Public Health Officer (Disease Control) – World Health Organization (WHO)

Job Description

Grade: NO-C

Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 24 months

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 incumbent will promote and strengthen programme activities within an assigned area of responsibility, consult with national counterparts on programme needs, and perform related managerial tasks as required. The position contributes to the WHO’s country cooperation strategy incommunicable and noncommunicable diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES#

Facilitate the efficient and effective management, as well as coordination of expertise, to provide technical advice on the development of sustainable, multi-sectoral, and integrated national strategies, policies, interventions, and plans for improvements in health systems and capacity building in communicable diseases control specifically HIV/AIDS, TB, Viral Hepatitis and STI. Recommend action plans for the inclusion of disease prevention and control interventions across the life course and continuum of care. Coordinate the adoption of norms, standards, guidelines, and tools to support the implementation of disease control projects. Manage the operational aspects of related operational research, surveillance, epidemiology, and health surveys. Facilitate the implementation of projects for the control of the respective diseases, including the procurement of safe, efficacious, and affordable medicines and technologies. Guide the documenting and dissemination of best practices and partners’ experiences. Analyse and evaluate a diverse range of data and information related to communicable and noncommunicable diseases and outbreaks; identify disease sources and provide recommendations and reports on the appropriate response to identified risks, and the implementation of preventative and control measures. Monitor the national burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases or factors, especially through health information systems and health research activities. Coordinate the development or enhancement of existing information systems on communicable diseases and the monitoring of progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Leverage knowledge of local systems and cultural norms to: serve as technical communication focal point with the public on HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis and STI in the country; and establish new community outreach activities concerning the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of communicable diseases with a focus on HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis and STI. Advocate, build and strengthen partnerships and networks to enhance multi-sectoral collaboration to address integrated, communicable, and noncommunicable disease prevention and control. and contribute to resource mobilization for the work programme.Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS#

Education#

Essential: A university degree (bachelor’s) in a relevantfield (such as medicine, public health, epidemiology) and master’s degree in Epidemiology or Public Health.
Desirable: Training or specialization in communicable diseases.

Experience#

Essential: A minimum of five years of work experience relevant to the position (in communicable diseases specifically HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis and STI, focusing on disease investigation, surveillance, and control, as well as developing strategies and action plans for implementing capacity building and disease prevention programmes).
Desirable: Demonstrated professional experience providing technical services to national counterparts,Ministries of Health, and other partners on communicable disease relatedissues. Relevant work experience, with WHO and/or United Nations agencies,health cluster partners, non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. Someof the above-listed experience to have been obtained in an internationalcontext.

Skills#

Transmission, specialized methods of diagnosis, development, and treatment of communicable diseases, specifically HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis and STI. Technical and programmatic knowledge of the prevention and control of a range of communicable diseases with a focus on HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis and STI. Expertise to strategically plan, coordinate, and support the implementation of health programme interventions. Skills in developing and promoting collaborative multi-sectoral partnerships and mobilizing resources. Ability to provide clear advice and guidance to multiple stakeholders and partners.

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#

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 34,743 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.
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