Readvertised Technical Officer (Laboratory)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and tocoordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover fromoutbreaks and emergencies..

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme. 1. Provide technical expertise and operational support for the timely response to outbreaks/epidemics and health emergencies, in collaboration with national health officials, including laboratory staff, and other partner organizations. 2. Adapt and coordinate the development and implementation of technical guidelines and standard operational procedures for laboratory testing practices for outbreak detection, including those caused by (re-)emerging and other infectious diseases 3. Coordinate the participation in Quality Assurance Systems of International Mobile Laboratories deployed in country and National Central Laboratories involved in the event management. 4. Lead the enhancement of laboratory infrastructure and the implementation of standard operating procedures to ensure safe collection, handling, shipment, storage and analysis of human and environment specimens. 5. Cooperate with partners in improving analytical and diagnostics services, quality and environmental management, equipment maintenance, safety and bio-safety for laboratories. 6. Manage the implementation, reporting, performance assessment and evaluation of the approved activities and ensure proper communication with partners as appropriate. 7. Contribute in strengthening the national capacity at the health laboratories; assess training needs and provide training for laboratory personnel in the related technical areas. 8. Oversee updating and maintaining the related reporting and information systems, documenting the response and laboratory strengthening activities, as and when required. 9. Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced University degree (Master's level or above) in life science, medicine or medical virology from an accredited/ recognized institute. Certified training or qualification in molecular biology, virology, bacteriology, infectious diseases, and/or epidemiology and laboratory techniques.
Desirable: Master's level degree in public health or health related field

Experience

Essential: At least seven years of practical and operational application and management of laboratory services, laboratory diagnosis of communicable diseases at the national and international levels. Some related experience in outbreaks and/or health emergency response of international impact.
Desirable: --> Experience in establishing or improving laboratory infrastructure for microbiology and/or detection of infectious diseases. --> Experience in planning and implementing laboratory trainings at national and regional levels. --> Experience in evaluating novel diagnostics assays for emergency use authorization during outbreak response. Previous experience in UN organizations/agencies, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations, international institutions or nongovernmental organizations, particularly in developing countries.

Skills

--> Proven ability to analyse laboratory activities in diagnostic, biosafety and quality management, in order to develop innovative and appropriate solutions for their improvement. --> Sound knowledge in biosafety standards, methodology and techniques in health laboratories, including those in molecular biology, virology, bacteriology and biosafety. --> Sound knowledge in Quality Assurance Systems for laboratories.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Expert knowledge of 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 73,516 (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 2126 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.