Technical Officer – (Water & Sanitation)

Overview

Coordinate and provide technical assistance in WASH and health.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in environmental science or engineering, public health, epidemiology or other relevant recognized health and natural sciences related degree.
• At least seven years of combined national and international work experience in water, sanitation, hygiene and health, and/or in environment and health.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in the scientific and policy aspects of water, sanitation, hygiene and health, including country and local level implementation.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of French, Russian, or German.

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 124,083 USD and 159,979 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 Division of Country Health Programmes (CHP) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases and address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health through stewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. It focuses on health promotion measures; communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases; elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocacy for increased use of vaccines; containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance; addressing existing and emerging environmental health risks and supporting violence and injury prevention. A determination to ensure universal access to people-centred quality health services across the continuum of care is matched by enriching the evidence base for policy design and interventions using social, cultural and behavioral approaches, to drive implementation of innovation at national, regional and local levels.

The WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH)in Bonn provides technical and scientific expertise on the impacts of environment on health. It delivers to countries policy advice, tools to inform and support decision-making in the areas of air quality, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, minimizing the adverse effects of chemicals, adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, environmental sustainability of health systems, urban health planning, including transport and mobility work, as well as violence and road traffic injury prevention. It will work with all units to develop collaborative initiatives addressing environment-related diseases. The Centre strengthens country capacities to address environment and health challenges through development and delivery of a range of training courses on environment and health, including on health impact assessment.

The Programme on Water and Climate (WAC) addresses the health-related aspects of water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and climate change adaptation. WAC provides the secretariat function to the Protocol on Water and Health, jointly with UNECE. It also provides the secretariat for the Working Group on Health in Climate Change (HIC), a working group established by the European Environment and Health Task Force, to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among Member States in the WHO European Region to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change. WAC works with Member States to support the development of climate change health adaptation plans, and to develop and improve WASH regulations, management and surveillance approaches, as well as management of outbreaks of water-related disease. The programme supports the regional implementation of the World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions in relation to WASH, and the achievement of WASH-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also supports regional rollout of WHO-led global monitoring instruments to track progress in attaining SDG 6.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To provide coordination and technical assistance at the multi-country, national and local levels in the area of water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and health through promoting health sector leadership, multistakeholder coordination and advancing implementation of the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health; to support Member States in the WHO European Region in the development and implementation of health-protective water and sanitation policies and regulations, in strengthening WASH-related public health surveillance systems and in monitoring global and regional commitments and national targets to ensure safely managed drinking-water and sanitation services for all, underpinned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Under the supervision and guidance from Programme Manager WAC, the incumbent will assume the following responsibilities and achieve the following objectives:

1. Coordinate, in close liaison with UNECE and Parties to the Protocol, the preparation and organization of meetings of the governing bodies of the Protocol on Water and Health, such as the Meeting of the Parties, the Bureau and the Working Group on Water and Health, including the development of agendas, preparation of meeting documents and drafting of meeting reports;
2. Coordinate the development and implementation of the Protocol's programmes of work and facilitate and support the implementation of WHO-led thematic activities, especially on prevention and reduction of water-related diseases, institutional WASH, small-scale water supply and sanitation, safe and efficient management of water supply and sanitation systems, and climate-resilience of water supply and sanitation;
3. Support on health sector functions of Member States in ensuring the provision of safe drinking-water and sanitation services by providing evidence-based advice on the development and implementation of national policies, regulations and standards in accordance with the key recommendations of the WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality and WHO Guidelines for sanitation and health;
4. Support the uptake of the water safety plan (WSP) approach and of sanitary inspections in Member States by guiding the establishment of national regulations/guidelines and development of practical tools, coordinating and delivering in-country trainings and facilitating implementation of demonstration projects;
5. Coordinate the collation of evidence and good practices in regulations, risk-based management and surveillance of drinking-water supply in the WHO European Region, convene associated expert meetings, develop technical documents, and organize in-country and sub-regional capacity building;
6. Facilitate the collation of evidence related to the climate-resilience of drinking-water supply and sanitation systems, develop associated technical documents and tools, and support Member States' action in this area;
7. Provide technical support to Member States in setting up and improving effective systems for surveillance of water quality and water-related diseases, including for outbreak management, and organize in-country and sub-regional capacity building;
8. Coordinate the collation and dissemination of available evidence and good practices in water-related disease surveillance and outbreak management in the WHO European Region, convene associated expert meetings and develop technical documents;
9. Provide technical support and advice in the response to, and investigation of, drinking-water quality incidents and waterborne outbreaks, as well as in health emergencies, including natural disasters and conflicts;
10. Lead the regional rollout of WHO-led global monitoring instruments for SDG 6, such as the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) in households, health-care facilities and schools, and the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS), develop/update regional situation overviews on WASH and identify priority policy interventions;
11. Support the Organization's work on environmental surveillance of wastewater for multiple pathogens and other disease agents by contributing to the development of technical resources and tools, and national and sub-regional capacity building events;
12. Promote and support inter-programme coordination in integrating WASH considerations with other health programmes, including with disease surveillance, neglected tropical disease, noncommunicable disease, antimicrobial resistance, primary health care and emergencies programmes;
13. Coordinate the work with WHO collaborating entrées in the area of WASH and health, and initiate and maintain collaboration with relevant external partners;
14. Undertake related duties as required, including but not limited to, representing WHO at technical meetings related to the above tasks, act for other WHO staff members when necessary to facilitate continuity of work.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in environmental science or engineering, public health, epidemiology or other relevant recognized health and natural sciences related degree.

Desirable: Additional university degree (Master's level or above) with specialization in water, sanitation and/or hygiene and health.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years of combined national and international work experience in water, sanitation, hygiene and health, and/or in environment and health. Experience with analysis, development and implementation of policy and regulatory documents in the area of water, sanitation, hygiene and health and/or environmental health. Demonstrated experience with organizing technical expert meetings, drafting of technical documents, and communications and advocacy.

Desirable: Relevant work experience in environmental health within WHO and/or the UN system. Experience working with multilateral environmental agreements.

Skills

Demonstrated technical expertise in the scientific and policy aspects of water, sanitation, hygiene and health, including country and local level implementation; Demonstrated knowledge of WHO policies and guidelines in environment and health, specifically in the area of water, sanitation, hygiene and health, including relevant WHA and RC resolutions, regional platforms and multilateral environmental agreements; Demonstrated ability to work with internal and external partners in an effective and competent manner and with due regard for cultural diversity; Recognized skills in setting priorities, in communication, and in designing, developing, implementing and coordinating/managing projects; Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge and expertise transparently, providing guidance, coaching and advice on technical areas; Proficiency in the use of standard office software and databases; Emotional intelligence, the ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French ,Russian, German.

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 2423 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.

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