External Emergency Roster - Laboratory Technical Officer

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Incident Management System (IMS), at the country level, the incumbent will provide technical expertise and operational support to the Ministry of Health and partners in timely responses to outbreaks/epidemics and health emergencies through managing the laboratory related activities in compliance with the WHO recommended standards, throughout the full cycle of incident.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate Strategic Objective

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

Organizational context

Supervised by the Team lead, under the overall guidance of the Incident Manager and Head of the WHO Country office, and working closely with counterparts at the respective Regional Office and HQ, the incumbent will act as the subject matter expert for laboratory within the health operations and expertise team. S/he will manage the laboratory component of the incident management system, and provide technical support to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and partners within the health cluster.  S/he will establish and maintain collaborative networks involving national and international organizations, governmental and nongovernmental institutions, professional and scientific societies, liaise with other units/teams at the country office, respective regional office and HQ.

Summary of Assigned Duties

During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme. 

1. Provide technical expertise and operational support for the timely response to outbreaks/epidemics and health emergencies, in collaboration with national health officials, including laboratory staff, and other partner organizations.

2. Adapt and coordinate the development and implementation of technical guidelines and standard operational procedures for laboratory testing practices for outbreak detection, including those caused by (re-)emerging and other infectious diseases.

3. Coordinate the participation in Quality Assurance Systems of International Mobile Laboratories deployed in country and National Central Laboratories involved in the event management.

4. Lead the enhancement of laboratory infrastructure and the implementation of standard operating procedures to ensure safe collection, handling, shipment, storage and analysis of human and environment specimens.

5. Cooperate with partners in improving analytical and diagnostics services, quality and environmental management, equipment maintenance, safety and bio-safety for laboratories.

6. Manage the implementation, reporting, performance assessment and evaluation of the approved activities and ensure proper communication with partners as appropriate.

7. Contribute in strengthening the national capacity at the health laboratories; assess training needs and provide training for laboratory personnel in the related technical areas.

8. Oversee updating and maintaining the related reporting and information systems, documenting the response and laboratory strengthening activities, as and when required.

9. Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

Competencies

1. Teamwork

2. Communication

3. Producing results

4. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

5. Ensuring the effective use of resources

Functional Knowledge and Skills

• Proven ability to analyse laboratory activities in diagnostic, biosafety and quality management, in order to develop innovative and appropriate solutions for their improvement.

• Sound knowledge in biosafety standards, methodology and techniques in health laboratories, including those in molecular biology, virology, bacteriology and biosafety.

• Sound knowledge in Quality Assurance Systems for laboratories.

Education Qualifications

Essential

• Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in Life Sciences, Medicine or Medical Virology from an accredited and recognized academic institution.

• Certified training or qualification in Molecular Biology, Virology, Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases, and/or Epidemiology and Laboratory techniques.

Desirable

• Master’s level degree in Public Health or health related field.

Professional Experience

Essential

• At least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in practical and operational application and management of laboratory services, laboratory diagnosis of communicable diseases at the national and international levels.

• Relevant experience in outbreaks and/or health emergency response of international impact.

Desirable

• Experience in establishing or improving laboratory infrastructure for microbiology and/or detection of infectious diseases.

• Experience in planning and implementing laboratory trainings at national and regional levels.

• Experience in evaluating novel diagnostics assays for emergency use authorization during outbreak response.

• Previous experience in WHO/UN system, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations, international institutions or nongovernmental organizations, particularly in developing countries.

Use of Language Skills

• Excellent knowledge of English or French (depending on the country of assignment).

Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset.

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

• Good computer skills in Microsoft Office, EPI Info, SPSS etc.

Note\: This Vacancy Notice is only open to external candidates, WHO consultants and short term staff on SSA/TA contracts who meet the minimum requirements of the position.