Public Health Specialist (disease control) - Multiple Locations

Purpose of the Post:

The incumbent will lead and manage all aspects of the communicable and noncommunicable disease programme in the country, while maintaining a multisectoral overview, and will ensure the availability of technical expertise to advise the government on integrated programmes and initiatives to strengthen the country’s capacity building in investigation, surveillance and control. The incumbent will promote and strengthen programme activities within an assigned area of responsibility, consult with national counterparts on programme needs and perform related managerial tasks as required. This contributes to WHO's country cooperation strategy in communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

Objectives of the Programme and of the Division:

The Division of Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health (CDE) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of communicable diseases and addresses the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health through stewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. It focuses on health promotion measures, behavioural insights; communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases; elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocacy for increased use of vaccines; containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance; addressing existing and emerging environmental health risks and supporting violence and injury prevention. A determination to ensure universal access to people-centred quality health services across the continuum of care is matched by enriching the evidence base for policy design and interventions using social, cultural and behavioural approaches, to drive implementation of innovation at national, regional and local levels”.

The WHO country office works with the National Authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions are engrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectives of promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressing health emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal Health Coverage. WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providing Global Health leadership; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends. The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work 2020–2025 –“United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a vision of how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries in meeting citizens’ expectations about health.

WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable, and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavour; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all national and international partners in the country, provision of direct technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation, and to promote health equity.

Summary of Assigned Duties:

The incumbent will lead and manage all aspects of the communicable and noncommunicable disease programme in the country, while maintaining a multisectoral overview, and will ensure the availability of technical expertise to advise the government on integrated programmes and initiatives to strengthen the country’s capacity building in investigation, surveillance and control. The incumbent will promote and strengthen programme activities within an assigned area of responsibility, consult with national counterparts on programme needs and perform related managerial tasks as required. This contributes to WHO's country cooperation strategy in communicable and noncommunicable diseases

Key duties:

The incumbent will perform all or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office:

- Work under the direct supervision of the respective (Sr) public health officer and/or the head of the WHO country office.

- Establish innovative action plans for high-risk groups and environments, and the inclusion of disease prevention and control interventions across the life course and continuum of care.

- Advise on and ensure the adoption of norms, standards, guidelines and tools to support the implementation of disease control projects.

- Manage the operational aspects of related operational research, surveillance, epidemiology and health surveys.

- Guide or facilitate the implementation of projects for the control of the respective diseases, including the procurement of safe, efficacious, and affordable medicines and technologies. Guide the documenting and dissemination of best practices and partners' experiences.

- Analyze and evaluate a diverse range of data and information related to communicable diseases and outbreaks; identify disease sources and provide recommendations and reports on the appropriate response to identified risks, and the implementation of preventative and control measures.

- Monitor the national burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases or factors, especially through health information systems and health research activities. Oversee the development or enhancement of existing information systems on communicable and noncommunicable diseases and the monitoring of progress towards universal health coverage.

- Act as a technical advisor to the public concerning communicable diseases in the country; and establish new community outreach activities concerning the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

- Advocate, build and strengthen partnerships and networks to enhance multi-sectoral collaboration and mobilize resources to address integrated, communicable and noncommunicable disease prevention and control.

Competencies:

1) Teamwork

2) Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

3) Communication

4) Producing Results

5) Ensuring effective use of resources

WHO global Competencies model at http://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=1

Functional Knowledge and Skills:

In-depth knowledge of transmissions, specialized methods of diagnosis, development and treatment of communicable diseases, including HIV infection and other communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

Technical and programmatic knowledge of the prevention and control of a range of communicable and/or noncommunicable diseases.

Expertise to strategically plan, coordinate, and support the implementation of health programme interventions.

Working knowledge of district hospital care, Universal health coverage, in-service and pre-service training, essential noncommunicable disease drugs, primary health care delivery systems.

In-depth knowledge of country situation in communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

In-depth knowledge of international best practice in the related disease control areas, ideally of WHO's policies, practices, guidelines and procedures, and ability to apply them in the country office setting.

Excellent knowledge of health and safety regulations.

Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Skills in developing and promoting collaborative multisectoral partnerships and mobilizing resources.

Demonstrated ability to provide clear advice and guidance to multiple stakeholders and partners and to negotiate in the context of diverse views.

Proficiency in computers and office software packages, handling of web-based management

systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and Cloud Management Enterprise System

such as Workday.

Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: An advanced university degree (master’s level) in a relevant field (such as medicine, public health, epidemiology or statistics).

Desirable: PhD in public health or related medical field. Training or specialization in communicable diseases and noncommunicable diseases.

Experience:

Essential: A minimum of seven years of work experience relevant to the position (in communicable and noncommunicable diseases, focusing on disease investigation, surveillance, and control, as well as developing strategies and action plans for implementing capacity building and disease prevention programmes), with some of it obtained in an international work environment. Demonstrated professional experience providing technical advice and services to national counterparts, ministries of health, and other partners on communicable disease related issues.

Desirable: Relevant work experience, with WHO and/or United Nations agencies, health cluster partners, nongovernmental or humanitarian organizations. Some of the above-listed experience to have been obtained at an international level.

Use of Language Skills:
Excellent knowledge of English or French (depending on the country of assignment). Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset.
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. 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.
- The 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.
- 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.
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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.
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile on Stellis is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are not accessible.