Team Coordinator, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Division Mandate: To achieve the control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases throughout the Western Pacific Region by targeting the reduction of morbidity and mortality of such conditions and diseases. The division supports integrated people-centred care approaches by strengthening primary healthcare services for prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment of target diseases and conditions along the life-course, while ensuring to reach the unreached and achieving universal health coverage.

Unit Mandates - Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)To establish and leverage the impact of an effective prevention and control programme that targets the reduction of morbidity and mortality resulting from diseases, through a comprehensive approach to immunization, that is made timely and responsive through ground level surveillance and the promotion of related health interventions.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Head of the WHO Country Office, Papua New Guinea, and guidance of the Director, Communicable Diseases, the incumbent will be required to perform the following duties:

1. Coordination & Management:

1. Strategic coordination and partnership

• Works with the government, partners, and WHO Regional Office and headquarters’ staff in coordinating technical and financial assistance to the national immunization programme.
• Coordinates and collaborates partnership and advocacy with the Government, its partners and other WHO staff to ensure sustainable financing for EPI programmes to address coverage, equity, quality and impact of the programme. Coordinate partners’ (Gavi, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, United Nations Children’s Fund, Open Society Foundations) inputs to ensure optimal and efficient use of financial and human resources through Interagency Coordination Committee as well as convenes other ad hoc meetings as needed.
• The incumbent will support the country in the successful transition from GAVI support by addressing key health systems strengthening (HSS) issues.

2. Programme management

• Prescribes the team’s work processes and drives the execution of plans and programmes. Ensures that monitoring mechanisms are set up to track and evaluate successes against goals.
• Reallocates resources in response to changing priorities and available funding. Effectively works through bureaucracy in pursuing objectives. Functions as both technical and management facilitator, bridging WHO project work to the needs of Member States.
• Working closely with the National Government, the incumbent directs the execution and ensures the alignment of projects and initiatives across the various WHO programmes, and integrates these efforts to ensure a comprehensive approach to health interventions and the resolution of cross-cutting issues.

3. Team management

• Leads, directs, and manages the WHO EPI country team. Builds a competent team by securing the best resources, allotting learning opportunities, and providing ongoing coaching and feedback. Sets clear performance expectations, delegates effectively, and monitors and measures progress against objectives. Helps EPI country team members remove barriers and constructively deal with diversity and change, and establishes collaborative relationships based on respect and sensitivity. Builds trust through own authenticity and follow-through on commitments.

2. Technical capacity

• Provides technical advice to the Government and international partners on the design, implementation, and evaluation of immunization programme.
• Develops and evaluates large-scale pilots to improve coverage and equity of immunization services.
• Reviews and assists in the development of national and regional technical guidelines.
• Leads initiatives and innovation around research, forecasting and clinical studies. Engages in strategic level dialogue to influence national policy and strategy on Adverse Events Following Immunization, National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, Measles-Rubella (MR) risk assessment, MR campaign and new vaccines introduction.

3. Enabling capacity

1. Networking/Fund raising/Partnership:

• Actively secures opportunities to build partnerships across an extensive network of contacts, including donor partners and national focal points.
• Collaborates with this network to set objectives and implement national programmes, in order to leverage ideas, promote mutual values, and obtain resources and funds.
• Leads the proposal writing activities in the team. Proactively influences, and incorporates plans with other functional units within and beyond the Regional Office, including external partners and WHO headquarters.

2. Capacity-building

• Shapes the long-term capacity-building programme of Member States beyond Gavi transition in 2020. Oversees the approach and tactics of the WHO team.
• Takes responsibility for self-development and influences the professional growth of others, so as to maintain and elevate both personal and team standards of competence and credibility. As such, ensures accurate, comprehensive and timely practice of the performance management and development system for all staff.

3. Advocacy/Communication

• Oversees and provides overall direction in all advocacy and communications activities, with the goal of influencing national policy-makers and helping establish effective health practices of all sectors of society. Offers technical input as necessary.
• Presents technical briefings to ensure accurate and consistent delivery of corporate messages and WHO advice by team and programme staff.

4. Other duties

• Performs other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in Medicine (MBBS) from a recognized university with postgraduate degree (MPH) in Public Health.
Desirable: Training related to immunization systems strengthening will be an added advantage.

Experience

Essential: Minimum ten years' relevant experience in communicable disease control in developing countries at national and/or international level.
Desirable:Work experience in mass vaccination activities and/or new vaccine rollout; experience in working and coordinating with multiple immunization partners at international level; experience in coordinating COVID-19 vaccination response such as COVID-19 vaccine rollout, immunization safety, monitoring & evaluation, etc; will be added advantages.

Skills

--> Knowledge of the specific or technical area of public health;

--> Ability to develop norms and standards, as well as training materials;

--> Capacity to plan and conduct operational activities with political and technical elements;

--> Ability to establish harmonious working relationships as part of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain a high standard of personal conduct;

--> Ability to demonstrate gender equity and cultural appropriateness in the delivery of services to Member States.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Promoting innovation and organizational learning
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of written and spoken English.

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 5402 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.