Programme Area Manager, Emergency Operations (EMO)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

WHE brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacities in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. WHE is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities.

Emergency Operations (EMO) within the WHE is responsible for ensuring that emergency-affected populations have access to timely and effective health services. This includes ensuring a strong emergency management system (based on incident management), effective and inclusive coordination mechanisms, joint assessments and planning by partners, implementation of operations and services according to agreed standards, and strong logistics and operational support. The expansion and strengthening of operational partnerships is a key priority. EMO also leads on humanitarian policy and guidance, as well as representation to key interagency bodies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following duties:

1. Lead and direct all aspects of Emergency Operations (EMO) work in emergency operations, in close collaboration with WHO senior management at HQ, Regional and Country Offices, through an organization-wide network for the development, implementation and oversight of policies, strategies, programmes of work, and annual work plans in emergency operations and their implementation and monitoring of results.

2. In close collaboration with the Regional Emergency Director (RED) and WHO senior management, lead the formulation, revision and updating of all technical aspects of guidelines for emergency response, based on sound Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and their application across all levels of the department and WHO as appropriate, including ensuring operational and technical support in emergency operations in response to epidemic events, outbreaks and other health emergencies with focus on confirming and grading decisions on emergencies in line with the WHO protocols and guidelines, in full coordination with IASC and a broad range of key partners and stakeholders through inter-agency and inter-cluster collaboration based on a culture of collaborative multi-disciplinary cross-cutting approaches to optimize the use of effective incident management, in line with International Health Regulations (2005) to further operational support for WHO response to epidemic events.

3. Provide strategic advice and expertise on emergency operations to the RED, WHE, on relations and partnerships with the United Nations, UN Agencies, Member States, NGOs and other key partners and stakeholders toward enabling and promoting collaborative working agreements and collaborative arrangements to establish a common understanding of health priorities in ongoing emergencies and to ensure the provision of comprehensive technical support, including the convening of time-limited task forces to address specific issues, as necessary.

4. Harness and coordinate technical expertise from all areas in WHE, as well as programme areas across the three levels of WHO as appropriate to strengthen the implementation of all-hazards emergencies work through the provision of networks of experts and technical expertise mechanisms.

5. Play a key role in overseeing sound and effective leadership, motivation, guidance, management and performance evaluation of EMO staff, including proactively promoting effective team work and achievement of results and resolving problems, within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, and WHE-accepted procedures; and managing EMO regional budget within the framework of WHO Staff and Financial Rules and Regulations.

6. Provide technical support in Member States' implementation of the Regional Framework for Action for Disaster Risk Management for Health and capacity-building in response to and preparedness for public health emergencies as needed.

7. Upon request, provide technical and managerial support, backstopping and gap-filling for emergency activities at any level of the Organization or scale of emergency.

8. Represents RED and EMO at internal and external official meeting and responds to media inquiries as required and assigned.

9. Perform other related duties, as requested by supervisor, including WHO's readiness activities and provision of support to other areas of work and teams or programme areas within the WHE, as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree (master's level or higher) in medicine complemented by a post-graduate degree (master's degree or higher) in public health or other related field.
Desirable: Specialization in epidemiology, emergency and/or humanitarian response. Training in leadership or management.

Experience

Essential: Minimum ten years of proven experience in health in the field of emergency management including operations in response to emergencies and epidemic events, combined with leadership and managerial experience, with at least five years' experience in coordinating large scale public health projects in developing countries, with knowledge of inter-agency mechanisms in the area of international preparedness for and response to health emergencies.
Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO and/or the UN system in the areas of outbreak response and/or humanitarian interventions; field experience in public health programmes or emergency response programmes in developing countries.

Skills

-Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills in international and multicultural settings combined with proven ability to successfully coordinate, manage and lead projects, and build partnerships with multiple partners in the context of health emergencies.

-Sound strategic and tactical thinking with ability to formulate clear comprehensive policies, strategies and plans.

-Superior organizational skills with ability to multitask and produce results under pressure.

-Excellent interpersonal with proven ability to communicate in a clear and effective way, with tact, diplomacy and courtesy.

-Authoritative and comprehensive knowledge of the theory, principles, methods and techniques in international emergency risk management and humanitarian response, with a broad-based understanding of its growing complexity including knowledge of the workings of relevant international policy-setting bodies.

-Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational background and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Driving the Organization's Position in Health Leadership
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of written and spoken English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of other UN Languages.

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 3607 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.