Technical Officer (Laboratory)

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 74,649 USD and 97,747 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 enhance the capacity of public health laboratories, health facilities' laboratories, and blood transfusion services.To ensure that effective WHO country presence is established to implement WHO country cooperation strategies that are aligned with Member State's health development agendas and emergency/resilience programmes and harmonized with the United Nations country teams.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform the following duties:1. Prepare and provide training courses for public health and health facilities laboratories' national workforce and other internal and external partners on:- Detection and laboratory diagnosis of communicable diseases- Proper specimen collection, packaging, transportation and shipment using standard bio-safety and bio-security measures.2. Provide technical advice in the development of Standard Operating Procedures SOP and guidelines for use in central public health laboratory and blood transfusion center in addition to SOPs for specimen collection, packaging and shipment.3. Advise on information, education and communication materials for advocacy purposes on PHLs and health facilities laboratories critical role in the early detection and verification of pathogens and communicable diseases in addition to IEC materials on blood banks and transfusion.4. Monitor and analyze the laboratory results for communicable diseases especially epidemic-prone diseases along with water testing data and advise on effective control measures.5. Contribute effectively to the development of logistics and procurement plans for establishing new Public Health Laboratories (PHLs) and Blood Transfusion Centers and identify what is required to upgrade the existing PHLs and blood banks across the country to ensure laboratories' effective role in detection and monitoring of communicable diseases threats.6. Develop national supervisory and monitoring systems to ensure proper implementation of laboratory activities7. Conduct regular field visits to assess and evaluate the performance of public health laboratories and identify critical areas to strengthen the laboratories' capacity for detection a diagnosis of common and epidemic pathogens.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in health sciences, laboratory sciences or relevant areas. Desirable: Postgraduate degree or training in microbiology and molecular biology.

Experience

Essential: At least five years' experience in planning, managing and implementing laboratory investigations including experience at national level. Prior experience in planning and conducting training activities. Desirable: Experience working in medical laboratory practice in clinical or research facility or on public health laboratory functions, planning implementation and monitoring of activities at a national level work plan such as an annual national laboratory work plan.

Skills

• Broad knowledge of principles, practices, methodology and techniques in public health, clinical laboratory, surveillance, communicable disease control, International Health Regulations (IHR) including teaching and advisory techniques at the international level.- Relevant skills and work experiences on laboratory testing, laboratory training, clinical laboratory management- Ability to interact with and to advise Government and Ministry of Health counterparts on policy and technical areas related to communicable disease control and to develop effective working relationships with senior decision-makers and in a variety of settings and cultures.- Have ability to quickly acquire, a thorough working knowledge of essential WHO procedures, policies and rules and regulations that support WHO's presence in countries.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Ensuring the effective use of resources Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of Arabic. The above language requirements are interchangeable.

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 62,120 (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 1253 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.