Team Lead, Expert Networks and Interventions

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 199,453 USD and 249,960 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 mission of the Division of Health Emergencies (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to assess, prevent and manage health emergency risks, and lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

The WHE Division brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacities in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. The Programme is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities.

The Infectious Hazard Management Programme Area is responsible for establishing risk mitigation strategies and capacities for priority high-threat infectious hazards. This includes developing and supporting prevention and control strategies, tools and capacities for high-threat infectious hazards, establishing and maintaining expert networks to detect, understand and manage new or emerging high threat infectious hazards as well as providing support for the implementation of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework.

Within IHM, the unit of Expert Networks, Interventions and Food Safety (ENI) builds on a set of technical assets to ensure access to knowledge and life-saving interventions to address any emerging pathogens. It includes but is not limited to (i) managing expert networks to rapidly characterise the threats and define mitigation measures, (ii) facilitating the production of high quality, evidence-based guidance, its dissemination to affected countries, and the transfer of knowledge to implementing partners and (iii) ensuring the introduction, adoption and expansion of existing and novel counter measures (vaccines, medicines, medical procedures and laboratory diagnostics) during emergencies due to infectious hazards, (iv) developing capacity to generate evidence through clinical and operational trials during emergencies.

Food safety is positioned in the ENI unit and focuses on: operationalizing the “one-health” approach; antimicrobial resistance in the food chain; prevention, detection and management of foodborne risks (microbiological and chemical), food hygiene, rapid information sharing through International Network of Food Safety Authorities (INFOSAN); advocacy for and provision of international food standards (FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius) as well as strengthening national food normative capacity.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Team Lead will report to the Programme Area Manager IHM, with, with second level supervision by the Regional Emergency Director (RED), Health Emergencies Programme. The incumbent is expected to exercise full judgement in adapting or modifying relevant WHO guidelines, norms and standards, and to lead the development of new guidelines to meet particular requirements or changing circumstances.

Assignments will be generated by the incumbent, with guidance on policy aspects and strategic direction provided by the Programme Area Manager IHM. The incumbent will be expected to provide leadership and to collaborate with HQ, Regional and Country Office counterparts in the application of global, regional and country level policies and positions. The incumbent must have the capacity to work independently and will have scope to exercise considerable individual professional judgment. The incumbent is a member of the Programme’s Senior Management Team and has direct contacts with WHO Representatives, Regional Advisers/Programme Area Managers, and other senior-level technical staff to coordinate and manage relevant activities; Health Cluster partners and other Cluster leads and Coordinators, senior staff of donor agencies; other policy staff and technical staff in partner agencies (both within and outside the UN system), and senior staff of Ministries of Health and related Ministries involved in emergency risk management and response.

The present position under WHE (which is a single programme across the Organization) may be relocated to another duty station, including at HQ, Regional or Country level, based upon the technical needs of the Programme.

The purpose of the position is to provide overall coordination and management of the Expert Networks and Interventions team within the Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) Programme Area of the Health Emergencies Programme (WHE). The Team Lead is responsible for managing provision of technical support to countries to mitigate the risk of the emergence and re-emergence of high-threat pathogens as well as strengthen their operational capacities to manage risks in the area of health care including case/care interventions, infection prevention and control (IPC), laboratory and biosafety/biosecurity, introduction of medical counter measures, food safety, antimicrobial resistance associated with the food chain and a One Health approach to zoonoses.

Key duties:

1. Provide overall technical leadership and coordinate risk mitigation activities for novel and emerging pathogens including food borne pathogens, with the focus on clinical management, laboratory diagnostics, IPC, vaccination, food safety/zoonoses, relevant research during emergencies and associated regulatory aspects.
2. Lead development of technical authoritative advice, tools and solutions to mitigate risks of novel and/or emerging diseases with a focus on operational response capacity for clinical management, laboratory diagnostics, IPC, food safety/zoonoses, introduction of novel therapeutic and preventive interventions, biosafety/biosecurity.
3. Provide overall strategic directions and technical expertise in the area of clinical management for epidemic/pandemic prone diseases including disease characterization, severity assessments, development of clinical protocols and setting relevant research agenda, promoting innovation and adoption of new technologies.
4. Foster introduction of networking concept at national level and ensure regular contribution of WHO to existing expert's networks of of clinicians, scientists, professional societies, regulatory authorities, partner agencies and academic institutions on respective technical areas of expertise pertinent to emergency response (clinical management, laboratory and regulatory science, IPC, food safety).
5. Lead WHO cross-cutting efforts to provide disease control technical support during emergencies and to use these situations as opportunities to strengthen the long term health capacities of countries needed to handle communicable diseases in any setting.
6. Contribute to regional efforts to monitor and evaluate preparedness and response performance under IHR with special focus on prevention and response (ie. medical countermeasures and resources, food safety, zoonoses, biosafety/biosecurity)
7. Develop strategic partnerships with the various counterparts and international partners to implement appropriate interventions, including strategic planning, tactical and project planning, facilitation, instruction, and information and documentation development.
8. Manage the programme area in delivering its objectives through efficiently coordinating a team of technical staff, financial resources and ensure effective work planning to optimise the programme's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization
9. Perform other related duties including replacing and backstopping as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in Medicine with a post-graduate degree in public health or related health science. Clinical training in speciality pertinent to public health emergencies (e.g. infectious diseases, intensive care, maternal care).

Desirable: Specialized training in epidemiology. Training in leadership or management. PhD in public health or medicine.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 10 years of international and national relevant experience in communicable and infectious diseases, epidemiology, prevention, case management, regulatory aspects or research, including at least 3 years of experience in recognized senior management positions with direct responsibility for managing both human and financial resources.
• Proven experience in coordinating large scale projects with high political impact in developing countries. Relevant experience with the inter-agency mechanisms used to coordinate international preparedness for and response to health emergencies, including coordination of health policy and actions in health emergencies. Experience assessing the performance of emergency response programmes as well as IHR core capacity evaluations.

Desirable:

• Relevant work experience in WHO and/or other UN sister agencies; experience working in relevant multilateral, non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.
• Field experience in public health programmes or emergency response programmes in developing countries.

Skills:

• Demonstrated leadership and team management skills in international and multi-cultural settings, including the proven capacity to lead and deliver on deadlines during periods of intense stress and activity; demonstrated ability to provide independent leadership in such periods with capacity to organize, monitor and synthesize information quickly and concisely.
• Proven ability to successfully coordinate, manage and lead projects, and build partnerships, across agencies and organizational departments in the context of health emergencies.
• Thorough knowledge epidemiology, pathogenicity, bio safety/bio security, associated preventive or therapeutic interventions or food regulatory issues, emergency response for infectious diseases outbreaks and other global health security threats and of issues and practices for the prevention and control of disease.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of medical management of infectious diseases, infection control and networking with clinicians. Proven understanding of the management of acute and emerging public health responses, including infectious disease outbreaks.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing public health strategies to address infectious hazards.

WHO Competencies

• Creating an empowering and motivating environment
• Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond
• Producing Results
• Promoting innovation and Organizational learning
• Setting an example

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of another WHO 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 90,664 (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 3,883 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. *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.