Unit Head (Strengthening PH Laboratories for Health Emergencies)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacities of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The Programme supports countries and coordinates international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. The objectives of the Country Readiness Strengthening Department include the development and strengthening of core national capacities necessary to mitigate and respond to emergency risks and vulnerabilities. The Department prioritizes support to the most vulnerable and low capacity countries. The Public Health Laboratory Strengthening (PHL) Unit develops global strategies, mechanisms, guidance documents, manuals, and learning programmes aiming at strengthening public health laboratory policies, governance and regulations, infrastructure, workforce, networking, quality, safety, and diagnostic capacity for epidemic-prone diseases. The unit provides leadership and coordination across partners and regional offices to propose interventions aiming at ensuring that public health laboratory systems are ready to operate in a safe, secure, timely and reliable manner for the detection of, and response to disease outbreaks and other emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Generic duties

- Coordinates and provides senior technical leadership in establishing new approaches, evidence-based policies and strategies, and capacity building initiatives for implementation across Regional and Country Office programmes in the respective area of work.

- Provides senior level health technical expertise and advice to the Director and Senior Management in the area of public health laboratories, as part of new health strategies and policies.

- Ensures effective coordination, management, and accountability of the programme area in delivering its objectives through efficient managing adverse team of technical experts, financial resources and effective work plan coordination to optimize the programme's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.

- Ensures the coordination and management of the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the Department's area of work of key performance indicators and global reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize performance of Department deliverables.

- Serves as the scientific/technical reference among UN Agencies and the peer community on public health laboratory issues for health emergencies.

- Builds technical partnerships with other UN Agencies, Donors, research and public health agencies and institutions and other stakeholders in the strengthening of public health laboratories, notably in the area of animal and environmental health to support a One-Health approach to position the technical area of work and implementation into respective policies.

- Represents the programme area of work in global fora and capacity building activities.

- Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties

- Designs and oversees the implementation of an operational framework and time bound projects to strengthen public health laboratories capacity, quality management and networks at national, regional and global level for health emergencies preparedness, readiness and response, with a focus on low and middle income priority countries.

- Promotes the development and dissemination of innovative technologies to support laboratory detection of emerging and high-threat pathogens.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced level university degree (Master's level and above) in a health-related field, with a specialization in a discipline related to health laboratory sciences.
Desirable: A training in public health or epidemiology.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the management of public health laboratory related programmes and/or laboratory components of disease-specific control programmes in the area of infectious diseases including experience providing senior level advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision makers, managing human and financial resources, as well as experience in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies. Demonstrated experience at the international level, including working on-site and remotely with low- and middle-income countries.
Desirable: At least 5 years of experience working with inter-agency initiatives and national, international, and nongovernmental organizations, preferably working in WHO or the UN system or relevant international health/development bodies.

Skills

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

- Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.

- Strong understanding and skills in mobilizing resources.

- Ability to engage, build consensus and communicate effectively and diplomatically with Member States, partners and media.

- Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area.

- Globally-respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in health emergencies preparedness and response.

- Proven leadership skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes.

- Excellent knowledge in public health laboratory systems and networks, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

- Good knowledge of the operations of WHO and understanding of the principal stakeholders as well as an understanding of the UN system and the international development partners

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Creating an empowering and motivating 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 103,660 (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 3576 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 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.
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