Director - Universal Health Coverage/Healthier Population

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall objective of the Cluster is to provide leadership and ensure action in supporting Member States in attaining a greater level of awareness for the promotion of health – a complete physical, mental and social well-being – and the prevention of disease, disability and premature death by addressing key health-related physical, mental, social, environmental and behavioural risk factors and determinants. The Cluster is responsible for the following technical areas – Climate change, Health and Environment including Occupational Health, Healthy Settings and Urban Health (CHE); Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health, including Health in all Policies, and disease specific promotional activities (HPD); Nutrition and Food Safety, including Diet and Obesity (NUT); Tobacco and reduction of other NCDs Risk Factors (TNR); and Violence, Injuries and Disabilities, including Rehabilitation (VID).

The Cluster provides leadership and vision to the above and related areas of work in the WHO African Region and facilitates planning, programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of services in an integrated approach. The Cluster responds to the needs of the population in the aspects of healthy lifestyles and sustainable environments; household, family community and multi-sectoral action; as well as health governance and whole of government multisectoral approaches to health promotion and protection, disease prevention, control and rehabilitation.

The Cluster also develops strategic partnerships, mobilizing capacities in the region in the pursuit of its objectives and contributes to cross-Cluster resource mobilization in order to achieve universal coverage for significant improvement in health outcomes using Primary Health Care as a delivery vehicle. The Director's Office is responsible for developing, leading, monitoring and evaluating the work of the UHC-HP Group and coordinating its action with WHO Headquarters, Clusters, and partner agencies and institutions.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:

Advise the Regional Director on policy, strategic and technical matters related to attaining a greater level of awareness among all stakeholders for the promotion of health and the prevention of disease, disability and premature death by addressing key health-related physical, mental, social, environmental and behavioural risk factors and determinants, ensuring people-centred approaches across the life course to address the priority health problems of different population sub-groups;

Provide leadership to staff under his/her responsibility; ensure their continuous training and development; promote an enabling and empowering culture for team leaders in the pursuit of high performance, ethical behaviour and integrity in accordance with the Organization's Policies, Rules and Procedure;

Lead the region's work in the development of evidence-based policies, strategies and plans for Climate change, Health and Environment including Occupational Health, Healthy Settings and Urban Health; Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health, including Health in all Policies, and disease specific promotional activities; Nutrition and Food Safety, including Diet and Obesity; Tobacco and reduction of other NCDs Risk Factors; and Violence, Injuries and Disabilities, including Rehabilitation in countries, ensuring sound technical support for planning, programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;

Facilitate collaboration and integrated programmes with other Clusters, HQ, and external partners, in order to expand and scale up delivery of programmes on UHC/HP at national and regional levels;

Build strategic partnerships for Climate change, Health and Environment including Occupational Health, Healthy Settings and Urban Health; Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health, including Health in all Policies, and disease specific promotional activities; Nutrition and Food Safety, including Diet and Obesity; Tobacco and reduction of other NCD Risk Factors; and Violence, Injuries and Disabilities, including Rehabilitation to enhance resource mobilization for these important areas in the region;

Contribute to resource mobilization for the Cluster’s programmes, in collaboration with EPG, ORD and WCOSs;

Contribute to the conceptualization and implementation of integrated approaches in the areas of Climate Change, Health and Environment including Occupational Health, Healthy Settings and Urban Health; Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health, including Health in all Policies, and disease specific promotional activities; Nutrition and Food Safety, including Diet and Obesity; Tobacco and reduction of other NCDs Risk Factors; and Violence, Injuries and Disabilities, using approaches such as legislation, taxation, prohibition of advertisement and marketing, and sales to population subgroups

Coordinate and facilitate the development and implementation of the workplan for the cluster and ensure delivery of its major outputs, including effective and efficient use of resources and timely reporting;

Identify research needs and priorities aimed at improving Climate change, Health and Environment including Occupational Health, Healthy Settings and Urban Health; Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health, including Health in all Policies, and disease specific promotional activities; Nutrition and Food Safety, including Diet and Obesity; Tobacco and reduction of other NCDs Risk Factors; and Violence, Injuries and Disabilities at country level, including promotion and strengthening of research capabilities, and support the addition of new knowledge and technologies into country health systems;

Monitor the trends in Climate change, Health and Environment including Occupational Health, Healthy Settings and Urban Health; Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health, including Health in all Policies, and disease specific promotional activities; Nutrition and Food Safety, including Diet and Obesity; Tobacco and reduction of other NCDs Risk Factors; and Violence, Injuries and Disabilities, including Rehabilitation, document and share the evidence and experiences for policy and programmatic actions;

Lead communications about the achievements and results of the Cluster’s programmes;

Perform any other duties assigned by the Regional Director and/or the Director, Programme Management.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Medical or health-related degree with postgraduate degree in Public Health or Social Sciences

Desirable: Training in Health Promotion

Experience

Essential: A minimum of fifteen years’ national and international experience in public-health, with at least 3 years inclusive in a senior management position at the international level.

Desirable: Working experience in both developing and developed countries, including experience in public health or related fields.

Work experiences that are diverse incorporating private sector, NGOs, other UN or governmental Health related agencies will be an advantage

Skills

Extensive knowledge of policies, strategies and interventions in at least 3 of the areas of Climate change, Health and Environment including Occupational Health, Healthy Settings and Urban Health; Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health, including Health in all Policies, and disease specific promotional activities; Nutrition and Food Safety, including Diet and Obesity; Tobacco and reduction of other NCDs Risk Factors; and Violence, Injuries and Disabilities, including Rehabilitation.

Strong analytical skills and ability to negotiate in the context of diverse views.

Ability to exercise leadership and to work effectively with colleagues at national and international levels.

Excellent communication skills.

Proven ability to plan, execute, supervise and manage a large international health programme

Ability to work in a multicultural environment

WHO Competencies

Positioning the Organization in Health Leadership

Building and Promoting Partnerships Across the Organization and Beyond

Driving the Organization to a successful future

Producing results

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Proficient knowledge of English and/or French with good working knowledge of the other

The above language requirements are interchangeable.

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 100,800 (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 5082 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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

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.