Public Health Officer

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.

Public Health Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Direct supervision and guidance is normally received from the Senior Programme Officer and overall supervision from the Head of Office. Close functional linkages and technical guidance are established with the Senior Regional Public Health/HIV Officer. 

In order to ensure wider reach out to the refugees and other persons of concern and ensure their close involvement in the delivery and management of health services, the incumbent will need to establish an appropriate consultative and monitoring framework which would draw the experience and expertise of a wide range of actors both internally and externally. 

The incumbent of the position oversees and supervises the Public Health programmes in the operations under Area of Responsibility (AoR) and provide strong technical guidance to partners, monitor and evaluate the programme and ensure and lead monthly health coordination meetings. The incumbent has close contacts with internal and external stakeholders such as the Government counterparts, UN Agencies and Embassies.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT.
Accountability
- UNHCR Public Health programme is implemented based on updated needs assessments and through implementing partners adequately trained and having received proper guidance. The implementation strategy is developed in line with the overall coordination.
- A viable standard Health Information System in place for data collection, analysis and interpretation to serve as evidence base for planning and interventions.
- Joint Assemment Mission (JAM), nutritional survey and other assessments are adequately conducted and implemented.
- Monthly health coordination meetings are conducted with all relevant partners.

Responsibility
- 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 in the programming exercise to draw proposals and budgets related to public health, HIV, and nutrition.
- Provide technical assistance to UNHCR sub/field offices and implementing partners in development, integration and mainstreaming of appropriate and cost-effective public health programmes.
- Work in a multi-sectoral and co-ordinated approach in co-operation with governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other humanitarian partners.
- 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.
- Promote basic health education for populations of concern and train refugee health workers (e.g. community health workers, peer educators, counselors, etc.).
- Work towards strenghtening local structures and capacities; ensure strong linkages among health, nutrition, food security and HIV with protection and human rigths.
- Improve coordination among partners and participate in capacity building efforts.
- Use community-based approaches, including clear involvement of persons of concern in the public health and nutritional programmes.
- Work with others in UNHCR to advocate for access to refugees, returnees and other persons of concern to local health, reproductive health (RH) and HIV/AIDS services and lobby for inclusion of refugees, returnees and other persons of concern as a specific group in government policies related to health, RH and HIV.
- Promote information sharing on all aspects related to refugee health and HIV/AIDS.
- Ensure regular update and share information within UNHCR as well as with relevant government, UN and NGO counterparts and donor communities.

Authority
- Provide guidance on the overall strategy and focus of public health programmes in the operation.
- Intervene with implementing partners on public health and nutrition issue.
- Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.
- Decide priorities in the designing of implementation plan.
- Advise on implementing partners' selection.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all Public Health standard operating procedures.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Public Health or a clinical background (nurse or MD) with postgraduate training in Public Health  plus minimum 6 years of previous job experience relevant to the function and in national/multinational organizations. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) plus 5 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 4 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Knowledge of public health, nutrition and HIV in humanitarian emergencies.
- Very good communication and computer skills.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Experience, advanced training, balance and combined knowledge in different subjects: e,g, public health, reproductive health.
- Experience in UNHCR Field Operations (Emergencies).
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR 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
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3

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.

 

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.

Please note that the closing date for vacancies in this addendum 3 to the  September 2019 Compendium is Monday 30 December  2019 (midnight Geneva time)