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Senior Public Health Officer

Geneva

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
  • Closing Date: Closed

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior Public Health Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Senior Public Health Officer will ensure that UNHCR's health programmes meet minimum UNHCR and international health standards. The incumbent plays a crucial role in programme coordination, planning, and monitoring health programmes including data analysis and evaluation, capacity building of UNHCR personnel and partners, advocacy, information and communication on public health-related issues.

The incumbent of the position oversees and supervises the Public Health programmes in the operations under the Area of Responsibility (AoR), provides strong technical guidance to partners and monitors the programmes. The incumbent has close contacts with internal and external stakeholders such as the Regional Bureaux, Government counterparts, NGOs, UN Agencies and Embassies.

In the field, the Senior Public Health Officer is a member of the senior management team in his/her duty station and region, will coordinate and provide technical support to a regional network of country-level Public Health and HIV focal points as well as Protection and Programme Officers.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- UNHCR¿s country operations are technically sound and thus better able to meet the needs of refugees.
- Immediate respond to refugee emergencies is ensured.
- There is a viable standard Health Information System in place for data collection, analysis and interpretation to serve as evidence base for planning and interventions.

Responsibility
- Contribute to development and implementation of UNHCR¿s Strategic Plan for Public Health. 
- Work in a multi-sectoral and co-ordinated approach in co-operation with government, UN agencies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other humanitarian partners with due consideration to the principles and approaches outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees.
- Work with stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGOs, Ministries of Health and academic institutions for development of public health plans associated with refugee movements (including in repatriation programmes).
- Take a lead role in co-ordinating Health and Nutrition activities and ensure that decisions are implemented as agreed upon.
- Work closely with UNHCR programme, field and protection staff to identify priority health issues and key data requirements for programme planning and monitoring to ensure that minimum UNHCR and international standards are being met. 
- Update and disseminate standard practices on public health, nutrition, HIV and reproductive health among partners.
- Support the prioritization of the Primary Health Care strategy focusing on preventive and basic curative health, including mental health, reproductive health, HIV and nutritional components.
- Support linkages of public health to WASH programmes.
- Support health focal points to participate in the review and analysis of relevant project proposals and budgetary submissions presented by UNHCR partners within the context of the UNHCR programming cycle.
- Ensure that project plans or proposals submitted to UNHCR for funding adhere to internationally accepted standards, and are based on a comprehensive PHC strategy.
- Provide technical assistance in needs and resources assessments together with the government and partners in order to prioritise needs and activities in the provision of services to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Ensure, in close co-ordination with other humanitarian actors, that health care services provided to persons of concern (PoCs) are based on Ministry of Health, UNHCR and/or internationally recognized and most up-to-date standards and policies
- Establish and/or adapt UNHCR internal guidelines and procedures to streamline inputs and improve efficiency of the programme activities.
- Maintain and update contingency plans for potential epidemics, refugee and returnee movements.
- Ensure implementation of the UNHCR Health Information System and other relevant data collection tools to and support the analysis of public health data.
- Ensure the monitoring and evaluating of health and nutrition programmes against standard UNHCR and international indicators, to ensure that programmes are evidence-based and implemented in a comprehensive and cost-effective manner.
- Support nutritional surveys and other health-related surveys.
- Promote applied research and programme evaluation to enable the identification of gaps in programme implementation and standards, and to further promote evidence-based activities and guidance.
- Monitor technical aspects of the health and nutrition programme.
- Apply various mechanisms and tools to ensure proper monitoring.
- Ensure capacity building of UNHCR and its implementing partners to address public health, nutrition, reproductive health and HIV programming in a co-ordinated, multi-sectoral way.
- Support UNHCR staff in co-ordinating Public Health and HIV activities in line with UNHCR¿s role as a UNAIDS co-sponsor.
- Share with local and international partners on the ground relevant guidelines and information materials on refugee HIV, reproductive health, general health, and nutrition.
- Work with others in UNHCR to advocate for refugees, returnees and other persons of concern access to local public health, reproductive health (RH) and HIV services and lobby for inclusion of refugees, returnees and other persons of concern as a specific group in government policies and plans related to health, RH and HIV as well as major donor programmes such as the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria.
- Promote information sharing on all aspects related to refugees and persons of concern to UNHCR and the UNHCR role in advocacy for the welfare and rights of refugees and persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Ensure regular update and share information within UNHCR as well as with the government, UN and NGO partners and donor communities on the health status and needs of the refugees.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Authority
- Provide guidance and make recommendations on the overall strategy and focus of Public Health and Nutrition programmes.
- Represent UNHCR in Health Coordination and other meetings.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all Public Health standard operating procedures.
- Decide priorities in the designing of implementation plan.
- Intervene with implementing partners on public health and nutrition issue.
- Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.


ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- A clinical background (nurse or MD) with postgraduate training in Public Health or related field 
- Minimum 8 years of previous job experience relevant to the function
- Knowledge of public health, nutrition and HIV in humanitarian emergencies
- Exposure to UNHCR mandate, its priorities and principles.
- Good communicator with strong interpersonal and negotiations skills
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Additional qualifications in Nutrition and WASH and a thorough understanding of the linkages with public health.
- Proven ability to deal with multiple tasks in a courteous and service-oriented manner in a demanding working environment  that often has short deadlines. 
- Ability to coordinate a range of diverse actors and activities to achieve a common objective in the area of Public Health.
- Applied knowledge in UNHCR programme management, project formulation, its programme cycles and reporting standards.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.


This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Senior Public Health Officer positions. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

 

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

 

He/she will have a high degree of knowledge in  public health, nutrition and HIV in humanitarian emergencies including  managing and coordinating public health programmes in humanitarian situations.  This position requires a high level of technical expertise and practical experience in the field of public health in a diverse set of settings (rural, camp, urban, low and middle income).
Solid understanding of UNHCR's  mandate, its priorities and principles and  the complexities of UNHCR's approach to refugees and the cluster approach. S/he will have to be politically savvy, and have strong negotiation and coordination skills. and  a very good communicator with strong interpersonal and negotiations skills.
Flexibility and ability to respond to urgent demands from other sections/units within UNHCR including senior management.  S/he should be available to travel on short notice for long missions to support emergency refugee health coordination.
Ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve objectives and be solutions oriented. Excellent writing skills 

The incumbent should be able to provide strong and quality technical guidance and support on public health programmes and technical public health issues. The incumbent will need to a good collaborator and being able to establish close working relations with the bureau, regional and country public health officers and support and facilitate their efforts to have strong coordinated refugee public health responses.


The incumbent will need to be a fast learner, and be able to rapidly make a quick analysis of a public health situation in a country and be able to inform the bureau external partners and donors on the public health situation in the country. Within this rapid analysis, quick decisions and action plans on next steps need to be formulated. The Senior Public Health Coordinator provides technical support and guidance on public health issues to regional bureaus, regional public health officers and country operations. The incumbent will be working under the direct supervision of the Chief of Public Health  Section and will be a member of a team of public health, reproductive health, nutrition, food security, mental health and WASH staff. 
Experience in health information system tools and ability to promote innovative approaches to data collection, analysis and visualization relating to refugee health status, access, utilization of health services.     Good understanding of  financing of national health services including health insurance mechanisms and community health financing mechanisms.  Ability to support countries to progressively  include refugees and other populations  of concern into national health systems.the incumbent will have a key role in facilitating and drafting global public health guidance and strategy documents in a wide variety of areas (including access to health care in out of camp situations, access to health insurance schemes). S/he needs a strong understanding of epidemiology and be able to analyse and present different types of data according to varying situations. The incumbent must have the ability to work collaboratively have inter-agency coordination skills, and have data management expertise. Innovation to continue to ensure that UNHCR remains a leader in public health policies, strategies and practices for refugee and other persons of concern to UNHCR is a necessity.The staff member needs to have managerial and leadership competencies. S/he will be officer in charge from time of time. Geneva is a headquarters location with easy access to schools, medical care, banking facilities and transport. Cost of living is high None Candidate will directly supervise one other staff member, the Health Information System Officer

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2018 Compendium is Thursday 18 October  2018 (midnight Geneva time).

This vacancy is now closed.
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