Unit Head (Behavioural Insight)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the Behavioural Insights and Science (BIS) Unit at WHO is to mainstream and scale up the use of behavioural sciences across the Organization. Currently, the unit has five core functions namely:

1. Create normative tools and manage a technical advisory group;

2. Provide technical support to WHO teams across the three levels;

3. Build capacity on behavioural science among WHO staff and its partners;

4. Facilitate knowledge sharing;

5. Position WHO as a key player in the field of behavioural science for health.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Generic duties:

• Provides technical leadership, coordination and managerial support within the Department/Programme, in the Unit of Behavioural Insights and Science ensuring that activities in this area are carried out efficiently and effectively.
• Develops and proposes technical health policies and strategies for implementation through collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and provides advice in developing further the use of behavioural insights for strengthening and improving the technical capacity of the target clientele.
• Oversees a unit of technical teams specialized in various domains within their area of expertise and facilitates the efficient flow of team synergies.
• Manages the programme area in delivering its objectives through efficient managing a small team of technical staff, financial resources and effective work planning to optimize the programme's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.
• Leads and conducts research on best practices in implementing programmes and activities and dissemination of information for capacity building in the respective area of work.
• Manages the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the subject area of work of key performance indicators and reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize the performance of Programme deliverables.
• Serves as the technical reference among the peer community, UN Agencies and other stakeholders at the technical levels in the respective area of expertise.
• Liaises with and utilizes partnerships in other UN Agencies, Donors, or research institutions in behavioural science to position the technical area of work and implementation into Global and/or national policies.
• Represents the programme area of work at various meetings to advocate for behavioural science.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties:

• Leads on the identification and establishment of strategic partnerships across a variety of sectors for the fast advancement of the unit's mission.
• Guides and coordinates the work of a series of external and internal advisory bodies and initiatives either existing or to be created, such as WHO's Technical Advisory Group for Behavioural Insights and Sciences for health.
• Creates an enabling, WHO-tailored environment aimed at facilitating the prioritization, experimentation of, and consistent application of behavioural sciences theories, approaches and techniques across WHO's operations. This includes leading on the development of organizational tools.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced level university degree in social sciences, behavioural sciences, behavioural economics, psychology, marketing and strategic communications, anthropology, public health or other relevant field related to the functions of the position.
Desirable: A Management-related advanced degree or certification/s or PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the management of social and behavioural sciences, or communications for behavioural change or social marketing projects or programmes; including experience in the area of health policies and strategies. Demonstrated experience managing human and financial resources. Demonstrated experience at the international level.
Desirable: Experience with WHO or another UN organisation. Relevant experience working with or in multi and bilateral development agencies or UN agencies. Demonstrated experience leading or engaging in partnership and collaboration with international organizations or institutions, academia, private sector. Experience working in low-and middle-income settings.Experience working with senior management levels and across cultures.

Skills

• Concrete skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of public health/disease control programmes.
• Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies.
• Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.
• Good skills in mobilizing resources.
• Ability to engage and communicate effectively and diplomatically with external partners including Ministries of Health, Donor institutions, Civil Society, and other stakeholders.
• Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communicating in credible and effective way
Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond
Producing results
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

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 89,837 (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 6214 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 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.

• 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.