Technical Officer, Laboratory

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) is to work towards a world in which all people are vaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases.The overall work of the department is distributed in three main areas\: 1. Initiative Vaccine Research Team (IVR) that provides leadership on the research activities to develop new or improved vaccines against diseases of public health importance and to facilitate their introduction and use. 2. Immunization policy that provides guidance and norms for vaccine roll-out. 3. The Expanded Programme on Immunization Team (EPI) whose work is aimed at developing strategies for maximizing the use of vaccines and their delivery; supporting regions and countries in acquiring the necessary skills, competence and infrastructure to implement policies and strategies and achieve disease control/elimination and eradication objectives.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. In collaboration with the VPD Laboratory Coordinator, the Technical Officer oversees the WHO accreditation programme of the Yellow Fever (YF) and other VPD network laboratories and coordinates corrective action; initiates the development, coordinates distribution and evaluation of a Global External Quality Assurance Programme as part of the WHO accreditation programme, including the revision of the accreditation checklist, and conducts accreditation visits.

2. Organizes and facilitates laboratory training workshops to strengthen laboratory capacity for laboratory diagnosis of YF and other VPD.

3. As member of the WHO Secretariat for the EYE Strategy Laboratory Technical Working Group (LTWG) organizes working group meetings, coordinates LTWG discussions, including development and revision of test product profiles, specifications for EQA panel, and accreditation criteria.

4. Act as the Secretariat for WHO expert committee for YF diagnostic product review\: establishes test product review process; coordinates with Gavi and other partners to distribute product review process information to manufacturers; organizes review of submitted products, including documentation and dissemination of review findings; drafts goals and procedures for collection of field data from preliminarily endorsed tests products; coordinates with WHO prequalification team to ensure that WHO expert committee for YF diagnostic product review complements and feeds into the pre-qualification process.

5. Coordinates biobanking efforts to support the development of External Quality Assessment (EQA) programmes and diagnostic kit evaluation programmes for YF and other VPDs.

6. Coordinates with WHE YF team on laboratory support for YF outbreak detection and response.

7. Supports WHO logisticians in addressing and resolving specimen transportation bottlenecks, including development of international specimen transportation regulations.

8. Provides technical input in WHO guidelines including VPD surveillance guidelines, WHO laboratory manuals for yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis, laboratory testing algorithm.

9. Works closely with regional laboratory coordinators, including development of laboratory standard operational procedures, biorisk management, good laboratory practice.

10. Liaises with partners and stakeholders primarily in the field of yellow fever and closely related arbovirus infections particularly pertaining to laboratory diagnosis.

11. Monitors and reports on funding implementation, including procurement of laboratory supplies, reagents and consumables for priority laboratories in the network.

12. Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisory line.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Advanced level university degree in clinical virology, laboratory medicine or related field
Desirable\: Advanced university degree in virology or related field, additional training in laboratory medicine, public health, epidemiology

Experience

Essential\: At least seven years of professional international work experience in the field of infectious disease diagnostics, with demonstrated international experience working in strengthening laboratory capacity and in planning, managing and implementing laboratory activities.
Desirable\: Demonstrated experience with vaccine-preventable disease laboratory diagnostics, external quality assurance, accreditation, surveillance.

Skills

• Extensive expertise and knowledge in coordinating and managing laboratory scientific projects and a firm understanding of VPD laboratory and surveillance networks.• Good knowledge of laboratory methods for diagnosis of VPD pathogens, quality assurance systems and managerial skills.• Demonstrated ability to coordinate laboratory networks.• Demonstrated understanding of, and formulating effective responses to, the unique challenges of public health surveillance in the developing world and capacity to interact successfully with members of partner organizations.• Excellent management, communication, networking and interpersonal skills. Ability to adapt to diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.• Ability to clearly communicate information orally and in writing, to a diverse professional staff, regarding public health surveillance operations, laboratory procedures, requirements, standards, or special project activities and progress.• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills, with ability to facilitate and strengthen the involvement and collaboration of a broad range of partners.• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team and a partnership to achieve common goals, and to work and manage the networks independently.

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 French.

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 72,637 (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 4001 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.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• 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.