Technical Officer (Laboratory)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Division Mandate: To strengthen the ability of Member States to reduce the level of risk and degree of impact of health emergencies, such as outbreak and epidemic-prone disease, and food illness, through programmes and technical support that lead to improved surveillance, assessment, preparation, prevention, and response.

Unit Mandate - Emerging Disease Surveillance and Response (ESR): To support the efforts of Member States to prepare for and handle health emergencies and disasters, by leading intersectoral collaboration efforts, and by providing technical support in the areas of programme planning, capacity building, risk management and mitigation, and recovery / rehabilitation efforts.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Team Leader, ESR and guidance of the WHO Representative, Lao Peoples' Democratic Republic (WR), the incumbent will perform the following:

(1) Assist Ministry of Health (MoH) in strengthening biosafety and biosecurity of laboratories;

(2) Support MoH in the establishment of National Quality Standards and implementation of Laboratory Quality Management Systems;

(3) Facilitates the development and strengthening of a national external quality assurance programme;

(4) Assist in strengthening the National Public Health Laboratory Network and coordination of international partners involved in strengthening the laboratory system through the organization of regular meetings;

(5) Assists in enhancing and improving capacity for laboratory services with focus on provincial laboratories to enable detection of emerging infectious diseases (EID);

(6) Assist in establishing standardized laboratory testing protocols for the diagnosis of emerging and other infectious diseases, and to provide technical advice on virology, microbiology and other laboratory issues;

(7) Participate in timely responses to outbreaks/epidemics in collaboration with national health officials, WHO staff and staff of other organizations;

(8) Assist in strengthening networking on EIDs between national laboratories and international/regional reference laboratories for improving regional cooperation, surveillance and prevention;

(9) Manage ESR and laboratory team in the office of the WR; and

(10) Undertake other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in health sciences or laboratory sciences or relevant areas from a recognized university.
Desirable: Advanced university degree or training in microbiology and molecular biology.

Experience

Essential: Minimum of five years' relevant experience in planning, managing and implementing laboratory investigations including experience at international level.
Desirable: Experience in working for public health laboratory functions, planning implementation and monitoring of activities at a national level work plan such as an annual national laboratory work plan. Prior experience in planning and conducting training activities. Experience in Asian countries is an advantage.

Skills

--> Broad knowledge of principles, practices, methodology and techniques in public health, clinical laboratory, surveillance, communicable disease control, International Health Regulations (IHR) including teaching and advisory techniques at the international level;

--> Relevant skills and work experiences on laboratory testing, laboratory training, clinical laboratory management;

--> Very good interpersonal skills, ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse and educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct;

--> Ability to interact with and to advise Government and Ministry of Health counterparts on policy and technical areas related to communicable disease control and to develop effective working relationships with senior decision-makers and officials in a variety of settings and cultures.

--> Understands the principles of results-based management and can develop plans, organize resources and take actions to ensure objectives are achieved within realistic timelines.

--> Have ability to quickly acquire, a thorough working knowledge of essential WHO procedures, policies and rules and regulations that support WHO's presence in countries.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Knowing and managing yourself
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of written and spoken English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of other UN languages.

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 62,120 (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 1667 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.

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