Technical Officer -Malaria & Other Vector Borne & Parasitic Diseases (MVP), P-4, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Overview

Provide technical support for malaria elimination and vector control in Vanuatu.

You have:

• University degree in science with postgraduate degree in public health, tropical medicine, medical parasitology or epidemiology.
• Minimum of seven years’ experience in vectorborne disease control, including three years of malaria control at international level.
• Fluency in English (reading, writing, and speaking).
• Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN languages.
• Skills in clinical management, disease surveillance, health situation analysis, strategic thinking, and supply management.
• Ability to travel and work in remote field conditions.
• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team and adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds.

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 132,270 USD and 170,535 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 achieve the control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases throughout the Western Pacific Region by targeting the reduction of morbidity and mortality of such conditions and diseases. The Division supports integrated people-centred care approaches by strengthening primary health care services for prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment of target diseases and conditions along the life-course, while ensuring to reach the unreached and achieving universal health coverage.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Team Coordinator, ICD, and guidance of the Director, Programmes for Disease Under the direct supervision of the Country Liaison Officer, and the general supervision of WR South Pacific /Director Pacific Technical Support (DPS), and South Pacific Neglected, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

1. As part of the support team, provides technical support to the Vanuatu National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) in in all aspects of the intensified implementation of the programme at both WHO Country Office in Vanuatu and Regional Office Pacific island countries level, especially for vector control including scaling up and maintaining insecticide-treated net coverage, vector and insecticide resistance surveillance and integrated vector control management, human resources capacity development, programme planning and monitoring, operational research;
2. Supports and monitors parasite-based diagnostic services in all health services using microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), including supporting a quality assurance system for both; and supporting use and adhering to the malaria treatment guidelines, and monitoring diagnosis and treatment practices from hospital to community level;
3. Supports scaling up and maintaining insecticide-treated net coverage, vector and insecticide-resistance surveillance and integrated vector control management, human resources capacity development, programme planning and monitoring, operational research (including neglected tropical diseases) across the Division of Technical Support, Pacific island countries;
4. Coordinates and technically supports malaria elimination planning, development, guidelines and field operations in the pilot provinces, including use of indoor residual spraying in target areas, community mobilization, regular aggressive cases detection and treatment, programme monitoring and surveillance and gathering evidence to fill knowledge gaps regarding an appropriate elimination strategy;
5. Provides technical support to strengthening the management of medical supplies including forecasting and supply chain and stock management to minimize stock outs of essential medicines and associated treatment consumables;
6. Strengthens health facility reporting, monitoring and data analysis, and supports malaria surveillance and stratification to guide intensified malaria control and elimination interventions, supports routine active case detection in pilot areas;
7. Acts as a regional focal point to support Pacific island countries and areas (PICs) to build capacity for best practice vector surveillance and control of vectorborne diseases, including formulation of strategies and workplans for vector surveillance and control, and supporting the use of vector surveillance and control data for decision-making.
8. Coordinates stocking and maintenance of the emergency stockpile of vector surveillance and control equipment and supplies at the WHO facility in Suva, Fiji, and coordinates provision of stock to PlCs upon request.
9. Supports the establishment and coordination of the Pacific Network for Vector Control Response, including planning and facilitating activities for information and experience sharing and disseminating best practices among vector control officers in the Pacific.
10. Cooperates with donors, research institutions, nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders in controlling and eliminating malaria and other vectorborne diseases in the Region, and supports the Government of Vanuatu in partner coordination in order to harmonize technical assistance and programme implementation and to strengthen the national programme as well as the general health services;
11. Collaborates with the Government of Vanuatu and provides advice and technical support to national counterparts at various levels as required in all aspects of programme planning, organization, implementation, scale-up and evaluation of activities for the control or elimination of other vectorborne and parasitic diseases;
12. Provides technical assistance in implementing surveillance and control for all diseases and public health important events according to the revised International Health Regulations 2005 and the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Infectious Diseases, including for arboviral disease outbreaks in Pacific Island Countries.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in science with postgraduate degree in public health, tropical medicine, medical parasitology or epidemiology. Desirable: Postgraduate degree or training in entomology, epidemiology or programme monitoring and evaluation.

Experience

Essential: Minimum of seven years’ experience in vectorborne disease control activities including three years of malaria control at international level. Documented clinical research experience. Experience in project planning, management, monitoring and evaluation at international level. Desirable: Experience in health system development and operational research; previous experience with Global Fund is an advantage. Working experience in developing countries.

Skills

• Fluency in English (reading, writing, and speaking)
• Skills in clinical management, disease surveillance, health situation analysis, strategic thinking, supply management, programme management and evaluation, clinical and operational research and in promoting national capabilities at all levels
• Ability to travel and work in remote field conditions
• 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

WHO Competencies

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

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Written and spoken fluency in English. Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN languages.

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 75,602 (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 3131 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.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• 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 for WHO jobs.
• 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 [email protected]

Potential interview questions