Technical Officer (Global Polio Eradication Initiative)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall objectives of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) are to lead the global eradication efforts of national governments and the global polio eradication partnership in interrupting the transmission of poliovirus worldwide, to help integrate polio eradication broader immunization and emergency efforts to certify eradication, and to eventually stop the use of all oral poliovirus vaccines.The immediate strategic objective is to implement WHO's contribution to the GPEI Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategy 2019-2023 in collaboration with GPEI partners and in support of national eradication efforts.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

A. Support strategic planning and programme implementation for global polio eradication:

1. Review country data on polio epidemiology to identify and monitor areas at risk of polio emergence.
2. Assist countries and regional offices to ensure quality of supplemental immunization campaigns through regular data analysis and field visits.
3. Develop, support and apply training, monitoring and evaluation methods and materials.
4. Provide support to maintain the suite of technical guidance documents and support drafting of programme guidelines, standard operating procedures, protocols; training materials and data collection templates.

B. Support polio outbreak preparedness and response:

1. Support assessment, response to and monitoring of polio events and outbreaks and, if assigned to support a country, drafting of assessment reports, budgeted outbreak response plans in collaboration with the counterparts from the MoH, UNICEF, CDC and other agencies.
2. Coordinate within WHO and with GPEI partners the deployment of resources (financial, human, vaccines and equipment) for polio outbreak response for focus countries, including in countries with hard-to-reach or mobile populations.
3. Coordinate implementation of monitoring and evaluation of polio outbreak response activities including outbreaks response assessments.
4. Assist with co-ordination, implementation and supervision of supplementary immunization activities including ad-hoc mopping-up operations.
5. Assist with estimation of resource requirements both human as well as financial, including support to preparation of funding proposals and identification of potential field staff.
6. Support regional offices on outbreak preparedness and risk mitigation

C. Support polio partnership coordination:

1. Support the team leader in outbreak response coordination within GPEI partnership by serving as a core member of the outbreak preparedness and response task team, as assigned.
2. Follow up on work plans and WHO's assigned areas of work with the partnership. Represent WHO and/or the GPEI partnership in outbreak coordination meetings and other fora and ensure strong secretariat support for GPEI Task Teams relevant to the area of work (risk assessment, outbreak response, SIA planning).
3. Perform all other related duties, as may be requested by WHO team leader.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in Epidemiology or Public Health or equivalent related field.

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of experience in polio eradication and immunization in developing countries, particularly in polio outbreak countries and endemic countries, including field experience in polio surveillance, supplementary immunization and outbreak response. Experience in managing partnerships and multiple stakeholders. Demonstrated exposure at the international level.
Desirable: Experience with international and/or nongovernmental organizations in managing large scale public health, emergency response or immunization programs.

Skills

Technical expertise in public health, field operations, polio outbreak response and outbreak programme management. Ability to work effectively with colleagues at national and international level and to coordinate activities in emergency and outbreak circumstances. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of principles, practices, methodology and techniques of immunization programmes, communicable disease surveillance. Ability to travel and work in difficult field conditions. Proven skills in coordinating partnerships. Excellent knowledge in analyzing vaccine preventable and other communicable diseases and EPI-related data, synthesizing information and presenting clear and concise conclusions and decision making. Strong writing skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: 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 74,913 (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 5581 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.