Health Specialist (Pneumonia & Diarrhea), P3, Temporary Appointment (until Dec 31, 2017 - with strong possibility of extension),Outposted to New York, USA

The Health Specialist (Pneumonia & Diarrhea) applies specialized programme knowledge, and in collaboration with counterparts in UNICEF field offices and Supply and Programme Divisions, manages and drives the scaling of pneumonia interventions with the goal to make impact for children across integrated community care management (iCCM) and integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) programmes.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT:

Reporting to Copenhagen's Supply Division but out-posted to Programme Division (PD), New York, and under the general guidance of the Innovation Manager (Health) with oversight from IMCI Specialist  Child Health Unit of PD’s Health Section, the Health Specialist (Pneumonia & Diarrhea) applies specialized programme knowledge, and in collaboration with counterparts in UNICEF field offices and Supply and Programme Divisions, manages and drives the scaling of pneumonia interventions with the goal to make impact for children across integrated community care management (iCCM) and integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) programmes.

Concretely, the post is split in two main focus areas:

• Innovations for pneumonia (70%), most importantly the Acute Respiratory Infection Aid project (ARIDA)
• Pneumonia and diarrhea programme technical assistance (30%)

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

Lead evidence development for field trialing, implementation and scale up of innovations within pneumonia

1. Provide relevant programmatic input into product innovation projects (PIP) (including diagnostics, diagnostic aids, pulse oximetry, amoxicillin DT, Oxygen etc.) such as cost to implement, training needs, funding gaps, health impact (e.g. DALYs), relevant treatment guidelines and policy, and cost effectiveness for planning and reporting.
2. Reporting progress on pneumonia-related deaths of children under five and quality of pneumonia care improvement for children in low-resource settings due to such interventions.
3. Drive and/or support creation and publication of relevant publications on results.

Technical assistance to country offices on implementation and scaling

1. Ensure ARIDA field trial and scaling design is consistent with relevant programming, guidelines and policy. 
2. Support country-level scale planning of pneumonia interventions, with focus on PIPs (including diagnostics, diagnostic aids, pulse oximetry, amoxicillin DT, Oxygen etc.)

Advocacy and awareness

1. Raise awareness and communicate the evidence to normative bodies and countries to revise policy and transition to improved products, such as ARIDA devices if appropriate and the recommended transition from first line to Amoxicillin dispersible tablets.
2. Lead global advocacy campaigns for pneumonia, such as Every Breath Counts.
3. Utilise existing networks to promote and advocate for implementation and scale up of pneumonia interventions.
4. Communicate pneumonia funding gaps, and opportunities for collaboration to thought leaders, foundations, and partners to support programmatic activities.

Technical assistance

1. Provide programmatic technical assistance to UNICEF Country Offices, Regional Offices and local ministries in their pneumonia and diarrhea programmes.
2. Identify bottlenecks and programmatic challenges related to pneumonia and diarrhea that may be lead to new PIPs.

Ensure strong connection between UNICEF Programme Division and SD’s Innovation Unit, Medicine and Nutrition Centre, Health Technology Centre, and the community within health globally, with particular focus on regional and country offices.

Any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor.

DECISION-MAKING AND IMPACT/KEY RESULTS:

1. Lead strategic efforts within field trialing, implementation and scale up of relevant pneumonia innovations.
2. Timely technical contributions to introduction of new and/or innovative solutions to complement programmes, including communication, monitoring and evaluation, and review of fit for purpose-ness.
3. Identification of new, innovation projects that are driven by programmatic need with focus on pneumonia, and define which have the potential to deliver most ‘impact for money’. 
4. Evidence created to support advocacy and campaigns to promote pneumonia intervention adoption and scale up.
5. New innovative products and technologies successfully integrated into UNICEF Health programmes.
6. Awareness of pneumonia and diarrhea increased, and funding gaps closed, thus improving impact on UNICEF’s programs and thus children’s lives.
7. Effective communication and networking achieved through partnership and collaboration with relevant stake holders (WHO, USAID, BMGF etc.)

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

Education:

A completed advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in public health or related technical field is required.

Work Experience:

Minimum five (5) years of relevant professional experience working in an area related to public health, international health or development programs is required.

Experience in diagnosis and management of pneumonia is required.  

Strong and demonstrated analytical skills are required.

Experience working within a complicated network of stakeholders is an asset.

Having an existing network within the pneumonia space a strong asset.

Experience working with international humanitarian organizations (UN, NGO and in field locations) is considered an asset.

Knowledge and experience with the primary work areas for this post, specifically pneumonia; treatment of childhood pneumonia in Africa and South Asia, would be an asset.

Languages:

Proficiency in English is required.

Knowledge of another UN language is an asset. 

Competency Profile:

1)   Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

2)  Core Competencies

• Communication (II)
• Working with People (II)
• Drive for Results (II)

 3)  Key Functional Competencies

• Planning and Organising (II)
• Relating and Networking (III)
• Applying Technical Expertise (II)
• Analysing (I)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. To view our competency framework, please click here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.