Chief Librarian

Position number: 405045

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The programme envisions a region where all health related policies, decisions on healthcare development and implementation, and innovations are informed by best available evidence from verifiable knowledge, research and reliable information. The programme's mission is to strengthen the capacity of Member States to improve availability, quality and use of evidence from reliable information, research and other sources of knowledge, and to enhance effective innovations toward Universal Health Coverage and health related Sustainable Development Goals.
Within the Department of Science, Information and Dissemination (SID), the Library and Knowledge Sharing (LKS) teams contribute to implementation of knowledge management, dissemination, sharing and translation in support of health systems development regionally andwithin WHO. The Library and Knowledge Sharing (LKS) is a key part of this work through improving the access to and availability of health information resources and dissemination of WHO information products.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Coordinate and implement the work of Library, Knowledge and Sharing (LKS) and its acquisitions, financial and human resources, with appropriate work plans.
2. Manage the library databases and covering technical support for operations leading to proper documentation, maintenance of computer-based library applications and quality control to strengthen national and regional capacity in health information management and expansion of the EM Regional Libraries Networks.
3. Ensure timely production, marketing, distribution, sales and electronic publishing of WHO/EMRO information products. This covers identification, selection and management of vendors' relations, quality control of productions, monitoring and evaluation of impact of products and overall management of databases of address and publications.
4. Supervise the archiving and digitization projects to monitor, share and disseminate WHO information products and recommending or taking actions as appropriate to preserve institutional memory.
5. Build a dynamic e-library and knowledge management and sharing activities, including EMR Virtual Health Sciences Library (VHSL), Index Medicus of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (IMEMR), Institutional Digital Repository (IDR), and Resrach4Life programmes to foster universal access to the world's health related publications and information in the Regional Office, Country Offices, and the Member States.
6. Collaborate with public and private partners to set agendas in access to health knowledge and contribute to the development of appropriate policy frameworks, local capacities and systems, and innovative mechanisms for technical assistance to EMR countries in need.
7. Provide technical advice to the planning and implementation of EMR countries' libraries and health knowledge sharing activities, and conduct needs assessment.
8. Work with other UN agencies and collaborating centers on development and implementation of joint activities.
9. Participate in relevant meetings and forums representing the organization at interagency, international and national meetings as assigned by Director/SID.
10. Perform any other related incident-specific duties as required, including supporting the advocacy and fund-raising activities

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree from a recognized university in library and information sciences or knowledge management.
Training in emerging technologies for Library and Knowledge Management and publication processes.
Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or above) in Library and Information Sciences, Knowledge Management or equivalent subject field.

Experience

Essential: Five years of experience with international exposure working in library and health information services.
Desirable: Experience within UN or other international organizations.
Working experience with databases and/or repositories.
Experience in managing digital multilingual information products.
Experience of managing publication processes and print-houses.

Skills

• Excellent knowledge of modern health information product and library sciences, documentation services, information production and dissemination and information sciences and technology.
• Knowledge of proprietary and opensource library databases and repository systems.
• Familiarity with international information preservation and interoperability standards - such as Dublin Core, MARC21, AACR2, MeSH, NLM Classification, OAI-PMH, OAI-ORE, Open URL, etc.
• Strong ICT background, including web-based systems and portals.
• Sound judgement, tact and ability to communicate with staff at different levels and in different methods.
• Good knowledge of WHO and/or UN library and information systems an advantage.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Promoting innovation and organizational learning

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Expert knowledge of Arabic. 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 64,121 (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 1608 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.
• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:
  1 -Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated;
  2- All required details regarding your qualifications, education, training and experience are provided under relevant sections; 3- Your experience records are properly entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

• Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model:https://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=1

• 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.

• 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.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.

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