Technical Officer (Laboratory Specialist)

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 163,655 USD and 210,999 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 help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.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 experts network to detect, understand and manage new of emerging high threat infectious hazards as well as providing support for the implementation of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework. The High Threat Pathogens (PAT) team develops strategies, guidance, global mechanisms and interventions to address high threat pathogens response for epidemics or pandemics thereby reducing their impact on affected populations and limiting their international spread. This team deals with known high threat pathogens such as influenza, SARS-CoV2 and other emerging respiratory infections as well as the implementation of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework. Work in the area of laboratory preparedness and response occurs in close collaboration and coordination with the Better Labs for Better Health initiative.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Provide technical assistance and expertise on influenza, SARS-CoV2 and other emerging respiratory pathogens' laboratory surveillance and laboratory quality management, including during outbreaks.Specific duties of the incumbent are to:

1) Provide laboratory related technical support in response to outbreaks and emergencies due to seasonal, avian and pandemic influenza, SARS-CoV2 or other emerging respiratory pathogens;

2) Advise Member States and provide technical guidance, training and external quality assessment programs and organize expert meetings and working groups to maintain and strengthen the capacities of National Influenza Centres (NIC) and national reference laboratories for SARS-CoV2;

3) Provide technical expertise into the virological component of the Flu News Europe/COVID-19 bulletin, and ensure that the Flu News Europe platform is a central repository for virological data on influenza and SARS-CoV2;

4) Develop guidance for the laboratory surveillance of respiratory infections including the introduction of new technologies, and optimization of national laboratory networks for influenza and COVID-19 surveillance, including pandemic plans for virological surveillance;

5) Provide input to the WHO/Europe Laboratory Task Force for High Threat Pathogens in implementing strategic tools for targeted capacity building related to emerging respiratory pathogens;

6) Organize and participate in meetings and conferences to share and disseminate best practices, guidance and tools in order to promote their adaptation and implementation at global, regional or country-level;

7) Develop materials for advocacy, visibility and briefings for regional and global governing bodies, content for websites and other communication tools (leaflets, presentations, peer-reviewed articles etc);

8) Participate in activities with donors and partners and develop proposals for resource mobilization;

9) Represent WHO/Europe in global WHO initiatives and WHO working groups;

10) Perform other related duties as required by the supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree in medicine, microbiology or laboratory science Desirable: Training in laboratory quality; training in biosafety; training in bioinformatics; training in epidemiology and/or public health.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years' of national and international laboratory experience with high threat pathogens. Desirable: Two years' experience in the area of influenza and/or COVID-19 virological surveillance.

Skills

Demonstrated knowledge of emerging respiratory pathogens, public health laboratory systems, laboratory quality and biosafety. Data analysis skills. Bioinformatics skills. Teaching skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Knowing and managing yourself Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of russian.

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 74,913 (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 4208 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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

• 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.