Team Lead, Demand and Behavioural Sciences

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The IVB Department's mission is “to promote the health and well-being of all people, in all countries, by advancing the impact of vaccines and immunization programmes through partnership & leadership; policies & guidance; evidence & research”. Our work is aligned with the WHO 13th Global Programme of Work (GPW13), with a central focus to drive impact in countries, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages. The Strategic Objectives of the IVB Department include to: 1) Establish global immunization agendas, strategies and policies to build and harness commitment to action; 2) Promote research and innovation to increase impact of vaccines, technologies and immunization practices; 3) Advance evidence-based introduction and access to vaccines and immunization innovations; 4) Optimize immunization delivery to ensure high-impact, sustainable and equitable programmes; and 5) Harness Vaccine Alliances and Partnerships, including collaborations with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and key WHO partners, towards cross-programme coordination and collaboration in pursuit of universal health coverage.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Provides technical leadership and managerial support within the Department in the area of Demand and Behavioural Sciences ensuring that activities in this area are carried out efficiently and effectively.• Develops and proposes technical health policies and strategies for implementation through collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and provides advice in developing further the area of Demand and Behavioural Sciences for strengthening and improving technical capacity of target clienteles.• Manages the programme area in delivering its objectives through efficient managing of a small team of technical staff, financial resources and effective work planning to optimize the programme's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.• Leads and conducts research on best practices in implementing programmes and activities and dissemination of information for capacity building in the respective area of work. • Manages the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the subject area of work of key performance indicators and reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize performance of Programme deliverables.• Serves as the technical reference among the peer community, UN Agencies and other stakeholders at the technical levels in the respective area of expertise. • Liaises with and utilizes partnerships in other UN Agencies, donor, or research institutions in the area of Demand and Behavioural Sciences to position the technical area of work and implementation into Global and/or National policies.• Represent the programme area of work at various meetings to advocate for Demand and Behavioural Sciences.• Provide expertise and insights in robust use and analysis of the latest evidence on behavioural and social sciences to guide strategic planning and decision-making. • Perform all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree in the behavioural and social sciences or related field relevant to the position.
Desirable: A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

Essential: • A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in global health and communicable disease prevention, including at least 5 years of experience in the area of health policies and strategies related to vaccine acceptance and demand.• Demonstrated experience managing human and financial resources.• Demonstrated experience at the international level.• Demonstrated experience in leading the development of policies, guidelines or training materials.• A proven track record in building collaborative and healthy partnerships at global or regional level in public health or vaccine-preventable diseases.• Experience in interacting with a broad range of immunization stakeholders at global and country level.
Desirable: • Proven experience in building and influencing complex multi-stakeholder partnerships, and in planning and coordinating multi-stakeholder convenings.• Direct field experience in working on vaccine acceptance and demand, addressing hesitancy in a variety of country settings.• Proven experience in offering technical assistance, training and capacity building at country, regional and global levels.• Demonstrated experience with global and regional partnerships and working with donors.

Skills

• Strong technical skills in the area of behavioural and social sciences.• Concrete skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes.• Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.• Good skills in mobilizing resources.• Ability to engage and communicate effectively and diplomatically with external partners including Ministries of Health, Donor institutions, Civil Society, and other stakeholders. Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in immunization.Desirable:• Strong track record and background in vaccination demand, vaccine hesitancy, behaviour change communication, and application of social science disciplines to public health.• Knowledge of immunization programmes and key global initiatives such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Polio Eradication Programme.• Highly motivated individual capable of influencing and taking initiative.• Ability to plan and execute projects in a timely manner with strong planning and organization skills, also able to adapt to organizational changes.• Proven technical and analytical writing skills, and an ability to combine theoretically sound strategies with practical realities, and to think strategically and analytically.• Ability to develop effective working relationships with a wide range of partners.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

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 88,162 (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 6105 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.