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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME The vision of the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care (PPC) is to advance health for all by anticipating change and integrating promotion, prevention and care across all health and disease areas to address today's greatest health burdens and tomorrow's challenges. Within the PPC division, the department of Immunization, Vaccines & Biologicals (IVB) aims to shape a world where everyone, everywhere, at every age, fully benefits from vaccines for good health and well-being through leadership, partnerships, coordination, research, guidance, technical assistance, data for action, and impact monitoring, in both routine and outbreak settings. The Strategic Objectives of the IVB Department draw from WHO mandates, key immunization and global health strategies, and include: Establishing global immunization agendas, strategies and policies to build and harness commitment to action. Promoting research and innovation to increase impact of vaccines, technologies and immunization practices. Advancing evidence-based introduction and access to vaccines and immunization innovations. Optimizing immunization delivery to ensure high-impact, sustainable and equitable programmes, including response to outbreaks and emergencies for global health security. Harnessing vaccine alliances and partnerships, including collaborations with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and key WHO partners, towards cross-programme coordination and collaboration in pursuit of universal health coverage.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Generic duties:
- Provides technical leadership and managerial support within the Department within the area of VPD accelerated disease control and elimination as well as VPD outbreak reduction, response and recovery 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 VPD accelerated disease control activities (e.g., campaign optimization, polio integration, measles and rubella elimination, meningitis and yellow fever control and elimination goals) as well as outbreak reduction, response and recovery to strengthen 3-level technical coordination and capacity.
- Manages the programme area in delivering its objectives through efficient managing a small team of technical staff, development and monitoring of workplans and financial resources and implementation of planned activities to optimize the programme's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.
- Promote and coordinate research and innovation 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 uses partnerships in other UN Agencies, Donor, or research institutions in the area of outbreak reduction and recovery 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 WHO's vaccine-related disease control, elimination, and eradication priorities.
- Perform all other related duties as assigned.
Specific duties:
- Serves as WHO subject matter expert to lead Measles and Rubella Partnership and shape IVB portfolio of work in measles and rubella elimination.
- Leads a close collaboration between IVB and the Health Emergencies Programme, Measles and Rubella Partnership, Polio Eradication, WHO Technical Task Force on Defeating Meningitis by 2030, yellow fever control initiatives and relevant regional offices to coordinate effective IVB3-level response to vaccination-related planning, implementation and monitoring of immunization or outbreak response activities, particularly in fragile settings or humanitarian emergencies.
- In collaboration with Health Emergencies, serve as IVB focal point for shaping vaccine and immunization strategies for VPD outbreak/epidemic/pandemic response with particular attention on measles containing vaccines, diphtheria containing vaccines, other antigens as required.
- Oversees the mobilization, management, and monitoring of financial resources, including resource mobilization, donor reporting, and development and implementation of workplans and planned activities, including disbursement and replenishment of measles outbreak response funds.
- Represents the programme area of work of accelerated disease control and elimination at various internal and external meetings. This includes regularly responding to media and communication inquiries or interviews on vaccine preventable disease control and outbreak issues, and contributing to Director General press or other relevant technical briefings.
- Apply his/her expertise and insights in robust use and analysis of the latest evidence on outbreak risk assessment, resilience, reduction, response, and recovery to guide strategic planning and decision-making. Develops technical guidance and tools in his/her technical area.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: Advanced university degree (Master's level) in Medicine, Epidemiology, Public Health, Health Policy, Public Policy, Global/International Health, Paediatric Health, or other area related to the function.
Desirable: A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.
Experience
Essential:
- A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in international global health and communicable disease prevention and control, including at least 7 years of experience in the area of health policies and strategies related to vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Demonstrated experience with elimination or eradication programmes for vaccine preventable diseases.
- Direct field experience working on vaccine preventable disease control and elimination, with experience addressing outbreaks in a variety of low-resource settings.
- Demonstrated experience managing human and financial resources.
- Demonstrated experience leading the development of policies, guidelines or training materials.
- A proven track record building collaborative and healthy partnerships at global or regional level in public health or vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Experience interacting with a broad range of immunization stakeholders at global and country level.
Desirable:
- Proven experience building and influencing complex multi-stakeholder partnerships, and planning and coordinating multi-stakeholder convenings.
- Proven experience in technical assistance, training and capacity building at country, regional and global levels.-
- Demonstrated experience with global and regional partnerships and working with donors.
- Proficiency in more than one UN language.
Skills
Essential:
- Strong technical skills in the area of accelerated vaccine-preventable disease control and elimination, with demonstrated field expertise in measles and/or rubella control.
- Demonstrated expertise in outbreak preparedness and response
- Keen understanding of immunization system components and interaction of immunization programme strengthening with outbreak reduction and recovery goals
- Demonstrated experience with goals, operations and priorities of Health Emergencies Programme, Global Polio Eradication initiative and/or Measles and Rubella Partnership.
- Concrete skills in the planningand coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes.
- Excellent skills and ability in managing and motivating diverse teams and overseeing 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 immunization.
- Knowledge of immunization programmes and key global initiatives such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Global Polio Eradication Programme and/or Measles and Rubella Partnership
Desirable:
- Strong track record and background in project management, resource mobilization or donor advocacy
- Highly motivated individual capable of influencing and taking initiative.
- Ability to plan and execute projects in a timely manner with strong planning and organization skills
- Ability to adapt to organizational changes.
- Proven technical and analytical writing skills.
- Ability to combine theoretically sound strategies with practical realities, and to think strategically and analytically.
- Ability to develop effective working relationships with a wide range of partners.
WHO Competencies
- Teamwork
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- Communication
- 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. Intermediate knowledge of WHO language.
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 103,165 (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 7798 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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.
- According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
- The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.
- Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
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- WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
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- An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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.
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- WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
- The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
- Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
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