Unit Head, Newborn Health (NBH/MCA)

Contract

This is a P-6 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 10 years of experience, depending on education. More about P-6 contracts.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing supports a world where by 2030, every woman, newborn, child, adolescent and aging person in every setting realizes their rights to physical and mental health and well-being. This will be achieved by supporting WHO's General Programme of Work and universal health coverage for all. The department provides support to countries with a focus on high burden countries to ensure evidence-based policies and strategies are in place to achieve universal access to high quality health services for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and ageing (MNCAH&A), and increase coverage and quality of effective MNCAH&A interventions among pregnant women, newborns, children, adolescents, young adults and older people, and to create mechanisms to measure the impact of those strategies. This includes the identification of global research priorities for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, resource mobilisation, design and coordination of clinical and implementation public health research in areas where critical gaps exist in the global research portfolio.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Coordinates and provides senior technical leadership in establishing new approaches, evidence-based policies and strategies, surveillance, and capacity building initiatives for implementation across Regional and Country Office programmes in the respective area of work.
• Coordinates and provides senior technical leadership in priority areas of public health research - both clinical and implementation research - in all population groups in the Department. Research should aim to inform evidence-based guidelines, policies and strategies relevant to Regional and Country Office programmes.
• Provides senior level health technical expertise and advice to the Director and Senior Management in the area of Newborn Health on the development and establishment of new health strategies and policies for implementation and/or the monitoring and evaluation of national and global policies. Also, to advise the Director and Senior Management in the area of public health research- both clinical and implementation research - across the life course.
• Ensures effective coordination, management, and accountability of the programme area and departmental public health research activities through efficient management of a diverse team of technical experts, financial resources and effective work plan coordination to optimize the programme's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.
• Ensures the coordination and management of the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the Department's area of work of key performance indicators and global reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize performance of Department deliverables.
• Serves as the scientific/technical reference among UN Agencies and the peer community on Newborn Health and public health research.
• Builds technical partnerships with other UN Agencies, Donors, research institutions and other stakeholders in Newborn Health to position the technical area of work and implementation into respective policies.
• Represents the programme area of work in global fora and capacity building activities.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties

As the Lead on research, the incumbent will coordinate and support research activities in all population groups namely, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health teams and Ageing in the Department and contribute to the Organization's research activities. This will include development of new research ideas in areas where there is a gap in global evidence and also mobilize resources to implement them. As Research lead, the incumbent will also be available to provide guidance on guideline development to all MCA teams. Leads the cross-cutting thematic team on research and guideline development across the life-course, identifying key opportunities and fundraising for public health research across the life course. Works closely with the Director on the STAGE, in particular the Evidence for Impact Working Group.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• A degree in medicine from a recognized university with an advanced degree (master's level or above, plus certified professional specialization) in newborn health or child health or nutrition, public health, or another area related to the functions of the position.

Desirable:

• A Ph.D. in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the field of newborn or child health, including linkages to maternal health, especially in low or low-middle-income settings, including experience providing senior-level advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision/Policymakers, managing human and financial resources, as well as experience in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies.
• At least 10 years of professional experience conducting high quality public health research - clinical or implementation research - in maternal, newborn, child or adolescent health.
• Proven ability to mobilize resources, design and lead implementation of public health research in low resource settings.
• At least 10 years' experience in coordination of randomized control trials or implementation research in low or low-middle-income settings.
• Demonstrated experience at the international level.
• At least 50 relevant peer-reviewed publications of which at least 25 publications should reflect primary research.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with WHO HQ, Regional and Country Offices and with other UN bodies and NGOs in areas related to newborn health.
• Management of programme teams.

Skills

• Strong skills in the areas of prioritizing, developing and establishing policies and strategies.
• Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse, multi-disciplinary teams and financial resources.
• Strong understanding and skills in mobilizing resources.
• Ability to engage, build consensus and communicate effectively and diplomatically with Member States, partners, and media.
• Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area.
• Globally-respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in Newborn and Child Health.
• Globally-respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in public health research.
• Proven leadership skills in the planning, coordination and implementation of priority public health programmes and research.
• Experience in global guideline development using the GRADE process If required, to be added by the technical unit.
• Demonstrated skills in public health research, including resource mobilization, designing, implementing, leading a multi-disciplinary team, and monitoring large-scale randomised controlled trials, implementation scale-up research and programmes in at least one of maternal, newborn, child or adolescent health.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Driving the Organization's Position in Health Leadership
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Other WHO language.

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 103,660 (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 7187 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.