Director, Nutrition and Food Safety.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety is to address the burden of disease from unhealthy diets, physical, chemical and microbiological contamination of food, antimicrobial resistance in the food chain, maternal and child malnutrition, overweight and obesity. The Department aims to ensure universal access to effective nutrition actions, safe food and healthy diets, through fostering sustainable food production and consumption, improving food environments and empowering consumers in all situations, including in fragile and conflict-affected countries. Closely working with Member States, UN partner agencies and non-State actors the Department will lead global action for

A- Improved capacity of health systems to address unhealthy diets, unsafe food and nutrition challenges, including monitoring of nutritional status, monitoring of food contamination, promotion of breastfeeding, management of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity; counselling of dietary choices, safe food preparation, prevention, surveillance and management of foodborne diseases including rapid detection of and response to foodborne disease outbreaks, integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance along the food chain; regulatory systems for the assessment and management of foodborne health risks;
B- Improved capacity of food systems to prevent diet and nutrition related conditions and foodborne diseases and to ensure sustainability, through public policies, such as food production standards (including use of antibiotics) marketing regulations, procurement policies, food safety standards, nutrition and labelling standards, information and advocacy to consumers and manufacturers.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

In the areas of nutrition, food safety and food systems, the incumbent:

• Leads the Department in providing technical expertise to Member States and other Stakeholders with guidance and technical data required for the development, implementation, and monitoring of national and/or global policies and programmes.
• Provides the overall leadership, management accountability, and direction of the Department in delivering its objectives through managing and galvanizing a diverse workforce and financial resources to optimize the department deliverables and mandate.
• Provides senior level technical advice and expertise to Senior Management in the area of assigned responsibilities in order to position the Department and Organization as a leader in the respective area.
• Directs and leads overall establishment and development of the Department’s evidence-based policies and strategies for roll out and delivery for Regional and Country Office implementation.
• Oversees the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the Department’s area of work to ensure development of key performance indicators and global reporting requirements and mechanisms to ensure optimal performance of Department deliverables.
• Serves as the scientific/technical reference among UN Agencies and other key players in the respective areas.
• Promotes the integration of Regional and Country Office perspectives and operational capacities into the Department’s programme area of work.
• Builds strong partnerships and fosters consensus building with External Partners, Member States, UN Agencies, Donor, cutting edge research institutions and other stakeholders in the subject area to politically position the technical area of work and implementation into national and/or global policies.
• Represents the Organization and Department area of work in a diverse array of global fora to position WHO as a leader in the global health community.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties:

• Directs the development of evidence-based assessments, standards, guidance and tools.
• Leads the WHO presence at the Codex Alimentarius.
• Leads global action for improved capacity of health systems in food and nutrition monitoring and surveillance, the delivery of Essential Nutrition Actions and the establishment of food and nutrition policies.
• Leads global action for improved capacity of food systems to prevent diet related diseases and promote environmental sustainability.
• Ensures integration of programs/activities/functions across the department/division and organization where necessary.
• Ensures the management of the Organization response to nutrition crises and transnational food safety incidents.
• Leads the engagement with public and private actors to implement the transformation of food systems to deliver healthier diets and safer foods.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• An advanced university degree in public health, medicine, nutrition, food science or other relevant discipline related to the functions of the position.

Desirable:

• PhD in public health, medicine, nutrition, food science or other relevant discipline related to the functions of the position.

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 15 years of accumulated national and international professional experience in the management of nutrition or food safety and food systems programmes, preferably both.
• Experience providing senior level advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision makers, managing human and financial resources, as well as experience in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies.
• Experience in organizational management and financing for complex health; related organizations.

Desirable:

• Working experience in low- resourced settings.

Skills

• Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies.
• Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.
• Strong understanding and skills in mobilizing resources.
• Ability to engage, build consensus and communicate effectively and diplomatically with Member States, partners and media.
• Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in area of food and nutrition policies.
• Globally-respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in nutrition, food safety and food systems.
• Proven leadership skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes.
• Good understanding of food safety risk assessment, prevention, surveillance and management of nutrition and food-related disease, food-borne outbreaks, sustainable food systems.

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:

• Intermediate knowledge of French.
• Intermediate knowledge of any other official WHO languages.

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 117,280 (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 9050 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 [email protected]
• 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 [email protected].
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