Grade: P5

Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 2 years

Job Posting: Oct 11, 2024, 4:09:35 AM

Closing Date: Nov 1, 2024, 5:59:00 PM

Primary Location: Germany-Berlin

Organization: HQ/WSE Health Emergency Intelligence & Surveillance Systems

Schedule: Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems division (WSE) is responsible to build a system of collaborative intelligence enabling better decisions to avert and manage public health threats and risks. Its goal is to enable, strengthen and support countries, regional and global actors in averting and managing public health threats and risks through collaborative problem solving and decision-making for short-term action and long-term policies, informed by better data and analytics. The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence is a new office of WHO, located in Berlin. It works with partners to enable the generation of public health relevant information to provide timely actionable insights and improve decision making to prepare for, avert and respond to public health threats. It also aims to reduce fragmentation and inefficiency by creating an ecosystem that promotes collaboration across multiple professional disciplines, sectors, and initiatives; and empower decision makers, public health professionals, and civil society to make informed public health decisions.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following duties which are performed according to the needs of the unit and department:

• Provides leadership and managerial support within the Department in technology solution development, integration, implementation, scalability and sustainability, ensuring that activities are carried out efficiently and effectively.

• Develops and proposes strategies for implementation through collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and provides advice in further developing technological and non-technological aspects of public health intelligence for strengthening and improving capacity of target stakeholders.

• Assumes accountability for the delivery of objectives through efficient management of a team of technical staff, financial resources and effective work planning to optimize the 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 areas of expertise.

• Supports the development and implementation of strategies and planning processes for the growth, success and sustainability of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) initiative and other large global initiatives as required.

• Prepares regular reports and presentations for senior leadership and other stakeholders highlighting progress and achievements as well as identifying challenges, risks and areas of improvement.

• Liaises with and utilizes partnerships in other UN Agencies, Donor, or research institutions to position the technical area of work and implementation into Global and/or National policies.

• Negotiates with and fosters new partnerships with internal and external partners to enable the development of strategic and integrated technology solutions for public health intelligence.

• Represents specific thematic areas of the Department more broadly internally and externally when- and where required, serving as a technical reference point among the peer community, UN Agencies and other stakeholders at the technical level in the respective area of expertise and advocating for public health intelligence and the EIOS initiative.

• Stays up to date on changes in relevant landscapes, emerging technologies, best practices and trends relevant to public health intelligence, identifying opportunities for strategic development and alignment, innovation and improvement.

• Performs other related duties as assigned, including replacing and back stopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in Public Health Informatics, Computational Epidemiology, Public Health or related field with a concentration in data science and/or informatics OR Information Technology, Software Engineering or other related fields relevant to the functions of the position.
Desirable: Advanced university degree (Ph D or Dr PH) in Public Health Informatics or other related field. Advanced university degree in Business Administration, Public Health Administration or other related field.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in the development, integration and delivery of scalable multi-country technology solutions related to national -and international- level public health surveillance and/or intelligence efforts. At least 5 years must be recent and in complex international contexts involving technical, cultural and political elements. Experience coordinating and managing the development of strategies, processes and innovative technology solutions for public health across disciplines and sectors. Experience in working and managing relationships with diverse collaborators and third-party providers, including international organisations, to define and develop strategies and solutions for public health needs. Experience in quality assurance and testing methodologies to ensure reliability and functionality of technology solutions. Demonstrated experience successfully managing multi-disciplinary teams and financial resources.
Desirable: Demonstrated experience with technology solutions for strengthening public health surveillance and/or intelligence at the subnational through to global levels. Demonstrated experience with Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) solutions and approaches. Demonstrated experience in project management. Experience with WHO IT systems and processes.

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of the public health surveillance and intelligence landscape, and related application at the subnational, national, regional and global levels.
• Demonstrated expertise in scaling and managing large multi-country initiatives.
• Strong portfolio/project management skills in the area of leading project teams, instilling a results focused way of working.
• Excellent skills and ability in thinking and operating outside-of-the-box with a sensitivity to spot gaps, overlaps, opportunities and to formulate approaches addressing these.
• Proven ability to lead diverse multi-disciplinary teams in cross-cutting environments involving technological, technical, cultural and political elements and the skill to form groups of dedicated professional enthusiasm around changing goals and under pressure.
• Concrete skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary health/technical programs.
• Excellent skills in motivating staff and team members.
• Ability to engage and communicate effectively and diplomatically with internal and external partners and stakeholders on behalf or in lieu of the Unit Head and Director, including Ministries of Health, donor institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to keep abreast of new developments in the field of public health informatics.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Knowing and managing yourself
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of another WHO Language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish).

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 92,731 (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 4049 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 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

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