Director, Data and Analytics – D2

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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department of Data and Analytics (DNA) is the central data node and analytics for the World Health Organization. It is located within the Division for Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact (DDI).The objective of the Department is to provide clear, reliable, timely and comparable evidence to empower policy development in countries and to catalyze change whereby data and health information are used systematically to set measurable goals, monitor progress towards health-related SDGs, WHO’s ‘triple billion targets’, and drive continuous health policy and programme improvements. This department sets the global agenda to improve data quality, standards, coordination, use and governance. It supports WHO regions, countries and partners to improve their health data and information systems. It provides annual updates of key data products including World Health Statistics, Global Health Estimates and results reporting. It offers solutions for data exchange and promotes the use of forecasting to inform strategic policy dialogue.

Specific priority areas for Department leadership include:

• Maintaining, developing and promoting the use of the WHO reference classification for diseases and injuries and related data standards;

• Developing, maintaining and supporting the application of standard data analysis methods and technical packages for data collection, use, and dissemination at global, national, and sub-national levels with a focus on disaggregated data, including the World Health Data Collection Platform;

• Strengthening and scaling up vital registration and cause of death data collection practices and reporting to rapidly improve the availability and quality of information on births, deaths and causes of death – ensuring that all lives count, by counting all lives;

• Supporting countries in assessing and improving their health information systems, including health services data;

• Improving the coherence and scientific basis of estimates of disease burden, deaths, and risk factors and their link to health services and programmes;

• Creating compelling tools for data exploration and visualization, and improving the dissemination of surveillance and epidemiological information, including through newer, interactive digital platforms;

• Establishing and helping to implement improved data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination standards across all WHO programmes at all 3 levels of the organization, in collaboration with other UN Agencies, academic institutions, and civil society.

 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• 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 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 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.

• Represent 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:

• Define and direct the strategic vision to set standards for data generation, collection, collation, curation, communication and strengthen country capacity.

• Plays a crucial role in advancing the procedures, data and methods to a) support robust measurement of health-related SDGs (HRSDGs) and WHO’s ‘triple billion’ targets on universal health coverage, health emergencies and healthier populations; b) support the development and harmonization of programmatic indicators by applying standards and scientific rigor in data collection, processing and synthesis leading to single, consistent, and transparently documented number for every HRSDGs.

• Effectively coordinate data and health information systems across all three levels of the organization and with relevant partners to improve efficiencies, reliability and coherence.

• Apply scientific rigour in data, analytics, statistics, methods to monitor health trends and report on the WHO’s ‘triple billion’ targets on universal health coverage, health emergencies and healthier populations, programmatic indicators and the SDG Global Action Milestones.

• Promote use of data principles and the GATHER guidelines (Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting) and data standards to produce coherent global health estimates.

• Increase country capacity to generate, analyze and interpret high-quality data and statistics at subnational and national levels. Systematically address data gaps and increase data quality.

• Increase coherence and coordination in data generation and health information dissemination for impact across all three levels of the organization and with relevant partners.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

•  An advanced level university degree in medicine, epidemiology, demography, public health or closely related field relevant to the position.

Desirable:

• A Doctorate level degree in one of the above mentioned areas closely related field relevant to the position.

 

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in collecting and/or collating data; creating and/or applying cutting-edge methods to harness and effectively communicate available data; producing comparable policy-relevant indicators; developing creative tools for data collection, exploration and use; influencing collaboration and engagement with partners; including management experience interfacing with senior management and decision makers, managing human and financial resources, building motivated teams, and establishing policies and strategies.

• Demonstrated experience at the national and international level.

• Strong track record of peer-reviewed publications and influential reports relevant to the subject area.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in developing countries.

• Recognized authority in specific health field.

• Experience in conducting or coordinating research in the relevant technical areas.

 

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 the Health Subject area.

• Globally-respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in health statistics, health data exchange and analytics.

• Proven leadership and management skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, health information systems, and implementation of a public health/disease control programmes.

• Strong technical knowledge and world class expertise in development of standards and monitoring health trends and determinants, metrics and measurement, WHO’s Family of International Classifications, and carrying out large scale multi-country studies both at national and international levels.

• Strong technical skills and knowledge health information, information management, health data collection efforts, statistics, including data promotion and outreach especially with regard to SDGs and Universal Health Coverage.

 

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

• Communication

• Driving the Organization to a Successful Future

• 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.

   

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 8640 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.

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