Senior Scientist

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research supports the generation and use of health policy and systems research (HPSR) to strengthen health systems and address social determinants of health to contribute to significant progress in reducing health inequities and achieving major global health targets. As a partnership hosted by the World Health Organization, the Alliance's core functions are to:

1. Generate new and impactful knowledge with national policy-makers, researchers and communities to address national and subnational health challenges.
2. Strengthen national and regional institutions to improve policy and implementation through research and learning.
3. Advocate for how health policy and systems research can address global health challenges. The Alliance focuses on five major thematic areas that health policy and systems research can make a unique contribution to improving health and health equity:

1. reforming health systems and services to achieve universal health coverage through a primary healthcare approach;
2. improving health through digital transformation;
3. preventing premature death and disability by tackling the risks and determinants of noncommunicable diseases;
4. building health systems resilience and realizing co-benefits in response to the climate crisis;
5. applying a systems approach to health emergency preparedness and response.

Throughout its work, the Alliance prioritizes and promotes systems thinking, which recognizes that the whole of the system is more than its constituent parts. The Alliance also recognizes the need to engage diverse actors and improve equity - targeting its support to ensure better inclusion of and participation by women, those in low- and middle-income countries and other historically underrepresented groups.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Senior Scientist will perform the following specific duties:

1.Collaboration, Engagement and Resource Mobilization:

• Actively engage a wide range of organizations and entities (within and outside WHO) that currently have a focus on HPSR or an expressed interest in engaging in this area of work, in order to strengthen collaborations, and establish new opportunities for the Alliance;
• Mobilize resources through engaging existing and new partners for the work programmes of the Alliance, aligned with the Alliance strategy 2024-28, and under the direction of the Executive Director;
• Represent the Alliance Secretariat on relevant meetings and committees within and outside of WHO and provide input on issues related to HPSR - including implementation research, evidence use, and HPSR/implementation research methods among others;
• Promote the Alliance and its work for collaboration with other entities/departments within WHO, donor agencies, governments, professional bodies and the wider community of HPSR, including organizing high-profile events.

2.Strategic Leadership:

• Assist the Executive Director in developing the Alliance's overall vision and strategic directions;
• Lead the development of concept papers and funding proposals for new areas of work;
• Assist the Executive Director in developing the biannual work-plan and budget, as well as the establishment of targets;
• Coordinate the development of the Alliance's Annual Reports and other key external communications;
• Deputize for the Executive Director as required.

3.Governance and Accountability:

• Manage Alliance programme areas to deliver on their objectives through efficient management of technical staff, financial resources and effective work planning in line with the Alliance strategy 2024-28;
• Manage the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of programme performance indicators and reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize performance of programme deliverables;
• Assist the Executive Director in the development of technical and financial reporting to the Alliance Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee and Board;
• Evaluate and report the impact of Alliance activities on policy and practice within countries.

4.Research and Technical Leadership:

• Provides technical leadership, coordination and managerial support for Alliance's portfolio of work on core functions and thematic focus areas;
• Support the implementation of the 2024-28 Alliance Strategy;
• Provide mentorship and guidance to the staff of the Alliance HPSR.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in Public Health, Health Systems, Health Policy or related field.
Desirable: Doctoral level degree in Public Health, Health Systems, Health Policy or related field.

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in public health, health systems and/or health research, ideally in a multi-disciplinary and international context.
• Extensive experience working with government entities and other policy making institutions at national and local levels.
• Management experience in senior and advisory roles, including governance, strategic planning, project and financial management.
• Recognition as a global leader in health policy and systems research, demonstrated through key publications, service on technical and policy committees, elected positions and/or honours and awards.
• Experience in mobilizing resources for research in low- and middle-income countries.
• Experience in managing and disbursing research grants to institutions in low- and middle-income countries.
• At least 25 publications related to health policy and systems research in peer-reviewed journals indexed in PubMed.

Desirable: Work experience as staff in WHO or another UN agency.

Skills

• Expert understanding of the design, execution and application of health policy and systems research, including implementation research, in low- and middle-income country settings.
• Demonstrated ability in managing relationships and collaborations with key stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to articulate complex concepts, and capacity to negotiate and influence to achieve desired outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise judgment and initiative, together with an ability to work collaboratively either within or across disciplines and multiple organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, managing risks and opportunities and ensuring collective performance.
• Expert understanding of stakeholder networks and trends in health policy and systems research and global health, and diplomatic skills to negotiate complex alliances and partnerships on global platforms and mobilize resources.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Ensuring the effective use of resources
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Expert knowledge of French.

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 6947 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 E-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 workforce. 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 shortlisted candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to a fixed-term position in the Professional Category 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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