Unit Head

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.The Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems division (WSE) is responsible to build a system of collaborative intelligence enabling better decisions to avert and manage public health threats and risks. Its goal is to enable, strengthen and support countries, regional and global actors in averting and managing public health threats and risks through collaborative problem solving and decision-making for short-term action and long-term policies, informed by better data and analytics.The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence is a new office of WHO, located in Berlin. It will work with partners to enable the generation of public health relevant information to provide timely actionable insights in response to health emergencies; and improve decision making in response to prepare for, avert and respond to public health threats. It also aims to reduce fragmentation and inefficiency by creating an ecosystem that promotes collaboration across multiple professional disciplines, sectors, and initiatives; and empower decision makers, public health professionals, and civil society to make informed public health decisions.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Generic duties

•Provides technical leadership, coordination and managerial support within the Department/Programme, in the Unit of Networks and Collaboration 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 area of networks and collaboration for strengthening and improving technical capacity of target clienteles.•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 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, Donor, or research institutions in the area of networks and collaboration to position the technical area of work and implementation into Global and/or National policies.•Represent the programme area of work at various meetings to advocate for networks and collaboration in the area of collaborative intelligence.•Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties

•Provides senior technical leadership for the development of networks and collaborations for pandemic and epidemic intelligence that are relevant for the detection and response to health emergencies.•Leads the establishment of global expert networks and collaborations across all WHO Regions in close collaboration with WHO Geneva, the WHO Regional Offices, and WHO Country Offices.•Identifies and leads engagement and collaborative opportunities with Member States, External Partners, and UN Agencies to better detect and respond to health emergencies.•Contribute to raising the WHO Hub's visibility and impact in line with strategic goals and Objectives.•Works strategically to support the Assistant Director-General for Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance to identify funding, technical and other support from partner organizations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree in public health, international policy, international relations, development studies, management or economics related to the functions of the position.

Desirable: A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the management of networks and collaboration, including experience providing senior level advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision makers, managing human and financial resources, as well as experience in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies. Demonstrated experience at the international level.

Skills

•Concrete skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes.•Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies•Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.•Good skills in mobilizing resources.•Proven leadership skills in the design, development and management of multistakeholder partnerships•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
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
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 90,664 (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 2591 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.