Regional Adviser, Tobacco Control

Purpose of the Post:

To provide policy and strategic directions and technical support to European Member States in developing and strengthening tobacco control policies and intensify support for implementation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco control (WHO FCTC) in the region. Using traditional and innovative efforts, improve the design and identify new avenues for tobacco control policies and regulations, use behavioural and cultural insights to support implementation of interventions to effect behavioural change to reduce tobacco use. To cultivate and strengthen strategic partnerships with relevant external partners and organizations. The incumbent leads and coordinates the tobacco control programme team and facilitates timely implementation of all activities including budget and human resources oversight.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate Strategic Objective:

The Division of Country Health Programmes (CHP) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases and address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health through stewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. It focuses on health promotion measures; prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, and risks related to tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and the harmful use of alcohol; communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases; elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocacy for increased use of vaccines; containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance; addressing existing and emerging environmental health risks, and supporting violence and injury prevention. A determination to ensure universal access to people-centred quality health services across the continuum of care is matched by enriching the evidence base for policy design and interventions using social, cultural and behavioural approaches, to drive implementation of innovation at national, regional and local levels.

The WHO/Europe Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases approach will foster the achievement of NCD-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals in the WHO European Region countries through fostering innovations and strengthening national capacities, governance, multisectoral action, and partnerships in reducing major risk factors, orienting health systems towards people-centered health care and universal health coverage and ensuring access to quality NCD services across the care continuum.

The “NCD Office”, an integral part of WHO/Europe’s Prevention and Control of NCD approach, will coordinate countries in the development of NCD investment cases and national strategic action plans, coordinate scale-up of “best buys” implementation for country impact for NCDs, the empowerment of individuals, including for better health literacy and capacity-building through NCD flagship courses. It will evolve as a Regional hub for excellence in NCD surveillance, modelling and policy monitoring, implementation research and innovations, including digitalization and big-data approaches to addressing NCDs trends and determinants. It will also work to reduce the major risk factors for noncommunicable diseases– tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and the harmful use of alcohol – provide policy and strategic directions and technical support to countries in developing and strengthening tobacco control programmes and intensify support for WHO FCTC implementation, interventions to reduce alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity, through regulation and policy change, alongside traditional and innovative efforts to change behaviour. It will provide monitoring and surveillance and support to countries on prison health and prison health-care systems and services.

Summary of Assigned Duties:

To provide policy and strategic directions and technical support to European Member States in developing and strengthening tobacco control policies and intensify support for implementation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco control (WHO FCTC) in the region. Using traditional and innovative efforts, improve the design and identify new avenues for tobacco control policies and regulations, use behavioural and cultural insights to support implementation of interventions to effect behavioural change to reduce tobacco use. To cultivate and strengthen strategic partnerships with relevant external partners and organizations. The incumbent leads and coordinates the tobacco control programme team and facilitates timely implementation of all activities including budget and human resources oversight.

Core responsibilities in providing intellectual and technical leadership and guidance in directing the development of tobacco control and assisting Member States in relation to tobacco control as part of country efforts to strengthen health systems include:

1. Contribute to the overall CHP Divisional objectives and towards the implementation of the set deliverables emanating from the European Programme of Work;
2. Dialogue with and advice to policy makers on national plans and policies to ensure that policies do not perpetuate social injustices and inequities, nor increase inequalities in access to health services and in health outcomes; and that redefined responsibilities in health systems are shared in a coordinated and pluralistic manner across all stakeholders with clear lines of accountability and transparency;
3. Develop and implement innovative approaches, adapted to regional/country needs and in the COVID operating reality, in the technical area with strong focus on the effective implementation of the WHO FCTC at country level and attainment of the SDG 3.a;
4. Develop regional plans and provide technical assistance with the development of mechanisms, instruments and tools to implement global and regional strategies in the tobacco control, harnessing European and other experience and knowledge, documenting gaps therein for the definition of the research agenda on the subject matter;
5. Estimate the required resources (human, financial, infrastructure and technological) and knowledge (i.e. through research, evaluation, performance measurement and knowledge management) to build understanding and capacity for improving and assessing tobacco control (i.e. leading policy development and coordination, transforming information into intelligence and applying this to the development and assessment I of health policies and strategies; mobilizing its legal and regulatory powers to attain health system goals; recommending that the health system is designed to adapt to changing needs and exerting influence across other sectors than health and advocating for better health and well-being); and
6. Ensure advocacy, knowledge transmission and advice for the enhancement of the capacities and skills of health ministries along other key ministries and stakeholders in carrying out their tobacco control function.
7. Ensure the gathering of the internationally comparable country surveillance data, including on smoking prevalence and related patterns and habits, improve digital access to data and intelligence to target accelerated implementation in areas of greatest needs.
8. Act as the WHO EURO content expert and focal point for tobacco control, ensuring technical quality and competence and quality of all deliverables of both country and intercountry workplans;
9. Produce authoritative and relevant policy papers and briefs on the subject matter, practical toolkits, analytical briefs and guidelines of upcoming new and pertinent tobacco control issues, country best practices and lessons learned;
10. Promote the exchange of expertise and technologies between and within the WHO Europe Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases teams and all CHP units;
11. Perform the general management of the programme’s professional and general service staff, as first level supervisor (to include monitoring of workload, funds availability, performance management, and to establish mechanisms which ensure proper coordination within the team regarding travel, holidays), including, in liaison with the Head of Country Office, technical programme staff based outside Copenhagen and Moscow;
12. Regularly monitor and assess the performance of the technical area through evaluation and reporting.
13. Perform other duties as assigned.

Functional Knowledge and Skills:

In depth knowledge of the political, social and health systems of countries in the WHO European Region.
Strong diplomatic and negotiation skills.
Demonstrated ability to work with minimal technical supervision.
Emotional awareness; Ability to identify and harness one’s emotions and apply them to tasks; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one’s own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

Competencies:

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Ensuring effective use of resources
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree (Master’s level) in public health, social sciences, law or similar field, relevant to the position.
Desirable: Additional university degree or Doctorate in any of the above fields.

Experience:

Essential: At least 10 years of professional experience attaining senior managerial rank in public health programmes, particularly on non-communicable diseases and/or tobacco control at national and international levels, including demonstrated practical experience in implementing or advising on key domains of international tobacco control and the implementation of the international public health treaty.
Proven experience advising on tobacco control in lower- and middle-income countries.
Demonstrated experience developing and supporting the implementation of evidence-based tobacco control legislation and policies, in data analyses and in intersectoral capacity building.

Desirable: Relevant experience in WHO, UN organizations/agencies, international institutions or NGOs. Proven experience working in partnership with UN organizations, the private sector, multinational organizations and non-governmental organizations Relevant experience in intersectoral work and resource mobilization. Proven experience working with Ministries of Health and other Ministries/Governmental Agencies/Legislative Authorities

Languages:

Fluency in English required. Working knowledge of either French, Russian or German an asset.

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 82,586 (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 4294 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. Please note that the compensation package for Professional and higher category staff in the UN common system is currently undergoing changes in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 70/244 of 23 December 2015. The remuneration amounts indicated above are, therefore, subject to change. The changes will be implemented, retroactively to 1 January 2017, through the WHO payroll. General information can be obtained from the ICSC web site under http://icsc.un.org/ that provides a link to "Your new Compensation Package".

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