Technical Officer - IHP - PN381780

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 118,352 USD and 152,590 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 WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage public health threats and health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international response to contain outbreaks and health emergencies and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.The unit of Infectious Hazards Preparedness is responsible for supporting countries for prevention and control of high threat diseases of both epidemic and pandemic potential through development and dissemination of evidence-based strategies, policies, tools, norms and standards to manage infectious disease hazards. The team of High Threat Pathogens (PAT) develops strategies, guidance, regional mechanisms and interventions to address high threat pathogens responsible for epidemics or pandemics thereby reducing their impact on affected populations and limiting their international spread. This group deals with known high threat pathogens such as cholera, dengue, influenza, avian influenza, Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF), Zika, coronaviruses like the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), meningitis and plague.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Provide technical leadership, guidance and expert advice related to the surveillance, detection and response to High Threat Pathogen diseases of epidemic and pandemic potentials that are specific to the Region.
2. Develop evidence-informed manuals, guidance, norms and standards for early detection, prevention and control of high threat pathogen diseases that are specific to the Region.
3. Establish partnerships to facilitate data analysis, epidemic intelligence, epidemic forecasting and knowledge sharing, in particular on the disease transmission and public health impact, identify gaps in knowledge and develop plans and study protocols to address gaps. Implement plan of activities and monitor progress through expert networks.
4. Monitor the risk of High Threat Pathogens, including public health risks in countries affected by crisis, ensure quality of the information received from the field and inform timely senior management so that the Organization can get prepared for any change in the situation.
5. Collaborate with the transfer of knowledge team to develop user-friendly materials for early warning surveillance system, and training. Establish strong collaborations with other teams/departments at WHO and other partner agencies to cover the various aspects of the public health response to outbreaks .
6. Support and advise WHO Country Offices on the development and implementation of strategic plans to establish and strengthen national response to outbreaks from high threat pathogens.
7. Provide technical support for establishing appropriate surveillance system for early detection, containment and response to emerging and other high threat pathogens; Develop plans to improve/enhance surveillance capacities for event detection, verification and response.
8. Provide support to the countries for development and implementation of appropriate policies and programmes for prevention and control of influenza and other emerging diseases including those from high threat pathogens.
9. Assist the countries to develop public health preparedness plans for high threat pathogens including for Pandemic Human Influenza.
10. Act as the technical lead in the incident management structure and establish strong collaborations with other teams/departments at WHO and other partner agencies to cover the various aspects of the public health response to outbreaks of high threat pathogens.
11. Perform other related duties including replacing and backstopping as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in medicine or other science related field, with masters degree in public health. Desirable: Training on epidemiological surveillance and response/outbreak investigation/field epidemiology

Experience

Essential: At least 7years of experience, including international exposure, working on the control and prevention of infectious diseases . Proven experience in managing finances, budgets and staff and clear proof of responsibility for management of work plan activities. Desirable: Proven primary responsibility for managing cross-cutting initiatives involving different departments or organizational entities in a multinational context such as the UN, WHO or similar.

Skills

• Knowledge on epidemiology of infectious diseases.
• Proven understanding of the management of early warning surveillance system including acute and urgent public health responses, including infectious disease outbreaks.
• Experience in outbreak investigation and management
• Proven experience in management (finances, budgets and staff) and clear proof of responsibility for management of work plan activities.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in building sustained partnerships and working with others in international settings.
• Capacity to work on cross-sectoral projects.

WHO Competencies

WHO global Competencies model at http://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=1

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
6. Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: 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 77,326 (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 1791 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.

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

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

The 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 can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to:

reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• 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 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.

• 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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