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Team Lead

Freetown

  • Organization: WHO - World Health Organization
  • Location: Freetown
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: 2024-05-26

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's EPR (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinator international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Lead WHO's emergency response program at national or subnational level. 2. Advise the Ministry of Health (MoH) and National Public Health Agency (NPHA) on the establishment/strengthening of anEmergency Management System /Emergency Operation Centre (IMS/EOC) formulti-sectoral emergency response that includes staffing, defined roles/responsibilities, and resources for key functional areas. Support the regular testing of the emergency response system through functional exercises at the national and sub-national levels.3. Coordinate the development,distribution, and use of Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) for IMS functions and field activities to manage priority risks (including enhancedsurveillance, investigation, and rapid response, contact tracing, sampling,infection prevention and control, outbreak vaccination, etc.). 4. Oversee the management and distribution of national medical stockpiles through stock pile management system. Strengthening and testing Emergency Management Systems: 5. Coordinate all aspects of the emergency programme, at the country level, to ensure the concerted approach of WHO in the areas of emergency information management, Country preparedness and International Health Regulations (2005), risk assessments and Infectious hazardmanagement. 6. Support national and local health authorities, partner with UN agencies, international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations/institutions, to:• Strengthen the national capability to prepare and respond to health emergencies from all hazards, ensure the required national procedures, skills, coordination mechanisms and health systems are strengthened to manage identified risks.• Assess and map existing and emerging health risks in the country and prepare a national risk profile based on a risk assessment. • Assess health needs of affected populations in cooperation with technical units at RO and HQ level• Assess capacities for emergency management, including preparedness, and develop a national Health EmergencyResponse Plan. • Review the National Health Plan/National Health Emergency Response Plan as needed, take additional action,including the development of contingency plans for specific high priority risks.• Mobilize and coordinate resources,oversee the operational and strategic planning of the health response plans,identify resource needs and funding gaps; encourage donors to fund the overall health sector response to affected populations. 7. Represent WHO to external stakeholders,including donors and partners, with respect to the country operations.Coordinate with other agencies and I/NGOs through the Health Cluster approachand directly as operational implementing partner. Operationsand Finance:8. Lead the planning, formulation,implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies, operational and HRplans for the WHO's overall emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities. Manage sensitive issues arising from the emergency.9. Oversee the development a detailedtask-based work plan and budget for implementation of priority activitiesidentified in the National Health Emergency Response Plan. Ensure the country has accessible contingency funds for immediate response to emergencies,including, outbreaks at national and other appropriate sites.10. Assess staffing needs and make necessary recommendations and support mobilization of the required human resources.Provide leadership, motivation, guidance, and performance management of staffand experts. Take concrete measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all WHO responders. Monitoring and reporting:11. In cooperation with other levels of theresponse and following WHO established procedures, manage information,communications, advocacy products and statements to internal and externalpartners as well as to the public. 12. Monitor and provide guidance and briefings to senior officials as required, on the progress and implementation of preparedness and operational readiness activities in alignment with the national action planand throughout the full cycle of the emergency, including financial andimplementation tracking, and output/impact monitoring. 13. Perform all other duties as assigned by Head of the WHOCountry Office (WR).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree(Master's level or above) in medicine, public health, health policy, health systems management or another relevant field
Desirable: Master's degree in public health or health managementand postgraduate qualification (s) in the areas of management, emergency,humanitarian, disaster management or related field from an accredited/recognizedinstitute

Experience

Essential: At least seven (7) years ofrelated experience, at the national and international levels, in multi-sectoralcoordination, strengthening country capacities and responding to emergenciesand disasters, including infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters orcomplex emergencies. • Substantial experience inmanaging humanitarian program cycles, capacity-building and multisectoral coordination. • Substantial experience incoordinating operational activities in preparedness and response with a rangeof actors. • Experience in efficient human and financialresource management, as well as managing and coordinating field-based projects
Desirable: Relevant work experience in outbreaks and/health emergency management and relatedstrategy development with WHO and/or UN agencies, health cluster partners. • Experience working inrelevant nongovernmental or humanitarian organizations

Skills

Excellent knowledge and expertise of country level situations with regard to EPR healthsystems development, strategic frameworks, management, innovations, with goodunderstanding of relevant country's needs, priorities and policies, along withWHO's policies, practices, guidelines and procedures in the related areas andability to apply them in the country office setting.2.Extensive knowledge and skills in teamwork, team management, problem solving,planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, negotiation, and resourcemobilization.3.Demonstrated ability to provide sound methodological and technical advice and guidanceto multiple stakeholders and partners in the countries.4.Ability to conduct research and analyse results, identify issues, formulateopinions, make conclusions and recommendations for strengthening health caresystems.5.Ability to review and revise policies and objectives of assigned program andactivities. 6. Demonstrated ability to understand and work on complex policy and programme issues related to EPR, health systems strengthening and safety regulations.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Beginners knowledge of WHO official languag.

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 77,326 (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 3667 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.
  • Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
  • The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
  • Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.
  • 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.
  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
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