By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

Young Professionals Programme - Technical Officer (Research for Health)

Geneva

  • Organization: WHO - World Health Organization
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Junior level - P-2, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Scientist and Researcher
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

The Young Professionals Programme

WHO Headquarters offers opportunities for young professionals from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to engage in WHO’s work and build skills and competence in key public health areas. This is a structured programme which incorporates additional exposure and experience at country level and career support.

Young Professionals will be assigned to regular WHO positions and will be fully immersed in WHO’s technical work. Young Professionals will benefit from career support, networking, mentoring and tailored learning opportunities throughout this period to support them in achieving their personal career goals. To enhance their knowledge and widen their professional network, the YPP may be posted in a different WHO office on short term learning assignments.

Eligibility criteria

The following eligibility criteria in addition to the minimum requirements of the position will be used to shortlist candidates:

  • To be no older than 35 years on 31 December of the year of application.
  • To be a national of a country eligible for the Programme: List of Eligible Countries.
  • To hold a relevant university degree obtained in your home country or other eligible country.

Exceptions will be considered where no institute of higher education exists offering the degrees required for eligibility to this Programme as per the World Higher Education Database.

We invite eligible candidates to register for our virtual Young Professionals Programme event taking place mid-November 2021. More information is available at: https://www.impactpool.org/campaigns/who_young_professionals_programme_campaign

Purpose of the Position

The main purpose of this position is to provide technical support to strengthen and scale-up the use of research and innovation. This includes:

(i) work on research policy, such as promoting access considerations throughout the R&D process and providing support to Product Development Partnerships (PDPs); and
(ii) enhancing knowledge translation activities both within WHO (at all three levels of the Organization) and in support of Member States that are part of the Evidence-informed Policy Network (EVIPNet).

The position requires knowledge of scientific and technical issues pertaining to R&D, public private partnerships and research uptake. The major expected outputs are technical support to PDPs, the establishment and maintenance of platforms for exchange and collaboration, and technical assistance to EVIPNet member countries.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate Strategic Objective

The Research for Health Department sits within the Science Division with the overall mission to harness the power of science and innovation to improve health in a systematic way, by ensuring the excellence, relevance and efficiency of WHO’s core technical functions, including norms and standards and research.
Within this Division, the specific purpose of the Research for Health department is to accelerate the impact of ethical, evidence-based research for people’s health. Its mandate is structured around three units: (1) Emerging technologies, research prioritisation & support, (2) Health ethics & governance, and (3) Evidence to Policy and Impact. The unit Evidence to Policy and Impact comprises of two workstreams, (1) research policy and (2) evidence to policy/practice, both geared towards enhancing the use of research and innovation.

Organizational context

The incumbent will report to the Unit Head of Evidence to Policy and Impact, Research for Health department. Within the delegated authority and under the general guidance from the supervisor and the lead ‘research policy’, the incumbent will contribute to a range of activities related to strengthening research uptake and scaling-up innovations at regional and country levels.

Summary of Assigned Duties

  • To develop scoping reviews on topics related to knowledge translation, and to mainstreaming access considerations into Research and Development (R&D) pipelines.
  • To undertake a landscape analysis and support assessing the feasibility of establishing a Product Development Partnership (PDP) in low- or middle-income countries.
  • To support the provision of technical assistance to WHO regional and country offices as well as Member States in strengthening and institutionalizing the systematic and transparent use of research in policy and practice.
  • To assist in the establishment and operationalization of a platform for PDPs for the exchange of information and best practices.
  • To assist the unit in organizing thematic meetings, such as on priority issues related to PDPs, and international conferences, including the conceptual development, implementation and follow-up of events.
  • To support the management and expansion of a coalition of regional and global partners to harmonize activities related to evidence-informed policy and practice.
  • To support the functioning of the WHO internal working group to strengthen the use of research evidence for health impact.
  • To contribute to the development of a communication strategy for the unit and to implement selected communication and advocacy products, including website and social media updates as well as newsletters.
  • Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

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

Functional Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Ability to think strategically; to express ideas clearly; to work independently and in teams.
  • A strong commitment to international public health; an interest in adapting to varied physical and professional environments; and a desire to work with people with different language, national and cultural backgrounds.
  • Excellent analytical skills and research competencies.
  • Good understanding of policy processes.
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiating skills.
  • Capacity to promote and implement collaboration and exchange with partners.

Desirable

  • Scientific communications and writing skills, skills in knowledge translation and facilitating/managing networks, systemic reviews and/or scoping review skills.


Education Qualifications

Essential

An advanced university degree in international studies, political science, health sciences, public health or related subject field. A university degree in a relevant subject must have been obtained in your home country or other eligible country.


Desirable

Qualifications related to international trade and communication.

Experience

Essential

Two years of relevant work experience in a context of public health with exposure to research generation or use.

Desirable

Theoretical and practical knowledge in public private partnerships, experience in promoting access to new health technologies, scientific communications and writing experience (including publishing in peer-reviewed journals), knowledge translation and facilitating/managing networks of practice/expertise, and/or experience with developing systemic reviews.


Use of Language Skills

Essential

Intermediate knowledge of English.

Desirable

Expert knowledge of English. Intermediate knowledge of French.


Other Skills

Computer literacy complemented by knowledge of IT tools for information-sharing.
Proven ability to communicate and to write technical documents in a clear and concise manner.


Additional Information

Candidates may apply to one or more vacancies advertised under the YPP; candidates should ensure they meet the vacancy and programme eligibility criteria.

The selection process may include asynchronous video assessment, technical evaluation and interview.

If your candidature is retained for 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.

Should you have any questions, please check our FAQs available at https://www.who.int/careers. If your question is not listed, please contact us at YPP@who.int.

For information on WHO's operations, please visit: http://www.who.int.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: