Technical Officer (Meningitis)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals' (IVB) mission is “To promote the health and well-being of all people, in all countries, by advancing the impact of vaccines and immunization programmes through partnership and leadership; policies and guidance; evidence and research”. Our work is aligned with the WHO Global Programme of Work (GPW), with a central focus to drive impact in countries, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages. The Strategic Objectives of the IVB Department include:1) Establishing global immunization agendas, strategies and policies to build and harness commitment to action. 2) Promoting research and innovation to increase impact of vaccines, technologies and immunization practices. 3) Advancing evidence-based introduction and access to vaccines and immunization innovations. 4) Optimizing immunization delivery to ensure high-impact, sustainable and equitable programmes. 5) Harnessing Vaccine Alliances and Partnerships, including collaborations with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and key WHO partners, towards cross-programme coordination and collaboration in pursuit of universal health coverage.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• The Technical Officer will perform the following duties and responsibilities:
• Contribute to the global coordination of the road map to defeat meningitis.
• Assist the Team in ensuring timely implementation of all road map milestones, in coordinating the WHO global core secretariat to ensure the effective execution of all technical activities; and in tracking progress against milestones and identifying areas requiring action.
• Develop, update and maintain appropriate dashboards and mechanisms to track the effective distribution of available financial support to Member States, partners and stakeholders.
• Support the planning and organization of relevant meetings of expert groups, technical taskforce and strategy support group, and enable record keeping and dissemination of deliberations.
• Serve as the focal point for the organization of periodic joint planning and review meetings with senior leadership, team members, collaborators and partners, with respect to relevant areas of work.
• Participate in reporting to donors in a timely manner and in accordance with donor requirements and WHO standards.
• Contribute to the development of key documentation (e.g. tenders, briefings, monitoring and progress reports, technical reports, etc.) required for technical assistance, recommendations, strategic decision making, communications as well as senior leadership and partners' updates.
• Support and coordinate essential collaborations in the Global Road Map to Defeat Meningitis.
• Contribute to the identification of synergy opportunities with priorities of IVB, other existing global and regional initiatives, and the facilitation of integration.
• Support advocacy and communications activities for the road map public profile and seek synergies with existing initiatives.
• Facilitate the identification of synergies with existing activities and with the Department priorities.
• Coordinate the contractual and administrative aspects for the different areas of work.
• Contribute to other major priority areas of work of the Department and perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.
  
  
  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A first university degree from a recognized university in the field of social sciences, international relations, public health, or other related field.

Desirable: An advanced university degree in the field of social sciences, international relations, public health, or other related field.

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in the domain of public health, including in the field of immunization.
• Experience in multi-partners collaborations from multiple countries, government and non-governmental organizations and industry.
• Experience in supporting technical working groups and in organizing technical meetings and global or national consultations on technical topics related to the position.

Desirable:

• Work experience in WHO or other UN agencies.
• Experience collaborating with academic institutions, non-governmental Organizations, public-private health partnership and major donors.
• Experience in drafting and editing agreements between collaborative parties.
  
  
  

Skills

• Good understanding of immunization, vaccine-preventable diseases, public health, clinical research and regulation.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with global and multisectoral partners: United Nations, academics, donors, manufacturers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others.
• Good knowledge or expertise in project management with excellent organizational and analytical skills with the ability to plan and track/monitor multiple activities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both oral and written, especially in writing reports and briefings.
• Ability to communicate with governmental and non-governmental partners, maintain effective working relations with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams and contribute to a multi-site team-based organizational structure.
• Diplomacy, initiative, tact, discretion and a high sense of responsibility.
• Strong skills in computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Power Point, MS Project or similar tools.
• Awareness of the WHO Global Road Map to Defeat Meningitis by 2030 and Immunization Agenda 2030 is an asset.
  
  
  

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
  
  
  

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of 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 64,121 (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 4814 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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