Scientist (Food Systems - Nutrition and Food Safety)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS) Department is addressing the burden of disease from physical, chemical and microbial hazards in food, unhealthy diets, maternal and child malnutrition, overweight and obesity. The Department aims to ensure universal access to safe, sufficient nutritious food and effective nutrition actions, through setting science-based international food standards, promoting nutrition action in health systems, fostering sustainable food production and consumption, improving food environments and empowering consumers in all situations, monitoring nutrition status, and managing food safety events at the international level, closely working with Member States, UN partner agencies and non-State actors. The multisectoral Actions in Food Systems (AFS) Unit develops implementation tools to strengthen food systems; support multisectoral policies to improve the safety, nutritional quality and sustainability of food; engages with stakeholders in the food chain; and monitors policy implementation. AFS provides support to WHO's Member States to reduce the burden of diseases caused by unsafe food, unhealthy diets, and malnutrition in close collaboration with UN partner agencies, and other international organizations and stakeholders.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Develop guidance and global implementation tools to promote, adopt, adapt, implement and monitor national intersectoral policies, plans and programs for healthier and sustainable food environments across sectors and in different settings (e.g. schools, sports, workplace, urban planning), as part of a comprehensive food systems` approach.
• In collaboration with the relevant regional advisors, provide technical support to Member States for the scoping, deliberation and inclusion of food systems policies in national policies and plans.
• Working with the relevant regional advisors, support countries in their efforts to build their capacities to enact, implement, monitor and enforce policies to increase fruits and vegetables consumption, eliminate industrially produced trans fatty acids, reduce the intake of salt/sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats.
• Support, in collaboration with relevant NFS units, the development of thematic global reports on progress towards the achievement of diet-related NCD targets.
• Coordinate, in collaboration with other NFS units, the development of global road maps and investment cases to accelerate the global, regional and national level implementation of policies and actions for healthier food environments so as to achieve diet-related global targets, particularly: a 30% relative reduction in mean population intake of salt/sodium, halting the rise in diabetes and obesity.
• Build alliances and networks and strengthen coordination mechanisms among technical entities, United Nations agencies, NGOs and other internal/external partners in support of this area of work.
• Support the mobilization of financial resources to improve food environments at the different levels of the organization.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned by the supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• Advanced level university degree in Public Health, Nutrition or Food Sciences.

Desirable:

• Additional training in behavior change, health economics or obesity management in public health.
• PhD in health or economics is desirable.

Experience

Essential:

• At least seven years of experience in providing public health technical advice on interventions to make food environments healthier, covering the entire programmatic cycle of which 2 years of relevant experience must be at international level.
• Documented experience in coordinating the development of advocacy and implementation tools/strategies for multisectoral programmes aimed at preventing obesity and diet-related NCD at the national or subnational levels.

Skills

• Expert knowledge of public health nutrition, particularly on the use of food-based and regulatory approaches to prevent the double burden of malnutrition in populations.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver projects involving multiple partners, provide technical advice to countries.
• Ability to function effectively in a team setting in a cross-cultural environment.
• Good knowledge of the operations of WHO and understanding of the principal stakeholders as well as an understanding of the UN system.
• Excellent organizational and analytical and writing skills complemented by good interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Excellent work ethics

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:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of French.
• Intermediate knowledge of any other official 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 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 5780 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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.
• 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.
• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email toreasonableaccommodation@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 theWHO 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.
• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly atshws@who.int.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit:http://www.who.int.
• 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 this link for detailed guidance on completing job applications:Instructions for candidates