Technical Officer, Biosafety

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department of Global Infectious Hazards Preparedness (GIH) advances global efforts to prevent and control existing and emerging infectious diseases by increasing access to evidence-based interventions; fostering impactful innovation; and leveraging technical, operational and strategic partnerships. In addition, GIH develops global mechanisms to facilitate coordination and collaboration between countries and multi-sectoral partners for catastrophic events of natural, accidental or deliberate origin. The department is committed to delivering GPW13 Outcome 2.2 Epidemics and pandemics prevented, through:

i. Delivering risk assessment, technical guidance, interventions and control strategies for country impact;
ii. Promoting innovation and adoption of new technologies;
iii. Aligning and coordinating international action through trusted partnership;
iv. Ensuring vulnerable populations have access to life-saving interventions and supplies.

The World Health Organization is developing a new, voluntary system - the WHO BioHub System - through which WHO Member States will be able to share biological materials with epidemic or pandemic potential with WHO as soon as possible after their detection to facilitate the development of public health information and knowledge, and, in due course, development of medical countermeasures. This sharing will be via one (or more) of the laboratories which WHO has pre-designated as a WHO BioHub Facility.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Develop and implement work plans for ensuring, monitoring and evaluating safe and secure operations of the whole WHO BioHub system with a particular focus on the BioHub facilities and qualified entities (recipients of the samples).
• Develop criteria for evaluation of laboratory safety and security proportionate to characteristics of the pathogens and planned experiments.
• Profile laboratory safety capacities and keep the record updated, including regular evaluation through assessment or other means as appropriate and agreed.
• Support safety and security capacity building for the laboratories willing to join the system and engaging in preparedness and response to epidemic-prone diseases.
• Perform other related responsibilities and activities, including replacing and/or backstopping as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• Advanced level university degree in health-related field or biological sciences from an accredited academic institution.

Desirable:

• Doctoral degree in life science, medicine, biomedical engineering or other related fields. Training in virology, microbiology, infectious disease epidemiology or other related life sciences.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 7 years of professional experience in the context of biological laboratory science, biosafety and/or biosecurity, including engagement and exposure at the international level.
• Demonstrated capacity and experience in producing high quality reports and papers in the relevant areas, and in development of internationally acclaimed guidance documents, norms and standards.
• Proven capacity in working with diverse stakeholders cooperatively and productively.
• Track record of relevant scientific publications related to operational biological safety studies.

Desirable:

• Experience with UN or other international or multinational organizations.
• Ability to organize and conduct operational research and capacity building in project formulation, implementation, publication and evaluation.
• Experience and knowledge in external assessment processes and regulatory affairs in the relevant fields.

Skills

• Expert knowledge and skills in biosafety and biosecurity, inter alia, capacity building, high containment and operational study.
• Proven skills and knowledge in norms and standard setting, guidance document development and regulatory assessment process.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects including work planning and reporting.
• Capabilities to act independently, exercise sound judgment and take initiative.
• Planning and analytical skills, with the ability to foster consensus and team spirit.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, tact, diplomacy and discretion.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Strong analytical, research, communication and advocacy skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Setting an example

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 75,602 (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 5147 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.