Date of last update: 28/04/2021 2021-04-28
WHO began when our Constitution came into force on 7 April 1948 – a date we now celebrate every year as World Health Day. We are now more than 7000 people from more than 150 countries working in 150 country offices, in 6 regional offices and at our headquarters in Geneva.
Our primary role is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations system and our main areas of work are health systems; health through the life-course; noncommunicable and communicable diseases; preparedness, surveillance and response; and corporate services.
We support countries as they coordinate the efforts of governments and partners – including bi- and multilaterals, funds and foundations, civil society organizations and the private sector.
Working together, we attain health objectives by supporting national health policies and strategies.
WHO works worldwide to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.
Our goal is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and well-being.
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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The Department of Global Infectious Hazards Preparedness (GHP) advances global efforts to prevent and control existing and emerging infectious diseases by increasing access to evidence-based interventions; fostering impactful innovation and leveraging technical, operational and strategic partnerships. In addition, GHP develops global mechanisms to facilitate coordination and collaboration between countries and multi-sectoral partners for catastrophic events of natural, accidental or deliberate origin. The department of Global Infectious Hazards Preparednessis committed to delivering GPW13 Outcome 2.2 Epidemics and pandemics prevented, through:
i. Delivering risk assessment, technical guidance, interventions and control strategies for country impact.
ii. Promoting innovation and adoption of new technologies.
iii. Aligning and coordinating international action through trusted partnership.
iv. Ensuring vulnerable populations have access to life-saving interventions and supplies.
The Biorisks and Health Security Protection team's primary role is to ensure public health goals are upheld in situations that involve the security sector. The Interface has four pillars of work: risk assessment, foresight, risk mitigation and risk management. The team provides a Secretariat function for the implementation of the four pillars, ensuring coordination between stakeholders and partners and increasing advocacy and awareness raising. The second function of the team to lead on the risk assessment and risk management pillars through building trusted partnerships; facilitating a UN-wide coordinated approach; and delivering tools and guidance.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities:
- Generic Duties:
Provides technical leadership, coordination and managerial support within the Department/Programme, in the Unit of Biorisks and Health Security Protection ensuring that activities in this area are carried out efficiently and effectively, including deliberate events detection, risk assessment, investigation and capacity strengthening through partnerships as well as Infectious hazards foresight.
Develops and proposes technical health policies and strategies for implementation through collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and provides advice in developing further the Biorisks and Health Security Protection for strengthening and improving technical capacity of target clienteles, including deliberate event preparedness and response activities; encourage information-sharing and lessons learning in a proactive manner.
Oversees a unit of technical teams specialized in various domains within their area of expertise and facilitates the efficient flow of team synergies within the department and beyond.
Manages the programme area in delivering its objectives through efficient managing asmall team of technical staff, financial resources and effective work planning to optimize the programme's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.
Leads and conducts research on best practices in implementing programmes and activities and dissemination of information for capacity building in the respective area of work.
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 Programme deliverables.
Serves as the technical reference among the peer community, UN Agencies and other stakeholders at the technical levels in the respective area of expertise.Liaises with and utilizes partnerships in other UN Agencies, Donor, or research Institutions and WHO Collaborating centres in the Biorisks and Health Security protection to position the technical area of work and implementation into Global and/or National policies.
Represent the programme area of work at various meetings to advocate Biorisks and Health Security protection. Perform all other related duties as assigned, including replacing and/or backstopping.
- Specific duties:
The incumbent is expected to develop 3 areas of work:
Biosafety and Biosecurity: Oversee WHO Laboratory biosafety and biosecurity program, In-house coordinator with external laboratory experts, oversee Smallpox repository inspections.
Biorisk Preparedness and Capacity Building: Manage Health and Security Sector Interface, develop and oversees the WHO deliberate event task force, oversee technical aspects of biological preparedness and response across WHO.
Foresight on infectious hazards: Identify scenarios for the future, assess, and recommend actions regarding preparedness for infectious hazards and health security protection taking into account emerging social, political, environmental, health, technological or scientific trends.
Interact with the other Units of the department and other departments using a matrix approach to develop the foresight function for WHE , in particular leverage on strategic and technical advisory groups to feed into foresight discussions.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential:
An advanced level university degree in medicine, public health, chemistry or biology.
Desirable:
Experience
Essential:
Demonstrated experience managing human and financial resources.
Demonstrated experience at the international level.
Track record and experience of supervision of staff.
Desirable:
Experience working with legal international instruments and institutions in the context of security and emergency systems.
Experience of work in international organizations.
Skills
- Concrete skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes.
- 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.
WHO Competencies
Use of Language Skills
Essential:
Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:
Intermediate knowledge of French.
Intermediate knowledge of UN 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 89,837 (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 6161 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
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Type of contract: Staff (Permanent and Fixed Term)
Macro-area: Multiple
Level of experience: Senior Professional, more than 5 years
Area of work Definition: Health and Nutrition
Type of organisation: Multilateral Organisations