Technical Officer, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) 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.

 

WHE brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacities in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. WHE is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities.

 

The Infectious Hazard Management (IHM), a programme area of WHE, 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 PIP Framework.

 

The PIP Framework has been adopted by Member States in 2011. Its implementation requires the management of three distinct areas of work\: The PIP Secretariat, the PIP partnership contribution (PC), implementation and agreement with industry for the benefit sharing (the Standard Material Transfer Agreement SMTA2). It also includes the management of specific projects such as the PIP Review or working groups on emerging issues such as the Nagoya protocol.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

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

 

1. Coordinate the development and implementation of regional and country PIP PC activities across all outcomes and outputs.

 

a. Provide technical guidance and support for development of country-specific workplans and budgets and work with countries to ensure plans are achievable and realistic;

b. Coordinate the identification of criteria for prioritizing funds and activities within country work plans;

c. Coordinate with countries, and participate in national-, regional- and global-level discussions as needed;

d. Build partnerships across teams and stakeholders to design indicators for monitoring progress at country and regional levels.

 

2. Support regional and country implementation of PIP PC activities.

 

a. Manage implementation of the regional PC implementation plan;

b. Coordinate with technical focal points implementing PC activities at the regional and country levels for influenza disease burden, regulatory capacity-building, vaccine deployment and risk communications;

c. Coordinate meetings to launch activities and participate in regional- and national-level discussions as needed;

d. Provide technical guidance and support to countries.

 

3. Monitor all regional, country, technical and financial implementations of PIP PC activities.

 

a. Regularly monitor technical implementation of activities and progress against indicators, providing recommendations for course corrections as needed;

b. Generate technical and financial progress reports on implementation of all PIP PC activities in the region and its countries, using pre-defined indicators of success;

c. Ensure timely submission of technical and financial reports to the PIP Secretariat;

d. Participate in coordination meetings when called upon by the PIP Secretariat.

 

4. Provide quarterly reports on implementation of PIP PC work plans to the concerned director in the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific and to the Regional Office's PIP focal point or to any task force/committee set up at the Regional Office to monitor the implementation of PIP PC workplans.

 

5. Liaise with PIP Secretariat, including conference calls, meeting attendance and ad hoc issue resolution.

 

6. Support the WHE programme areas in the management and coordination of all regional influenza-related awards and activities.

 

7. As requested by the Programme Area Manager IHM, provide technical support in areas of expertise, e.g. surveillance, epidemiology, outbreak response, monitoring and evaluation, project management, and other programme areas within WHE.

 

8. Upon request, provide technical support, backstopping and gap-filling for emergency activities at any level of the Organization or scale of emergency.

 

9. Perform other related duties, as requested by supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Advanced university degree (master's level or above) in medicine, biological science, public health, health science, social science or related field.
Desirable\: Additional degree in public administration, international law, international relations, business, epidemiology, monitoring and evaluation or training in project management.

Experience

Essential\: Minimum seven years of relevant work experience in planning for public health and development, project or programme management, including technical and financial aspects of implementation monitoring, assessment and reporting, at national and international level, including considerable experience in developing countries. Experience in high-level or intergovernmental negotiation processes.
Desirable\: Experience in WHO or the UN system, particularly WHO rules and regulations related to legal matters, and its role with the United Nations. Experience of collaboration with international organizations and nongovernment organizations an advantage.

Skills

Theoretical and practical knowledge of public health legislations, complemented by experience and in-depth understanding of the PIP Framework and International Health Regulations or IHR (2005), working knowledge of influenza viruses and their use in public health and working knowledge of other important related initiatives or frameworks, such as the Convention on Biodiversity.

 

Excellent negotiating abilities to advise Member States.

 

Proven experience in management (finances, budgets and staff) and clear proof of responsibility for management of workplan activities.

 

Familiarity with WHO planning, management systems and practices.

 

Demonstrated effectiveness in building sustained partnerships and working with others in international settings.

 

Capacity to work on cross-sectoral projects.

 

Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of written and spoken English.
Desirable\:

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 70,647 (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 2272 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.