 144,241 USD and 180,766 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 Public Health Laboratories unit has the objective of assisting Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to meet their obligations under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 to have a comprehensive approach to strengthening laboratories as an integral part of health systems and to harmonize efforts with communicable disease prevention and control units and to implement a strategy for strengthening Health Laboratory Services.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision of the Director, UHC-DCD, and the overall guidance of the Director, Programme Management, and in collaboration with other relevant units at WHOHeadquarters, Regional and Country offices, the incumbent will liaise, lead and coordinate staff within the unit to provide technical support to Member States in relation to health laboratories, including promoting the development and implementation of national laboratory policies, laboratory quality management systems, biosafety and biosecurity programmes, and roll out of new laboratory technologies.

*Summary of assigned duties:

1. Plan, coordinate, monitor and evaluate regional programme on Public Health Laboratories.

2. Provide technical advice and support to Member States on developing regional policies and strategies on strengthening and sustaining the programme.

3. Develop medium term plans for regional laboratory services and coordinate the activities related to laboratory strengthening for preparedness for infectious diseases outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics.

4. Provide technical guidance to Member States on developing and implementing their national laboratory policies and strategic plans.

5. Support capacity building through technical guidance and training on laboratory management, procurement and logistics, laboratory diagnostic procedures, new technologies (e.g. sequencing), biosafety and biosecurity, quality management or other key components needed to develop and sustain laboratory surveillance support for priority agents.

6. Collaborate with Member States and regional partners to build and sustain effective national laboratory networks.

7. Coordinate regional disease-specific laboratory networks including annual meetings, proficiency testing, distribution of standard reagents, accreditation reviews and appropriate follow-up actions.

8. Organize, implement and report on inter-country meetings, workshops conducted for implementation and monitoring of Public Health Laboratories.

9. Oversee the Regional Microbiology External Quality Assessment Scheme (REQAS).

10. Liaise with national laboratories and international/regional reference laboratories, including re-designation of WHO Collaborating Centres.

11. Support Member States to strengthen their health laboratory workforce, through leadership programmes.

12. Develop and implement all laboratory-related projects and programmes, ensuring that all activities are consistent with existing WHO policies, frameworks and strategies.

13.Collaborate with WHO Headquarters and other parts of the Regional office and Organization, to develop policies, guidelines and other laboratory-related documents.

14. Main achievements: improved capacity for rapid, accurate and safe laboratory detection of all communicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance in Member States in the Region by taking a comprehensive systems approach and utilizing national and regional laboratory networks.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Master's degree in any major specialty of laboratory medicine. Desirable: Additional training in public health or epidemiology

Experience

Essential: At least 10 years of combined experience at national and international levels in planning, managing and implementing laboratory investigations and activities, in multiple laboratory services/disciplines. Desirable: Working experience in developing countries.Previous experience with WHO, the United Nations system or other international organizations

Skills

Broad knowledge of communicable disease prevention and control, epidemiology and clinical laboratories- Updated laboratory knowledge and skills, ability to troubleshoot programmatic and strategic issues on laboratory standards and set-up in the Region- Excellent management, communication and interpersonal skills- Ability to deal diplomatically with senior-level national counterparts- Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of Arabic.

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 89,837 (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 2628 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.