Scientist

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 168,113 USD and 216,746 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 Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS) Department is addressing the burden of disease from physical, chemical and microbial hazards in food, unhealthy diets,maternal and child malnutrition, overweight and obesity. The Department aims to ensure universal access to safe, sufficient nutritious food and effective nutrition actions, through setting science-based international food standards, promoting nutrition action in health systems, fostering sustainable food production and consumption, improving food environments and empowering consumers in all situations, monitoring nutrition status, and managing foodsafety events at the international level, closely working with Member States,UN partner agencies and non-State actors. The Multisectoral Actions in Food Systems (AFS) Unit develops implementation tools to strengthen food systems; support multisectoral policies to improve the safety, nutritional quality and sustainability of food; engages with stakeholders throughout the food chain; and monitors policy implementation. The Unit provides support to WHO's Member States in reducing the burden of diseases caused by unsafe food, unhealthy diets, and malnutrition in close collaborationwith UN partner agencies, and other international organizations and stakeholders.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Support the development or updates of global roadmaps and investment cases to accelerate the global, regional and national level implementation of policies and actions for healthier food environments so as to achieve diet related global targets, particularly: a 30% relative reduction in mean population intake of salt/sodium, halting the rise in diabetes and obesity and halving the risk of anaemia in women of reproductive age.Coordinate the development of global implementation tools to promote ,develop, implement and monitor national intersectoral and inter-programmatic policies, plans and programs for healthier food environments and reducing anaemia and overweight/obesity throughout the life-course, as part of a comprehensivefood systems` approach. Working with the relevant regional advisors, provide technical and programmatic support to Member States in the development and implementation of work for the prevention of diet related NCDs, anaemia, and overweight/obesity. Working with the relevant regional advisors, support countries in their efforts to build their capacities to enact, implement, monitor and enforce policies to eliminate industrially produced trans fatty acids, reduce the intake of salt/sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats as well as fortify staple foods and condiments.Build alliances and networks and strengthen coordination mechanisms among technical entities, United Nations agencies, NGOs and other internal/external partners insupport of this area of work. Support the mobilization of financial resources to improve food environments at thedifferent levels of the organization.Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree in Public Health, Nutrition or Health Science and training relative to the development of guidance and implementation tools to ensure populations' equitable access to safe, nutritious, and healthy food. Desirable: Post-graduate qualifications in behavior change or economics.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years of experience in providing technical and public health advice on dietary risks and healthy food environments including 2 years working at international level. Demonstrated knowledge of food regulatory affairs. Experience in assessing,implementing, and advocating for NCDs prevention, dietary behaviour change, and food environments improvement/adoption at large scale. Desirable: Experience in the exchange and creation of evidence-based knowledge to affect change. Experience transforming tacit to explicit knowledge through knowledge sharing and synthesis and use of innovative digital tools. Experience in due diligence, risk assessment and themanagement of conflicts of interest. Experience working with WHO, preferably inan area related to food-based interventions.

Skills

Extensive knowledge and skills in international nutrition, particularly on the use of food-based and regulatory approaches to prevent the double burden of malnutrition in populations. Demonstrated ability to deliver projects involving multiple partners, conduct operational activities, analyse, and interact in complex technical, political and cross-cultural situations. Ability to function effectively in a team setting in a cross-cultural environment. Good knowledge of the operations ofWHO and understanding of the principal stakeholders as well as an understandingof the UN system. Excellent organizational and analytical and writing skillscomplemented by good interpersonal and presentation skills. Excellent work ethics.

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. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

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 74,913 (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 5181 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.