Technical Officer

Overview

Provide technical guidance for polio eradication and immunization activities.

You have:

• University degree in medicine, sciences, engineering, international development or a related discipline and an advance degree, at least at Masters level, in public health, epidemiology, related science or health discipline.
• At least seven years of relevant experience combined at the national and international levels in public health including developing country settings, out of which at least four years in disease eradication, immunization, or infectious disease control.
• Good knowledge of public health and epidemiology, with broad practical knowledge of public health, infectious disease surveillance and control, vaccine science, immunization and disease eradication policies and strategies and their application in developing countries.
• Strong ability and experience with analysis of surveillance, immunization monitoring and epidemiologic data.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of French.
• Intermediate knowledge of Arabic.

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 113,803 USD and 146,726 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 Department of Polio Eradication and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (PVD) leads WHO's efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) toeradicate polio and prevent, control and eliminate other vaccine-preventablediseases (VPDs). Guided by Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) and the GlobalPolio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) 2022-2029 Strategy, the Department workswith Member States and partners to eradicate polio, reduce the burden of VPDsand strengthen equitable access to immunization services across the lifecourse.A core priority is achieving and sustaining the eradicationof all wild and vaccine-derived polioviruses, in line with World HealthAssembly and Regional Committee mandates. The Department also supportscountries to achieve regional and global immunization goals, including theelimination of measles and rubella, maternal and neonatal tetanus, andbacterial meningitis, while strengthening surveillance systems and outbreakpreparedness and response capacities.Through its support to national immunization programmes, theDepartment promotes high and equitable routine immunization coverage, with afocus on reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children, reducing immunitygaps, and preventing VPD outbreaks. It also supports the introduction andscale-up of new and underutilized vaccines and advances regional commitments tohepatitis B control, including increasing timely birth-dose coverage to reducenew infections and their long-term health consequences.The Department provides strategic leadership and technicalcoordination to help countries achieve IA2030 targets, accelerate progresstowards a polio-free region, and sustain the capacities and gains oferadication in the post-certification era.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

For assigned geographic areas:-Provide technical guidance for coordination and planning of Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA) planning in endemic and outbreak-affected countries as well as SIA activities to reduce vulnerability in countries at high risk of outbreaks. -Plan and prioritize allocation of vaccine supplies, funding,and human resources based on thorough understanding of risks and polio virus situation and in close coordination with HQ, countries and partners.-Provide effective response to any importation of wild poliovirus or outbreak of circulating vaccine derived polio virus in previously polio-free areas through planning, implementation, and coordination with GPEI partners for response to outbreaks in accordance with global guidelines.-Conduct and administer three- and six-month assessments of status of outbreaks, effectiveness of response and the likelihood of continuing transmission.-Monitor progress and identify risks in countries or sub-regions assigned. Identify constraints to polio eradication in priority countries and areas and support the development of plans of action to overcome those constraints.-Promote activities to enhance Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)surveillance, including rapid surveillance assessments, development of action plans to improve surveillance, evaluation of the impact of these plans, and training/orientation of national and sub-national staff.-Develop guidelines and other tools that provide evidence and advice on the best practice strategies for interrupting poliovirus transmission and conducting AFP surveillance.-Promote and monitor indepth analysis of polio priority areas to understand the root causes for continuing polio virus transmission, the proposed strategies to address the problems, and the progress of the programme in implementing these strategies.-Identify training needs, evaluate and document outbreak response activities to ensure that all lessons learned are effectively incorporated into current best practices. -Develop and manage approaches in assigned countries that can achieve polio eradication while contributing to strengthening routineimmunization systems.Assist in identification and response to other VPD outbreakswith focus on Measles and Diphtheria.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in medicine, sciences, engineering, international development or a related discipline and an advance degree, at least at Masters level, in public health,epidemiology, related science or health discipline. Desirable:

Experience

Essential: At least seven years of relevant experience combined at the national and international levels in public health including developing country settings, out of which at least four years in disease eradication, immunization, or infectious disease control. Desirable: Significant experience with polio eradication programmes and in the management of large-scale public health programmes involving immunization. Working experience with international organizations and/or non-governmental organizations.

Skills

-Good knowledge of public health and epidemiology, with broad practical knowledge of public health, infectious disease surveillance and control, vaccine science,immunization and disease eradication policies and strategies and their application in developing countries. -Strong ability and experience with analysis of surveillance, immunization monitoring and epidemiologic data.-Strong technical writing and analytical skills. -Demonstrated ability to workeffectively with governments, and in field conditions.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Producing results

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 86,027 (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 1799 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.

• The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.

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

• WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. 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.

• 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 may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.

• 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 a fixed-term position in the International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical 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.

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Potential interview questions