Coordinator, Air Pollution and Urban Health

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

To promote a healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and influence public policies in all sectors so as to address the root causes of environmental threats to health. To develop and implement headquarters functions and to support WHO Regional and Country Offices in working with countries towards implementation of interventions on major environmental risks factors associated with a significant burden of disease. The Interventions for Healthy Environments (IHE) supports this objective through focused action on the provision of technical support to MS\: for the implementation of interventions that reduce environmental hazards; to enhance safety and promote public health in settings and in specific sectors; strengthening of national environmental and occupational health risk management systems, functions and services; and by supporting the health sector in influencing decision makers in other sectors so as to select policies that improve health and the environment. IHE Leads international initiatives for healthy sectoral policies (including energy, transport, housing and urban development and the extractive industry), addressing key risks to health such as air pollution indoors and outdoors, and contributing to achieving health co-benefits from climate change mitigation policies. The unit leads the implementation of the WHA resolution 68.8 on Addressing the health Impacts of Air pollution and its sources, and the related Road Map for an Enhanced Global Response to air pollution (WHA 69.18). The unit is also in charge of monitoring the achievement of SDG 3.9 (mortality attributed to air pollution indoors and outdoors) , SDG 7.1 (access to clean household energy), and SDG 11.2 (air quality in cities).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Provide overall guidance/leadership in WHO to advocate and support implementation of measures to prevent the health impacts of Air pollution and obtain other health co-benefits, including through urban health and clean household energy initiatives.

2. Provide leadership for WHO's programmes to enhance the health and climate co-benefits from sectoral activities and investments including in urban development, transport, housing and household energy, overseeing the development of technical work on evidence and tools as well as promoting policy interventions for better governance for health and development at country level.

3. Provide overall guidance and leadership in the development of innovative responses that support Member States their efforts to prevent diseases associated with the environment, such as on estimating costs of inaction for the monitoring and reporting of Sustainable Development Goals and related indicators of air pollution indoors and outdoors, where WHO is a custodian agency (SDGs 3.9; 7.2; and 11.6)

4. Within the PHE Department, coordinate the alignment of the work on air pollution, household energy, urban health, transport, housing and other sectors of the economy with other programmes, in order to identify synergies, ensure coherence and strengthen the capacity to support policies and interventions having the highest co-benefits to health, environment and health equity.

5. Across the Organization, ensure strategic alignment of child health, health systems and health promotion, as well as coordinate programme activities at the three levels of the organization.

6. Engage with Member States and other partners in the development and implementation of initiatives, strategies, tools and programmes, at global, country and local levels.

7. Mobilize resources, develop partnerships and facilitate and coordinate technical collaboration in the team.

8. Manage the team's financial, material and human resources, lead development of workplans, ensure their implementation and support tracking results and programme performance, ensuring continuity and synergy of the team in relation to the three levels of the organization (e.g. HQ, RO and COs).

 9. Represent and liaise on WHO work with external agencies and actors, especially within the UNsystem.

10. Undertake related duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Advanced level university degree in environmental health and/or public health.
Desirable\: PhD or equivalent.

Experience

Essential\: 10 years technical experience in environmental health research, policy and management including roles on multidisciplinary teams internationally. Demonstrated work experience in complex programme or project management and implementation at national and international levels, and at least 7 years of experience in working with the UN and other agencies, in the direct support to countries and within international processes relevant to environmental health and public health, including on including health into different sectors' policies, plans and projects with respect to Air Pollution and Urban Health. At least 7 years of management and team coordination experience at an international level, with an emphasis on political negotiations and technical support with country authorities. Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and partnership building.
Desirable\: Experience in resource mobilization and funding proposals. Proven experience in environmental health research as demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed scientific literature. Experience working in developing and developed countries.

Skills

Technical excellence in relation to environmental health and public health, including on including health into different sectors' policies, plans and projects with respect to Air Pollution and Urban Health. Capacity to innovate, integrate and create new public health strategies, initiatives and projects. Proven managerial skills to develop, coordinate and implement the work of a complex unit. Strategic planning abilities. Sound understanding of WHO values, policies, programmes and initiatives related to environmental determinants of health. Excellent managerial expertise, organization skills and ability to lead and motivate WHO staff, networks of centres of excellence and other partners in an international, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment. Ability to work in inter-institutional and inter/sectoral teams at global, regional and country levels. Excellent negotiation and advocacy skills in particular with national governments and authorities. Excellent interpersonal skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Creating an empowering and motivating environment
 

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).

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 5952 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.