Technical Officer (Surveillance)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the 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 Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment (HIM) programme area of WHE is responsible for providing timely and authoritative situation analysis, risk assessment and response monitoring available for all major health threats, events and emergencies. This includes detecting, verifying and assessing the risk of potential and ongoing health emergencies; establishing data collection mechanisms and monitoring ongoing health emergency operations; providing data management, analytics and reporting platform to produce and disseminate timely emergency health information products.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

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

 

1. Conduct real time analysis of regional indicator-based and event-based surveillance data to facilitate timely information sharing among Member States for better preparedness and response for multiple hazards.

 

2. Support regional production of information products and reports including weekly bulletins, situation reports, and outbreak investigation reports, among others.

 

3. Maintain and upgrade stored surveillance data handled by the WHE of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO).

 

4. Support Field Epidemiology Training (FET)/Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) in the Region.

 

5. Provide technical support in the field during acute public health events.

 

6. Develop appropriate training plans for building the core surveillance, alert and response national capacities in accordance with the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III) and the requirements for International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.

 

7. Supervise fellows of the WPRO FETP to maintain the system of epidemiological data, and consolidate and analyze the collected data for early detection of and appropriate action.

 

8. Contribute to technical assistance provided by the WHE/WPRO to countries in the establishment and implementation of the key components of the IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework including Joint External Evaluation (JEE), After Action Review (AAR) and exercises.

 

9. Serve as an IHR duty officer in accordance with the standard protocol.

 

10. Provide technical support for meetings organized by WHE/WPRO.

 

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

 

12. Perform other related duties, as requested by supervisor, including provision of support to other areas of work and teams or programme areas within the WHE, as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: University degree in medicine, public health, epidemiology or related field from a recognized institution.

Desirable\: Post-graduate degree or training in epidemiology, public health or related discipline from a recognized university. Specialized training in FETP or equivalent is highly desirable.

Experience

Essential\: A minimum of five years' experience in communicable disease epidemiology, public health, and/or emergency response including at least two years working in disease outbreak investigation or emergency response field programmes at the international level. Relevant work experience in surveillance, risk assessment and/or emergency management. Ability to produce and edit high quality reports, presentations and publications.

Desirable\: Field experience in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases or other acute public health events. Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, or in an international (multilateral) organization. Experience in supervision, and providing education and training of surveillance fellows/trainees in an international organization.

Skills

- Good knowledge of surveillance, epidemiology, risk assessment, emergency response and disease control with particular attention to application of an all-hazard approach in the context of IHR (2005).

 

- Ability to analyze epidemiological data and detect trends, unusual occurrences, outbreaks and other possible adverse public health events.

 

- Sound knowledge and skills in database management, with the ability to develop and plan innovative and appropriate solutions for information management.

 

- Ability to conduct and participate in epidemiological investigations.

 

- Demonstrated knowledge of surveillance issues and emerging diseases in the international context.

 

- Good communication skills both written and oral, and ability to write in a clear, concise and effective manner for different audiences.

 

- Excellent organizational and programme management skills.

 

- Ability to multitask and produce results under pressure within short deadlines.

 

- Ability to deal diplomatically with national counterparts.

 

- 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
Moving forward in a changing environment
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of written and spoken English.

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 59,151 (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 1893 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.

• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220./ul>