Medical Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The objective of the Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing is to generate and synthesize evidence of effective interventions to promote health and wellbeing and combat excess morbidity and mortality for preventable causes, develop guidelines and normative tools, provide technical assistance to countries and monitor access, quality and coverage of services and interventions to achieve relevant national targets and Sustainable Development Goals. The immediate strategic objective of the position is to support high-burden countries to put in place evidence-based policies and strategies to achieve universal access to high quality health services for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and ageing (MNCAH&A); increase access, quality and coverage of effective MNCAH&A interventions among pregnant women, newborns, children, adolescents, young adults and older people; and create mechanisms to measure the impact of those strategies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Support the updating and further development of the MCA's technical strategic approach, guidance and tools to improve MNCH QOC using an integrated approach with particular focus to paediatric quality of care; Provide high-level, specialist technical support with a focus on regions and countries to advance MCA's work in the area of quality of care (QOC) and MNCH programming; Contribute to the development of holistic child health primary care guidelines and tools to improve case management of sick children and their quality of care at first and referral health facilities;Contribute to generating the evidence for the development of norms and standards for integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI), and in collaboration with associated WHO programmes and regions, promote their use at first and referral level; Support development of an implementation research agenda on QOC for MNCH including promoting operational research on QOC for MNCH interventions; Build capacities and provide technical assistance to the regions and countries in the area of MNCH quality of care, and support implementation of key strategies and interventions aimed at improving QOC for MNCH; working in collaboration with other WHO programs, Regional Offices and partners; Coordinate, facilitate and monitor departmental projects related to improving the quality of care for MNCH; and monitor implementation of planned activities including preparation of technical reports;Support the collation, documentation and dissemination of best practices and experiences in implementation strategies, approaches and interventions; and the sharing of learning across regions and countries;Liaise with other UN Agencies, donors, research and academic institutions and other relevant partners to advance the MCA agenda on QOC and its translation into global, national and/or subnational policies and programmes. Advocate and mobilize resources for WHO's work on QOC for MNCH and development with a focus on implementation research and normative tools.Performs all other related duties, as assigned.Achievements expected include: --> Guidance and tools to support implementation and monitoring of national MNCAH quality of care strategies updated or developed. --> Standards of holistic care for children's health, development and wellbeing developed and disseminated to support Member States in the provision of quality, integrated health services for children.--> Capacities built for quality improvement in MNCH services in countries. --> Best practices distilled and sharing of learning across countries facilitated. --> MNCH quality of care implementation activities coordinated.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university degree in medicine.
Desirable: A degree or specialization in public health or related discipline from a recognized university would be an asset.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 7 years of progressive responsibility at the national and international levels in the field maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, public health, health-care service quality of care improvement, of which at least 4 years' demonstrated professional experience working in low and middle-income countries and/or regional level providing technical support to government partners as well as developing strategies and programmes for MNCH including quality of care; experience in programme development, implementation and support or managing initiatives, collaborations or relations with external stakeholders; experience in management of projects and supporting quality of care assessments, reporting and learning systems, education and training in quality of care; developing norms and standards for health care services or activities in national or international settings; experience in managing international networks; producing well-written documents, requiring excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Desirable: Experience in working with muti-stakeholders and partners. Experience in management of multi-country initiatives/projects and research.

Skills

1) Good knowledge of global health issues with in-depth knowledge of issues related to quality of care, and knowledge in the field of for quality of care improvement, including knowledge in quality improvement interventions, implementation research and monitoring.2) Ability to identify priorities, develop technical guidance and tools in the field of QOC for MNCH, and to build consensus on standards of care, implementation tools, and methods for improvement of quality of care.3) Proven ability in contributing to quality of care initiatives. 4) A good communicator with skills to present information clearly, both orally and in writing and able to make judgments using available evidence with ability to work within and contribute to a team. 5) Ability to identify priority issues to improve QOC for MNCH, in particular in the context of low- and middle-income countries and national strategies for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health. 6) Good knowledge of and experience in engaging a diverse group of international, regional and national stakeholders, including professional networks. 7) Proven ability in convening or facilitating events at national and international levels. 8) Skills and experience in developing proposals for resource mobilization, and in writing, editing of reports, technical guidance or advocacy materials. 9) Demonstrated skills in project implementation.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Driving the Organization's Position in Health Leadership

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Beginners knowledge of French. Beginners knowledge of Other UN 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 74,913 (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 5581 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.