Technical Officer (Communicable Diseases), NPO

Contract

This is a NO-D contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 3,819 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

To provide technical assistance to the Government, partners and national counterparts in strengthening the capacity-building programme for surveillance of public health threats especially outbreak-prone diseases, in line with APSED and in compliance with IHR (2005).

The WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) team will: (1) provide, under WHO management, a national and regional capacity to detect and contain outbreaks of COVID-19, novel influenza and other infectious diseases that may occur and to guide countries' preparedness for long-term containment of these; (2) strengthen capacity for surveillance and response in the Western Pacific Region through assessment and field epidemiology training; (3) assist in overall preparedness for novel influenza viruses, COVID-19 and other outbreak- and pandemic-prone diseases in the Region, (4) be available to respond immediately to infectious disease outbreaks in any part of the Region, and (5) strengthen the capacity of national laboratories and reference laboratories for outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Team Leader, WHE, and general guidance of the Head of the WHO Country Office in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

1. Lead the technical aspects of the Lao Field Epidemiology Training (Lao FETP) including curriculum development, teaching, field work and mentoring;
2. Provide support to FETP coordinators, Ministry of Health, in planning, implementing and evaluating one year training courses and others relevant FETP activities;
3. Ensure that FETP fellows achieve the competencies that will enable them to conduct outbreak investigation, risk assessment using multiple sources of information of public health events, situation analysis communicable diseases, epidemiology research on public health issues and implement appropriate and effective public health interventions;
4. Strengthen Lao FETP alumni network of professional capacity and career development; promote the key success and lesson learnt for further improvement of the programme;
5. Liaise and collaborate with other FETPs in the Region, as well as with other FETPs around the world (e.g. global and regional training programme in epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network, ASIAN FETP 3);
6. Support the NCLE, DCDC health partners, Ministry of Health in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, in the implementation of surveillance, risk assessment and response strategies and policies under IHR (2005) and APSED to strengthen preparedness for epidemic-prone diseases, producing and analysing information on health threats, activities and outcomes, and ensuring dissemination to partners and local authorities;
7. Directly support the Ministry of Health with data quality and maintaining of surveillance data including COVID-19, influenza and other epidemic-prone diseases under the national surveillance system particularly the linkage of laboratory and epidemiology data for information sharing and public health recommendations;
8. Support capacity-building in line with APSED and IHR (2005) requirements in developing communicable disease legislation, policies, guidelines and training materials in conducting and supervising surveillance and response trainings for national and provincial health staff;
9. Provide technical support to the Ministry of Health in applying risk assessment process of important public health events, and produce risk statements for high-level decision-making;
10. Monitor WHE programmes implementation, award management, budget updating and programme and donor reporting in a timely manner;
11. Assist the WHE team in mobilization and budget management such as development of project proposals to mobilize resources; and
12. Supervise junior staff and Special Services Agreements in the WHE team.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Master’s degree in public health from a recognized university. Desirable: Advanced university degree from a recognized university or equivalent professional training in epidemiology, public health or related fields.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years' work experience in surveillance, risk assessment and response activities particularly in field epidemiology training at national or provincial level, including working with the government. Desirable: Experience in writing proposals and reports. Experience in working with nongovernmental and/or with regional or international organizations. Experience with field epidemiology training.

Skills

• Knowledge and experience in epidemiology, outbreak investigation and response, communicable disease control, and IHR 2005 and APSED;
• Skills in planning, implementation, training and development of locally adapted tools and instruments, monitoring and evaluation of interventions, teaching and advisory techniques;
• Good communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to interact with, and advise, the Government and Ministry of Health counterparts, nongovernmental organizations and international agencies on technical areas related to communicable disease control, and develop effective working relationships with senior decision-makers and officials in a variety of settings and cultures;
• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct;
• Understands the principles of results-based management and can develop plans, organize resources and take actions to ensure objectives are achieved within realistic timelines; and
• Ability to quickly acquire a thorough working knowledge of essential WHO policies and procedures, and rules and regulations that support WHO's presence in countries.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Moving forward in a changing environment Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Lao.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 45,650 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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.

• 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.

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.