Medical Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.  The Department of Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) supports countries in prevention and control of high threat diseases of pandemic & epidemic potential through forecasting, characterization of diseases /infectious risks and development of evidence-based strategies to manage infectious hazards.  The Unit of High Threat Pathogens (PAT) develops strategies, guidance, global mechanisms and interventions to address high threat pathogens responsible for epidemics or pandemics thereby reducing their impact on affected populations and limiting their international spread. This group deals with known high threat pathogens such as influenza, Ebola and other viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF), Zika, Chikungunya, cholera, yellow fever, coronaviruses like the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), meningitis and plague.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities\:

1. Serve as the lead of WHO's Zika Task Force and coordinate the work of the secretariat for all aspects of control of Zika virus disease, including engagement with internal and external partners to ensure alignment and harmonization of clearly planned activities.

2. Provide technical leadership and authoritative expert advice on WHO's overall technical work on Zika developing a global, evidence-based, comprehensive strategic and operational framework, guidance and establishment of a prioritized and programmatically-relevant research agenda.

3. Lead the technical aspects of resource mobilization activities, coordination of inputs from various WHO departments in line with the Zika global strategic framework and advocate with stakeholders and partners.

4. Establish coordination mechanisms, partnerships and networks to facilitate knowledge-generation and -sharing on all aspects of the virus, the disease, control measures to mitigate the public health impact through identification and prioritization of gaps in knowledge. Develop, implement and monitor progress on plan of activities through relevant WHO departments.

5. Collaboratively monitor the risk of Zika and creation of new knowledge, ensure quality of information received from all related fields (maternal and child health, reproductive health, mental health, vector control, immunizations etc.) and inform timely senior management to ensure that the Organization is proactively prepared for any the situation.

6. Take a lead role in the collaboration with the transfer of knowledge team to develop user-friendly materials for risk communication and training. Establish strong collaborations with other teams/departments at WHO and other partner agencies to cover the various aspects of the public health response to outbreaks.

7. Provide high-level technical support and advice to WHO Regional and Country Offices on the development and implementation of strategic plans to establish and strengthen regional and national control, prevention and response measure for outbreaks of Zika and its consequences.

8. Act as the technical lead in the incident management structure and establish strong collaborations with other teams/departments at WHO and other partner agencies to cover the various aspects of the public health response to outbreaks of Zika.

9. Welcome opportunities to support multi-disciplinary, cross-cutting approaches to work and facilitate participation in such approaches.

10. Perform other related duties including replacing and backstopping as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Advanced level university degree in medicine with emphasis on infectious diseases or maternal and child health or epidemiology
Desirable\: Post graduate training in epidemiology, microbiology or infectious diseases.

Experience

Essential\: At least 10 years of experience combined working on infectious diseases epidemiology and public health programs for the control and prevention of infectious diseases including on epidemic diseases, some of which should be at a regional or international level. Proven experience in developing study and research protocols for public health projects related to infectious diseases.
Desirable\: Experience in field research in developing countries Experience in epidemic diseases and/or inpandemic diseases. Proven primary responsibility for managing cross-cutting initiatives involvingdifferent departments or organizational entities in a multinational context such as the UN, WHO orsimilar. Proven primary responsibility in developing strategies in prevention and control ofinfectious diseases or public health programs requiring multidisciplinary approaches.

Skills

Four competencies are considered to be mandatory for all WHO staff with managerial responsibilities\: “Teamwork”, “Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences”, “Communication” and “Creating an empowering and motivating environment”.

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of global infectious disease epidemiology and risk assessment , in particular epidemic and pandemic diseases.
• Proven understanding of the management of acute and urgent public health responses, including infectious disease outbreaks.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in building sustained partnerships and working with others in international settings.
• Capacity to work on cross-sectoral projects.
  

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of French.

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 84,721 (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 6340 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.

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

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• 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.