Date of last update: 18/10/2021 2021-10-18
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.
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Working together, we attain health objectives by supporting national health policies and strategies.
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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The Public Health Laboratories unit has the objective of assisting Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to meet their obligations under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 to have a comprehensive approach to strengthening laboratories as an integral part of health systems and to harmonize efforts with communicable disease prevention and control units and to implement a strategy for strengthening Health Laboratory Services.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Under the direct supervision of the Director, UHC-DCD, and the overall guidance of the Director, Programme Management, and in collaboration with other relevant units at WHOHeadquarters, Regional and Country offices, the incumbent will liaise, lead and coordinate staff within the unit to provide technical support to Member States in relation to health laboratories, including promoting the development and implementation of national laboratory policies, laboratory quality management systems, biosafety and biosecurity programmes, and roll out of new laboratory technologies.
*Summary of assigned duties:
1. Plan, coordinate, monitor and evaluate regional programme on Public Health Laboratories.
2. Provide technical advice and support to Member States on developing regional policies and strategies on strengthening and sustaining the programme.
3. Develop medium term plans for regional laboratory services and coordinate the activities related to laboratory strengthening for preparedness for infectious diseases outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics.
4. Provide technical guidance to Member States on developing and implementing their national laboratory policies and strategic plans.
5. Support capacity building through technical guidance and training on laboratory management, procurement and logistics, laboratory diagnostic procedures, new technologies (e.g. sequencing), biosafety and biosecurity, quality management or other key components needed to develop and sustain laboratory surveillance support for priority agents.
6. Collaborate with Member States and regional partners to build and sustain effective national laboratory networks.
7. Coordinate regional disease-specific laboratory networks including annual meetings, proficiency testing, distribution of standard reagents, accreditation reviews and appropriate follow-up actions.
8. Organize, implement and report on inter-country meetings, workshops conducted for implementation and monitoring of Public Health Laboratories.
9. Oversee the Regional Microbiology External Quality Assessment Scheme (REQAS).
10. Liaise with national laboratories and international/regional reference laboratories, including re-designation of WHO Collaborating Centres.
11. Support Member States to strengthen their health laboratory workforce, through leadership programmes.
12. Develop and implement all laboratory-related projects and programmes, ensuring that all activities are consistent with existing WHO policies, frameworks and strategies.
13.Collaborate with WHO Headquarters and other parts of the Regional office and Organization, to develop policies, guidelines and other laboratory-related documents.
14. Main achievements: improved capacity for rapid, accurate and safe laboratory detection of all communicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance in Member States in the Region by taking a comprehensive systems approach and utilizing national and regional laboratory networks.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: Master's degree in any major specialty of laboratory medicine.
Desirable: Additional training in public health or epidemiology
Experience
Essential: At least 10 years of combined experience at national and international levels in planning, managing and implementing laboratory investigations and activities, in multiple laboratory services/disciplines.
Desirable: Working experience in developing countries.Previous experience with WHO, the United Nations system or other international organizations
Skills
Broad knowledge of communicable disease prevention and control, epidemiology and clinical laboratories- Updated laboratory knowledge and skills, ability to troubleshoot programmatic and strategic issues on laboratory standards and set-up in the Region- Excellent management, communication and interpersonal skills- Ability to deal diplomatically with senior-level national counterparts- Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct
WHO Competencies
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of Arabic.
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 2628 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