Technical Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department of Digital Health and Innovation sits within the Science Division, led by Chief Scientist. The overall mission of the Science Division is to harness the power of science and innovation in a systematic way, by ensuring the excellence, relevance and efficiency of WHO's core technical functions, including norms and standards and research. Within the Division, the specific purpose of DHI is to harness the power of digital health and technologies to contribute to the attainment of the highest standard of health of all people.

The mandate of the department is structured around 4 functions:

1. To enhance WHO's global leadership and role in assessing and enabling digital health technologies, and support countries to make decisions about how to prioritize, integrate, implement and regulate them.

2. To support development of methods for assessment of digital technologies, at global and national level.

3. To identify, foster and scale up evidence-based innovations, to address gaps in UHC, health emergencies and healthier populations.

4. To identify and foster internal and external collaboration through networks and partnerships to help identify and address gaps and avenues for digital health solutions.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the supervision of Unit Head, Public Digital Health Technology, and in collaboration with teams in HQ, Regional and Country Offices, and partners agencies, the incumbent will contribute to the implementation of the Smart Guidelines Initiative including carrying out the following responsibilities:

1. Participate in establishing normative methodologies for translating WHO recommendations into artifacts that facilitate adoption of WHO recommendations into digital systems. This includes supporting the development of standard operating procedures for creating Smart Guidelines and their artifacts, such as Digital Accelerator Kits and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources Implementation Guides; Contributing to the development of evidence-based publications in the area of work; Conducting research on leading practices and best-in-class methodologies for developing digital technologies (e.g. human-centered design); and working closely with colleagues, regional and country office focal points, and external partners as appropriate, to ensure strategic alignment on interoperability and data governance.

2.Liaise with counterparts in stakeholders internally and externally and partnerships for moving forward the Smart Guidelines initiative, including, establishing strategic partnerships with external stakeholders in public and private sectors to support the ecosystem of tools and mechanisms needed for implementing and distributing Smart guideline content; Preparing and supporting the creation of memorandum of understandings with Member States and Partners; Ensuring appropriate stakeholders are involved at appropriate times and for specific outputs or projects; Managing weekly working groups with external panel of experts; Contributing to advocacy and communications activities relating to the work of the team; and liaising n an on-going basis with DHI communications staff to ensure that the work of the team is appropriately reflected on public-facing platforms and information channels.

3. Creating implementation guidance and provide country-level support for adoption, scale-up and integration of evidence-based and interoperability standards-based digital solutions for health to address gaps in universal health coverage, health emergencies, and healthier populations. This includes developing materials needed for capacity building; Supporting departments in WHO-HQ, WHO Regional Offices, and Country Offices to adopt new mechanisms for making WHO recommendations more accessible via digital tools and in digital formats, and creating Smart Guidelines specific to their health domain; Preparing technical reports, presentations, and other related written output; Leading meetings and promoting WHO's position on digital health and innovation and interoperability governance.

4. Contribute to the development of conformance and assessment criteria for review of digital health products' alignment with smart guidelines and target product specifications. this includes developing materials needed for assessment according to standards, specifications, and health content associated with smart guidelines; Supporting departments in WHO-HQ, WHO Regional and Country Offices, to understand and have capacity to support countries review and adopt digital products that meet minimum criteria of alignment with smart guidelines; Developing guidance for technologists to encourage ensure they adopt and their products conform to smart guidelines' health content and interoperability standards; Preparing technical reports, presentations, and other related written outputs; Leading meetings and promote WHO's position on digital health and innovation and interoperability governance.

5. Perform all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A first university degree in medicine, public health, business administration, health informatics, or related degree.
Desirable: Advanced degree (master's level or above ) in medicine, public health, business administration, health informatics, or related degree.

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years of relevant experience combining: Proven experience in requirements gathering for digital health solutions. Experience in developing strategies for organizational digital transformations and implementation of those strategies. Professional experience in strategy consulting and management consulting for digital solutions. Experience with developing and organizing the technical content needed for a variety of stakeholders that include public health professionals as well as software developers. Experience working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment managing a variety of stakeholders with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds and experiences. Experience in a variety of health domains, ideally experience in primary health care.
Desirable:

Skills

- In-depth understanding of WHO's publications, guidance, and products surrounding digital health, e.g. WHO guideline recommendations on digital interventions for health system strengthening, Digital Implementation Investment Guide, Classification of Digital Health Interventions.

- Excellent problem solving and understanding of how various technology solutions can be leveraged to address health care challenges.

- Ability to frame and design technology solutions that would address health care challenges.

- Demonstrated project management and implementation skills.

- Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with multiple stakeholders in an international environment.

- Ability to deliver high-quality products under very tight deadlines.

- Strong presentation and story-telling skills with excellent ability to use PowerPoint.

- Business process mapping and creation of terminology standards-based data dictionaries.

- Proven competencies in requirements gathering for digital health solutions.

- Ability to stay up to date on new innovations and technology trends and gauge their ability to disrupt health care and health service delivery.

- An understanding of WHO research, guidance and/or guidelines development processes.

- Strong business acumen and understanding of private sector within the context of the digital health domain.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of another WHO Official Language.

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 60,962 (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 4415 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.

• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.