Programme Area Manager, Infectious Hazard Management (IHM)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

(i) to improve health security across the WHO European Region by maintaining regional alert and response operations and assisting countries in building their capacity for surveillance systems, preparedness for, and response to all health emergencies, in line with the requirements of the International Health Regulations and specific country risks;(ii) to promote WHO's leadership in health emergencies and communicable disease prevention and control, including through relevant regional initiatives and specific research projects;(iii) to assist countries in the Region to design, establish and run effective health programmes that are able to tackle the burden of communicable diseases, particularly, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, especially M/XDR-TB, viral hepatitis, influenza, malaria, antimicrobial resistance and vaccine-preventable diseases through strengthened immunization programmes and to achieve/maintain regional elimination/eradication goals as for measles, rubella, malaria, and poliomyelitis;(iv) to ensure, within EURO, the availability of state-of-the-art competency to provide high level technical support to Member States of the Region, in collaboration with Headquarters and in close partnership with relevant institutions of the Region.Within the Division of Health Emergencies and Communicable Diseases, the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) aims to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks, and lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.The main objective of the Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) Programme Area is\:The Infectious Hazard Management Programme Area is responsible for establishing risk mitigation strategies and capacities for priority high-threat infectious hazards. This includes developing and supporting prevention and control strategies, tools and capacities for high-threat infectious hazards, establishing and maintaining experts networks to detect, understand and manage new or emerging high threat infectious hazards as well as providing secretariat support for the management of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Lead and manage the Infectious Hazard Management Programme Area of the Health Emergencies Programme, implementing operational strategic frameworks and monitoring the development and progress of operations, involving a diversity of stakeholders in situations requiring innovative approaches for establishing risk mitigation strategies and capacities for priority high-threat infectious hazards.Ensure coordination and provide advice on implementation and operational issues. Contribute to WHO's organization-wide work in the development, implementation and oversight of relevant policies, strategies, programmes of work, and annual work-plans in infectious hazards management. Provide advice and oversee the work activities of the High Threat Pathogens team in maintaining and disseminating technical guidelines and other knowledge products for the prevention and control of infectious hazards and other country health emergency preparedness related activities. Develop strategic partnership and networks and oversee the Experts Networks & interventions team in developing and operating partnership mechanisms at regional and country levels.Provide guidance for risk assessment and response to graded and protracted emergencies. Provide technical advice on infectious hazards management to WHO senior management as required, including in relations with other UN agencies.Ensure close collaborative working arrangements with other technical departments.8. Has overall responsibility for the Programme Area's operational and administrative activities as well as budgetary and human resources-related issues. Provide the overall management and performance evaluation of staff in Infectious Hazards Management Programme Area's three technical teams\: High Threat Pathogens and Experts Networks & Interventions; and (if applicable) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework secretariat.Promote and strengthen partnerships, particularly in coordination with regional agencies and networks, particularly with the European Union and its institutions, the UN entities, civil society and other relevant partners, in line with the area of work and in close collaboration with the Director. Represent WHO at official meetings and in media context as needed.Assist the RED in fulfilling this mandate and undertaking any other duties as required by the RED.Perform other related duties including replacing and backstopping as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in Medicine or a Health related field, complemented by a post-graduate degree in public health or related discipline.
Desirable\: Specialized training in epidemiology. Specialized training in infectious diseases. Training in leadership or management.

Experience

Essential\: At least 10 years of international and national relevant, progressively responsible professional experience in infectious diseases, particularly in those competencies critical for promoting a public health perspective and approach, such as infectious disease epidemiology, prevention or control at international level, including at least 5 years of management experience in recognized senior leadership positions with direct responsibility for managing both human and financial resources.Proven experience in coordinating large scale projects with high political impact in developing countries. Relevant experience with the inter-agency mechanisms used to coordinate international preparedness for and response to health emergencies, including those most relevant to coordination of health policy and action in health emergencies.
Desirable\: Relevant work experience in WHO and/or other UN sister agencies; experience working in relevant multilateral, non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.

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”.Demonstrated exceptional leadership and team management skills in international and multi-cultural settings, including the proven capacity to lead and deliver on deadlines during periods of intense stress and activity; demonstrated ability to provide independent leadership in such periods with capacity to organize, monitor and synthesize information quickly and concisely.Proven ability to successfully coordinate, manage and lead projects, and build partnerships, across agencies and organizational departments in the context of health emergencies.Thorough knowledge epidemiology of infectious diseases and other global health security threats and of issues and practices for the prevention and control of disease. Proven experience in developing and implementing public health strategies to address infectious hazards.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of 1 WHO or EURO lang.

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 3629 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.