Technical Officer (Planning)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall objectives of the Polio Eradication Department are to support and lead the global eradication effort of national governments and the GPEI Partnership to interrupt the transmission of poliovirus worldwide, certify eradication, eventually stop the use of oral poliovirus vaccines, mainstream the polio eradication infrastructure while ensuring that the broader public health benefits of the polio eradication assets and lessons learned are fully realized through legacy planning. Led by Chief Operations Officer, the MFH unit is responsible for WHO/POL management, including workplans, budgets, finances, HR and administration, as well as the overall GPEI financial management tracking.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Working with polio objective focal points, develop and manage common planning elements for operational planning across Headquarters, regions and countries, ensuring clear mapping to GPEI budget elements.
2. Facilitate the development of workplan review processes to support quality assurance and compliance with operational planning guidelines.
3. Plan and conduct quarterly reviews with coordinators of their workplans and support ongoing budget and implementation monitoring.
4. Guide unit staff to complete regular review processes for operational planning, include quarterly or mid-term reviews.
5. Establish regular review processes in Headquarters with coordinators for their workplans and support close management of budget and implementation at least quarterly.
6. Extract, organize and consolidate GSM reports and data to analyse implementation and generate mandatory performance assessment reports for the mid-term review and other required and ad hoc reports for ongoing workplan management.
7. Prepare reports and analysis relating to planning and administration in response to programme changes, new strategic directions or other requirements as they arise, for example in relation to the Polio ramp-down in regions and future transition to other roles, functions and programs.
8. Work closely with the teams working in related areas in budget, workplan management, award management and planning for Polio, cross-training and providing back up for related tasks such as management of the HR workplan.
9. Design/develop user friendly tools and utilities to facilitate the identification of priorities for both strategic and operational planning processes, and for monitoring programmatic and financial performance.
10. Develop and manage planning elements and budget databases; facilitate the creation of result hierarchies and workplans in GSM; implement organization structure changes in GSM to facilitate planning and operations.
11. Assist the Chief Operations Officers in managing the overall administration of the operations of the Polio program, through support to organizational change, communications, tracking of deliverables and other required tasks.
12. Perform other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• A university degree in business, statistics, mathematics, humanities, science or a related field.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree (masters level or above) in a relevant business, applied science or management related field.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience including operational planning and workplan management of which at least 2 years should have been working for a UN agency
• Experience working with teams in the global public health sector
• Demonstrated skills in project management
• Demonstrated experience of working with senior management

Desirable:

• Previous work with Polio and/or Immunization programs would be an asset.

Skills

Additional mandatory competency:

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to write clearly, succinctly and promptly.
• Ability to work and produce results and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated knowledge of workplan management and operational planning principles and practices.
• Ability to act, take initiative and perform work with general guidance.
• Proven ability to maintain and establish good interpersonal working relations and to work with competing priorities under pressure.
• Strong IT skills to support reporting and analysis including advanced use of databases, excel, pivot tables, MS Project and other analytical tools.

WHO Competencies

• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Producing results
• Communication
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Teamwork

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.
  

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of French.
• Intermediate knowledge of any other official WHO languages (Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, Russian).
  
  

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 4996 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.

• 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.

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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.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

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• 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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