Chief

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.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 Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF), Zika, Chikungunya, cholera, yellow fever, coronaviruses like the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), meningitis, plague smallpox, monkeypoxIt also develops and maintains experts networks and cross cutting functions such as transfer of knowledge and emergency stockpile governance.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

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

1. Lead a multidisciplinary unit focused on high threats pathogens and the development of strategies policies and guidance related to the prevention preparedness and response to specific epidemic and pandemic diseases. The incumbent develops and implements its work priorities and expected outputs and ensure the delivery of its major products providing an expert approach and authoritative advice to capacity building in order to harmonize and support high threats pathogens-related programmes, expert networks and activities.

2. Provide technical expertise and authoritative advice and support the Director in the development of new policies, concepts, tools and strategies and their implementation, supporting the Emergency Programme priorities, goals, procedures and processes.

3. Coordinate, with senior management, Director and Programme Manager, the development, negotiation, implementation and monitoring of the technical, operational and HR work plans.

4. Provide technical expertise and advice in resource mobilization strategies and work closely with the director and the resource mobilisation team to forecast gaps in funding and address them proactively.

5. Establish strategic partnerships with various counterparts and international partners to implement appropriate interventions and ensure optimal collaboration with technical units and WHO Regional and country offices to achieve the objectives of the IHM and WHE.

6.Coordinate and manage the implementation of the results framework, foster prioritization of activities in the team to ensure the best use of limited resources and monitor through a variety of indicators (quantitative and qualitative) the performance of work programmes. Ensure that the administrative and budgetary standards, guidelines, priorities and directions of WHO, WHE and the Department are correctly complied.

7. Proactively resolve situations which might pose a threat to WHO or its reputation by identifying and solving critical problems and negotiating and implementing measures to reduce risks.

8. Manage staff working in the unit and ensure that the unit establishes and maintains excellent interactions, communications and coordination internally and with other groups. Evaluate performance of staff in PAT, and encourage staff to use and support multi-disciplinary and cross cutting approaches, and promote professional excellence and high standards in all aspects of work.

9. Represent WHO on all aspects of High Threat Pathogens programmes both inside and outside the Organization when required.

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

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Advanced level degree (masters level or above) in medicine, microbiology, veterinary science or public health.
Desirable\: A Doctorate/PhD level degree in any of the above mentioned fields.

A University degree in epidemiology or infectious diseases.

Certification in project management or leadership.

Experience

Essential\: A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in progressively responsible positions, at an independent level, in promoting national and international actions, and in advising counterparts and stakeholders in delivering emergency interventions in the context of high threat pathogens.

At least 5 years of management experience in recognized senior leadership positions with direct responsibility for managing a multidisciplinary programs.

Proven experience in policy and strategy formulation.

Relevant experience with the inter-agency mechanisms used to coordinate international preparedness for and response to epidemics and pandemics
Desirable\: Relevant work experience in WHO or UN agencies or international partners.

Experience in developing technical guidance or research protocols with multiple partner agencies.

Field experience in public health programmes or outbreak response in developing countries.

Policy and strategy development in the area of epidemic diseases.

Skills

Sound knowledge of High Threat Pathogens and other global health security threats and of issues and practices for the prevention and control of disease.

Authoritative and comprehensive knowledge of the theory, principles, methods and techniques in international emergency risk management , with a broad-based understanding of its growing complexity including knowledge of the workings of relevant international policy-setting bodies.

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 acute public health crisis.

Proven ability to successfully interact and negotiate with senior national and international authorities on the implementation of health emergencies strategies and programmes.

Excellent interpersonal and communications skills both writing and editing.

Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to quickly comprehend strategic and tactical objectives and to formulate comprehensive plans to address challenges/risks.

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.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of one 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 97,805 (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 6895 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.