Programme Assistant

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Public Health Laboratories unit has the objective of assisting Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to meet their obligations under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 to have a comprehensive approach to strengthening laboratories as an integral part of health systems and to harmonize efforts with communicable disease prevention and control units and to implement a strategy for strengthening Health Laboratory Services.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Provide full administrative support including drafting in line with WHO style guide, reviewing and dispatching of correspondence, reports, documents, etc., independently compose and finalize correspondence of administrative nature and draft interim replies, draft presentations as guided by professional staff. Receive, screen and log all incoming correspondence, search for information and attach background, provide unofficial translation, if needed, take minutes of unit meetings, update and maintain unit filing system (paper based, electronic and database).Follow up on the implementation of programme activities and ensure timely submission of unit's contributions; respond to and act on telephone enquiries, assess the urgency of programme matters and refer them to appropriate staff for action, inform and remind professional staff in the unit of deadlines, provide supporting material as appropriate.Organize the travel of the Regional Adviser and unit staff, including raising travel requests (TRs) in the General Management System (GSM), security clearance, finalizing travel itineraries and hotel bookings etc., and following up and maintaining records on the submission of duty travel reports.Provide full administrative support to the unit's intercountry meetings, draft rationale and plan (including approximate costs) for meetings, compile and process all necessary documentation, liaise with participants, issue TRs, effect payments for participants, follow up on travel claims and complete logistical and financial arrangements. Using GSM, carry out the function of project administrator; entering unit workplans, monitoring availability of funds and financial expenditures according to the approved workplan, initiating expenditure batches, and liaising and coordinating with country offices on the implementation of the workplan related to the concerned programme. Initiate and process different transactions in GSM, including procurement of goods & services; completing necessary forms, obtaining approvals for APWs and submitting documentation to the Administrative Assistant, and following up with concerned parties on the receipt of deliverables and finalization of payments.Update the unit's webpages linked to the programmatic areas. 9. Assist/replace administrative staff in the Department, and perform other relevant duties within their scope of responsibility as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Completion of secondary education supplemented by secretarial training.
Desirable: University degree in business administration, social sciences or related field an asset.

Experience

Essential: At least five years' progressive administrative experience.
Desirable: Relevant experience in the UN system.

Skills

- Good filing and organizational skills.- Ability to maintain good working relationships with staff, experts and visitors.- Demonstrated ability to translate routine correspondence into English. - Very good time management and stress management skills.- Very good knowledge of WHO rules, manuals, practices, procedures and WHO Style Guide applicable to the administrative level an asset.

WHO Competencies

Communication
Producing results
Teamwork
Moving forward in a changing environment
Knowing and managing yourself

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Arabic.
Desirable:

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at EGP 306,297 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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.

• 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.

• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.