Programme Operations Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The office of the Regional Director (RDO) has the overall responsibility for planning, execution and evaluation of WHO health programmes at the regional level as well as for the direction and management of the supporting administrative services.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision of Chef de Cabinet (CDC) and also under the overall supervision of the Regional Director, the incumbent will perform the following specific functions:

• Scrutinize, analyze and interpret, from an administrative standpoint, issues contained in the proposals/documents presented to the CDC, with a view to providing correct, relevant and valid information, along with solution-oriented suggestions to enable informed decision-making.
• Ensure that information submitted to the CDC and Regional Director is complete in all respects; conforms to the existing rules, procedures and processes in vogue in the organization. If needed, call for additional information from the Department Directors and WHO Representatives and other support units.
• Independently handle prescribed protocol issues befitting the Head of the Organization, while dealing with other Regional Offices, UN Agencies, International and Intergovernmental Organizations, Non-governmental Organizations, Donor agencies and other stakeholders in relation to correspondence emanating from the CDC and Regional Director, and during the CDC's and Regional Director's visits to countries, and for meetings with national and international dignitaries.
• Accompany CDC during country visits/other official duty travels, as directed, and take charge of all the administrative formalities to facilitate such visits; ensure follow up actions up to the implementation of the decisions made during the CDC's meetings with the high-level dignitaries in the countries.
• Support Administrative Officer / RDO to supervise the day-to-day functioning of the Regional Director's office and provide guidance on complex and complicated administrative issues to the support staff, to ensure smooth and expeditious implementation of all planned activities in a timely manner.
• Prepare concise and precise briefs, with a high degree of independence and exercising good judgement, on specific issues and matters of sensitive and classified nature, as required by the CDC, focusing on the possible implications of these issues to the Organization as a whole.
• Intervene and act as a go-between, on urgent and specific pending matters/issues, particularly of complicated and complex nature, involving various technical/support units and WHO Country offices, to facilitate resolving any problems/impediments hampering smooth and expeditious implementation ofactivities.
• Provide administrative and programmatic support on specific and important matters as assigned by Director, Programme Management (DPM).
• To provide assistance to the Chef de Cabinet and Regional Director, from time to time, on any other matters not explicitly included in the above duties.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University Degree in administration, social sciences, business, education, or other related fields.
Desirable: Post-graduate degree/diploma in business/public administration or related fields

Experience

Essential: At least two years' experience in general administration areas as well as coordination and monitoring of programme implementation. Experience of working with WHO, other UN Agencies or other international organizations.
Desirable: Knowledge of WHO procedures, policies and practices in the field of management of general administrative and support services

Skills

Thorough knowledge of WHO goals, policies, its structure and functions, WHO's work and policies and processes. Excellent communication, writing and editorial skills. Excellent knowledge of GSM and good knowledge of relevant computer applications. Ability to produce results and work well under pressure.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:

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 50,377 (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 1961 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.

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

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