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 haemorrhagic 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. Lead and coordinate a team in charge of the meningitis programme. Define team objectives, strategies and priorities; apply effective strategies and policies to strengthen surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems.

2. Establish close relationships with Regional Offices (AFRO and EMRO) to develop joint work plans, monitoring systems and performance indicators and provide high level technical and policy advice to Member states on these issues.

3. Develop and implement a global strategy endorsed by major partners and development agencies addressing the epidemiologic transition in meningitis outbreaks.

4. Establish effective collaboration with other teams in IHM and other groups inside and outside WHO in the management and governance of the meningitis global stockpiles.

5. Provide crucial technical expertise to risk assessment, field investigation and outbreak response.

6. Lead research activities and develop tools, guidance and standards through network of expertise on meningitis prevention and control with a focus on outbreak preparedness and response.

7. Link with other groups within and beyond WHO to ensure that the most efficient techniques are used for the detection and characterization of dangerous pathogens in public health emergencies including the development of rapid diagnostic tools.

8. Plan, manage and monitor the activities of the team so that activities reflect the administrative and budgetary standards, guidelines, priorities and directions, coordinate the work of the team and its interaction with other teams so that the work is technically excellent, effectively and efficiently conducted, and completed to a high standard.

9. Provide leadership and guidance to staff and ensure appropriate performance management and empower and motivate staff to use and support multi-disciplinary, cross-cutting approaches to work where beneficial for accomplishing goals. Oversee the development and continuous adaptation of strategies, encouraging information-sharing on lessons learnt in a proactive manner, facilitating the implementation of best practices, collaborating to the development of work plans and budgets.

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

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Advanced level university degree in medicine with postgraduate degree in epidemiology or in communicable diseases.
Desirable\: Advanced degree in infectious diseases.

Experience

Essential\: Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in infectious diseasecontrol and prevention both at national and international levels and at least five of the 10 years with WHO or at an international level. At least 3 years working onepidemic meningitis prevention and controlat national or international level.
Desirable\: Proven primary responsibility for managing cross-cutting initiatives involving different departments or organizational entities in a multinational context such as the UN, WHO or similar.

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”.

• Expertise and sound knowledge of surveillance and response activities of handling outbreaks in multidisciplinary and international environment, complemented with a sound knowledge of infectious diseases epidemiology and surveillance with emphasis on Meningitis in particular.
• Experience in networking with other experts and scientist to develop new tools and guidance for improved processes on meningitis prevention and control.
• Proven experience in programme management including planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in building sustained partnerships and working with others in international settings.
  

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English. Intermediate knowledge of French.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of WHO language.
The above language requirements are interchangeable.

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 6022 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.