Team Lead

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Research for Health Department sits within the Science Division. The overall mission of the Science Division is to harness the power of science and innovation to improve health in a systematic way, by ensuring the excellence, relevance and efficiency of WHO's core technical functions, including norms and standards and research. Within this Division, the specific purpose of the Research for Health department is to accelerate the impact of ethical, evidence-based research for people's health. Its mandate is structured around three key roles\:

1) to provide leadership on matters related to the impact of research on people's health around the world;

2) to ensure that ethics is central to WHO's recommendations to countries, to public health programs and for clinical practice, with the aim of maximizing benefits while mitigating risks;

3) to secure the overall efficiency and impact of the WHO research process. The Research for Health Department is made up of three teams\: (a) Emerging technologies, research prioritization & support, (b) Health ethics & governance, and (c) Evidence to policy and impact.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will\:

1. Provide technical leadership and managerial support within the Department, in the area of Emerging Technologies, Research Prioritization And Support, ensuring that activities in this area are carried out efficiently and effectively.

2. Develop and proposes technical health policies and strategies for implementation through collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and provides advice in developing further the support of generation of public health research agendas aligned to the triple billions for strengthening and improving technical capacity of target clienteles.

3. Oversees the functions of foresight on emerging technologies and research mapping and support

4. Manages the program area in delivering its objectives through efficient managing a small team of technical staff, financial resources and effective work planning to optimize the program's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.

5. Lead and conducts research on best practices in implementing program and activities and dissemination of information for capacity building in the respective area of work.

6. 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 program deliverables.

7. Serve as the technical reference among the peer community, UN Agencies and other stakeholders at the technical levels in the respective area of expertise.

8. Liaise with and utilizes partnerships in other UN Agencies, Donor, or research institutions in generation of public health research agendas to position the technical area of work and implementation into Global and/or National policies.

9. Represent the program area of work at various meetings to advocate for generation of public health research agendas.

10. Develop public health research agendas for each of the triple billions working across WHO, including biomedical, medical product, social and behavioral, economic, health systems, health service delivery and implementation research priorities.

11. Develop standard methodology for identifying knowledge gaps, research needs and priorities as part of guidelines development, in collaboration with HIV department.

13. Support to WHO Preferred Product Characteristics and Target Product Profiles processes as a component of the research agendas

14. Develop gap analysis of WHO public health research agendas

15. Perform all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: A Doctorate/PhD in public health research.
Desirable\: An Advanced university degree in health sciences, epidemiology, disease control or public health.

Experience

Essential\: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience working in public health research with experience of research priority setting and the development of research capacity. Demonstrated experience managing human and financial resources. Demonstrated experience at the international level.
Desirable\: Experience of work in international organizations.

Skills

- Concrete skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programs, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programs.

- Track record of published public health research achievement.

- Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies.

- Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and 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 the Health Subject area.

- Strong skills in expanding research in Non-Communicable Diseases, Universal Health Coverage, Primary Health Care and Healthier Populations.

- Demonstrated understanding of legal and intellectual property issues in research.

WHO Competencies

1. Fostering integration and teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communicating in a credible and effective way
4. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
5. Moving forward in a changing environment
6. Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of French or other WHO official 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 87,108 (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 5764 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 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.

• 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.

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

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

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

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link\: http\://www.who.int/employment/en/. 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.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.