Technical Officer (Food Safety and Zoonotic Diseases)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The aim of the Division of Health Emergencies and Communicable Diseases in the WHO Regional Office for Europe is\:(i) to improve health security across the WHO European Region by maintaining regional alert and response operations and assisting countries in building their capacity for surveillance systems, preparedness for, and response to all health emergencies, in line with the requirements of the International Health Regulations and specific country risks;(ii) to promote WHO's leadership in health emergencies and communicable disease prevention and control, including through relevant regional initiatives and specific research projects;(iii) to assist countries in the Region to design, establish and run effective health programmes that are able to tackle the burden of communicable diseases, particularly, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, especially M/XDR-TB, viral hepatitis, influenza, malaria, antimicrobial resistance and vaccine-preventable diseases through strengthened immunization programmes and to achieve/maintain regional elimination/eradication goals as for measles, rubella, malaria, and poliomyelitis;(iv) to ensure, within EURO, the availability of state-of-the-art competency to provide high level technical support to Member States of the Region, in collaboration with Headquarters and in close partnership with relevant institutions of the Region.Within the Division of Health Emergencies and Communicable Diseases, the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) aims to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks, and lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.The main objective of the Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) Programme Area is\:The Infectious Hazard Management Programme Area is responsible for establishing risk mitigation strategies and capacities for priority high-threat infectious hazards. This includes developing and supporting prevention and control strategies, tools and capacities for high-threat infectious hazards, establishing and maintaining experts networks to detect, understand and manage new or emerging high threat infectious hazards as well as providing secretariat support for the management of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework.Within IHM, the unit of Expert Networks & Interventions (ENI) builds on a set of technical assets to ensure access to knowledge and life-saving interventions to address any emerging pathogens. It includes but is not limited to (i) managing expert networks to rapidly characterise the threats and define mitigation measures, (ii) facilitating the production of high quality, evidence-based guidance, its dissemination to affected countries, and the transfer of knowledge to implementing partners and (iii) ensuring the availability of life-saving interventions (vaccine, treatments and diagnostic) during emergencies due to infectious hazards.Food safety, is positioned in the ENI unit and focuses on\: antimicrobial resistance in the food chain; prevention, detection and management of foodborne risks (microbiological and chemical), food hygiene, rapid information sharing through International Network of Food Safety Authorities (INFOSAN); advocacy for and provision of international food standards (FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius) as well as strengthening national food normative capacity.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the overall guidance of the Director, Division of Health Emergencies and Communicable Diseases (DEC), and the direct supervision of Programme Area Manager, Infectious Hazards Management (WHE/IHM), the incumbent is assigned the following duties\:1. To advise Member States in the WHO Region of Europe on a regular basis on attaining International Health Regulation (2005) capacities relevant for food safety and zoonosis threat management. 2. Provide technical leadership and guidance in the area of food safety, reduction of antimicrobial resistance in food chain and human-animal interface to enable countries to control the risk and reduce the burden of foodborne and zoonotic diseases through multisectoral approaches;3. Ensure the dissemination and use by countries of international standards in the area of food safety; 4. Develop regional plans to implement global and regional strategies in the area of food safety and zoonoses and harness European and other experience and knowledge (e.g. including influencing other sectors, in particular the agriculture and veterinary sectors, to incorporate health concerns in their policies and enhance effectiveness of donor and other stakeholder involvement), documenting gaps therein for the definition of the research agenda on the subject matter5. Ensure consistency and cohesiveness with the WHO guidelines, approaches, and messages, contributing to the WHO normative function;6. Produce authoritative and relevant policy papers and briefs on the subject matter; 7. Provide technical input to WHO's assessment and response to emergencies in the area of food safety and zoonoses, including risk assessment, the impact of the event on health; data analysis and preparation of reports to facilitate information sharing, decision-making and response to events.8. Mobilize resources to efficiently deliver services/products within country and inter country work plans, be responsible for the allocation of resources within country and inter country work plans and regularly monitor and assess the performance of the technical programme through evaluation and reporting.9. Provide advocacy and technical assistance to strengthen One Health capacity, including support for multi-disciplinary, cross cutting coordination at national level.10. Perform other related duties including replacing and backstopping duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Advanced university degree in medicine, veterinary medicine, food science, or related areas relevant to the post.
Desirable\: Doctorate or additional post-graduate qualification in public health, veterinary medicine, food science, microbiology, toxicology or other health related disciplines.

Experience

Essential\: At least 7 years of experience in food safety/veterinary public health or zoonoses at national and international levels including three to five years of practical experience in implementing or advising on key domains of food safety/veterinary public health.
Desirable\: Experience of advising on key domains of food safety/antimicrobial resistance/zoonosis/One Health in lower and middle income countries. Experience working within WHO and the UN system.

Skills

Proven ability to review, analyze, and use data to write technical papers on complex issues.In depth knowledge of national food regulatory and standard setting authorities, public health and veterinary public health in of countries in the European Region would be an asset. Knowledge of the WHO and UN system would be an asset.Knowledge of standard text, spreadsheet and presentation software applications required.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of EURO official lang.

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 71,332 (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 3281 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.