Consultant - Senior Scientific Editor

Purpose of consultancy

Responsible for the final editing of the WHO Handbook for the development and quality assurance of normative and standard-setting products (QA Handbook). To provide specialist advice on the WHO Academy course on quality assurance of normative and standard-setting products as a subject matter expert. Diagnostic Technical Specifications Series, the Prequalification of Diagnostic Technical Guidance Series for Prequalification of In Vitro Diagnostics.

Background

The WHO Thirteenth General Programme of Work urges the strengthening of WHO’s normative work by establishing guiding principles and quality assurance procedures for the design, formulation, dissemination and follow-up of all normative and standard-setting products. Towards this end, a clear set of guidance on processes, methodologies and minimum requirements for each normative and standard-setting product is being developed to guide WHO staff who produce these products. These materials will be finalized in a handbook and will be the basis of an online credentialled learning course.

The successful candidate is expected to do the final scientific editing of the QA Handbook and act as subject matter expert to the learning course being developed.

Deliverables

The tasks include the following:

Ensure the QA Handbook’s internal integrity

• Review the QA Handbook’s internal integrity i.e correcting errors; clearly identifying and differentiating types of content; and organizing structure. This may include writing new text to improve flow, understandability, and ease of use.
• Ensure that the components of the QA Handbook are complete and distinct from one another.
• Substantive editing to clarify ideas and to organize and structure manuscripts or chapters. This may also entail rewriting available work or writing new content.
• Advise on logical flow, tone, and consistency, warning of possible internal inaccuracy or content errors.
• Question and suggest correcting internal inconsistencies, such as text-to-table discrepancies and content or factual errors.
• Consider and query what might have been omitted, with the aim of achieving a balanced and effective document.

Suggest and write original content to the QA Handbook

• Make recommendations about, and when appropriate write, additional original content that would improve the QA Handbook. This can include suggesting and writing new chapters on specific topics.
• Advise when further data or citations are needed.
• Suggest the addition or removal of tables, figures or other media to clarify a point or add interest.

Provide advice as subject matter expert on normative and standard-setting product quality assurance training

• Apply subject expertise in evaluating capacity building initiatives on quality assurance, including and principally on the WHO Academy credentialled course on quality assurance.
• Provide subject expertise and guidance during the development, testing and implementation of the WHO Academy course.
• Verify capacity building reference information, including additional training materials.
• Determine whether capacity building solutions meet defined requirements.
• Identify areas where capacity building solutions could be further improved or updated.

Scientifically edit available content of the QA Handbook

• Keep the purpose and intended readership of the material in mind, ensure that the writing style is appropriate.
• Ensure that technical terms are used precisely and in accordance with the recommendations of WHO and other international bodies.
• Apply judicious edits and suggestions for improving clarity or flow.
• Identify and take appropriate action regarding material that shows undue bias, is politically or legally sensitive, or whose publication would be prejudicial to the best interests of WHO or any of its Member States.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

An advanced university degree (corresponding to a Doctorate level degree) in public health, epidemiology, medicine, or another related field

Desirable:

Additional post-graduate training course in advanced epidemiology or research

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 15 years’ experience in the field of guideline development, research, policy or patient management
• Extensive record of having published papers in scientific journals (at least 10 peer-reviewed articles)

Desirable:

Experience with WHO, the UN or other international organizations. Familiarity with WHO technical and administrative systems

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Familiarity with software applications used in evidence synthesis and guideline development (such as GRADEpro, MAGICapp, RevMan, Panelview, Covidence)
• Familiarity with compliance guidance for reporting research and guideline development (such as CONSORT, MOOSE, STARD, STROBE)

Desirable:

Familiarity with WHO house style

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English

Desirable:

Intermediate knowledge of French

Location

Home based – Off-site
The successful candidate is expected to work remotely (and is expected to be readily contactable for meetings, consultations, and discussions during Geneva time working hours).

Travel

The consultant is not expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level D

USD 12,520 to USD 14,400 per month

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

8 months

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• 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.
• 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.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html