Technical Officer, Regional Yellow Fever Laboratory Officer

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 139,912 USD and 180,387 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 Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal health coverage/Communicable and Non-communicable diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO African region. The strategic agenda of the cluster is to reduce disease burden in the WHO African Region, by guiding disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control. This approach is underpinned by the guiding principles of comprehensive whole of society, people centered, integrated approaches to disease control. The comprehensive whole of society approaches to disease control involves: (a) coherent implementation of triple response – technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting intervention mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systems response: building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors, communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public and private sectors, health and non-health sectors; and (c) community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health services demand creation and accountability by local health stewards. The people centered, integrated approaches to disease control involves: (a) integrated guidance on disease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms through deployment of appropriate technologies and analytics to guide stratification of diseases risks across population groups, development and deployment of comprehensive packages of interventions appropriate for each population group and for each health service delivery platform, and monitoring population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the overall guidance of VPD Team Lead, and direct supervision of VPD IST Central Africa team Lead, within the scope defined by the global and regional immunization agenda 2030, the incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:

· Provide technical expertise with respect to Yellow Fever diagnostics and develop guidance to member states to enhance YF laboratory capacity and capability in conformity and integrated to the national laboratory strategic plan and national disease surveillance system (IDSR).

· Facilitate the development, update of WHO guidelines, procedures, and tools for accurately, safely, and timely detection, confirmation, and further characterization of yellow fever.

· Support countries in the implementation of guidelines, procedures, and tools for laboratory diagnosis of yellow fever.

· Guide on decentralization processes using recognized testing strategy and based on national laboratory networks and health systems for expanding country capacity to confirm yellow fever.

· Coordinate the African Regional Laboratory Network for Yellow Fever as part of the Eliminating Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy.

· Provide technical support to the national laboratories of the countries (YFLN) involved in yellow fever surveillance using standard operating procedures

· Coordinate an annual WHO YFLN accreditation program of laboratories, including onsite laboratory assessment reviews as well as annual desk reviews and provide recommendations to the laboratories for corrective action to ensure WHO performance indicators including timeliness of testing and reporting are being met.

· Coordinate with WHE yellow fever team on laboratory support for YF outbreak detection and response.

· Provide regular technical support to countries on addressing all issues related to laboratory testing capacities for yellow fever

· Contribute to capacitating national staff on transportation of infectious substances, strengthen and join the national systems of sample transportation.

· Ensure network laboratories can meet the performance indicators set forward by WHO through the provision of essential supplies and reagents for the diagnosis of yellow fever.

· Oversee referral testing of Regional Reference Labs (RRLs) and collect laboratory diagnostic data from all network laboratories to ensure immediate availability of laboratory diagnostic.

· Support WHO logisticians in addressing specimen transportation bottlenecks, including national customs and specimen transportation regulations.

· Coordinate trainings on yellow fever and Emerging Dangerous Pathogens (EDP) diagnostic tests for regional and national laboratories and develop and disseminate laboratory protocols throughout the network.

· Oversee regional biobanking efforts for YF and join and support national biobanks.

· Promote implementation of biosafety and biosecurity including timely shipment of infectious substances

· Ensure corrective actions based on the findings from the WHO Regional External Assessment Programme in collaboration with WHO clusters, technical partners, and institutions.

· Contribute to the implementation of a quality management system (ISO 15189 standard) and the establishment and functionality of laboratory networks in all the countries of the African region.

· Contribute to capacity building of national reference laboratories for molecular typing and whole genome sequencing to inform public health responses.

· Contribute to capacity building / training of laboratory teams and possibly integrated training organized as a team with collaborating centers and other programs

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree in medicine or health-related sciences with post-graduate degree in virology or microbiology or other related-scientific disciplines.

Desirable: Post-graduate training in public health or epidemiology.

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of experience in the surveillance, laboratory diagnosis of yellow fever and other arboviral infections with a minimum of 3 years inclusive at the international level in low and/or middle-income countries

Desirable: Experience in overseeing implementation, review and updating existing strategies and guidelines and recommending new initiatives.

A track record of research, with publications at senior authorship level in academic journals.

Strong knowledge of mechanisms and standard operating procedures of VPDs Surveillance and immunization programmes will be an asset.

Skills

• Extensive experience in thought leadership, problem solving approaches, and use of the logical framework in health programme development
• Excellent organizational, technical, and analytical skills with the ability to multitask and resolve technical issues/problems as related to laboratory capacity in a proactive manner
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic and multisectoral planning; research; performance monitoring, as applied to programmes and reporting; extensive knowledge and skills in use of data and information for decision-making and strategic planning; track record of recognizing and addressing changing conditions
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to solve and explain technical issues and take part in training activities with tact and diplomacy
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner, and to present laboratory information evidenced by scientific publications, guidelines, SOPs, and technical reports.
• Working knowledge of WHO rules and procedures, mandates, strategies, and action plans (global, regional, and country-specific)
• Budgeting and financial management; partnership and resource mobilization; communication and people management
• Ability to exercise leadership and to work effectively with colleagues at national and international levels.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Producing results

Ensuring the effectiveness use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of French. Desirable: 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 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 3267 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.

• 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.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• 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 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.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• In case the website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates