Medical Officer, Hepatitis (Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes (HHS) hosts the WHO’s Global HIV Programme, the Global Hepatitis Programme (GHP) as well as the Global Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Programme. The programmes are guided by the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (GHSS) 2022-2030 that were approved by the World Health Assembly in May 2022. The programmes have the following strategic directions: 1) Deliver people-centred evidenced-based services; 2) Optimise systems, sectors and partnerships for impact; 3) Generate and use data to drive decisions and action; 4)Engage empowered communities and civil society; and 5) Foster innovations for accelerated action. The 2022-2030 GHSS’s are linked to achieving the goals of the 2016-2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (or the Sustainable Development Goals), in particular the goals of ending AIDS,tuberculosis and malaria; and achieving universal health coverage and healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages by 2030. The objective of the HHS Department is to lead an effective, organization- wide HIV, Hepatitis and STIs effort to support Member State in the implementation of the Strategies. The Department provides technical and strategic leadership in key technical areas and leverages the capacity of other HQ Departments to contribute to the broader global programmes. The Global Hepatitis Programme also works closely with the WHO Country Offices, through the Regional Offices in order to maximize WHO’s impact in the context of the General Programme of Work 13 (GPW13). The Treatment, Care and Service Delivery (TAC) unit is located within the HHS Department and its goals are consistent with the larger department goals. To reach these goals, this unit focuses on innovative approaches to HIV, viral hepatitis and STI treatment, care and service delivery through the sub-fields: (1) Adult and paediatric treatment optimization, (2) Adultand paediatric Advanced HIV Disease (AHD), (3) Adolescents treatment and care, (4) Elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B, (5) Differentiated Service Delivery models and PHC, and (6) Diagnostics for monitoring results, including HIV, hepatitis drug resistance. The Department further includes a cross cutting lead on Global Hepatitis Program (GHP). The objective of the GHP is to lead an effective, organization-wide effort to support Member States in the implementation of the GHSS on hepatitis. GHP provides technical and strategic leadership and leverages the capacity of other Headquarters Departments to contribute to hepatitis elimination. The incumbent will be liaising with the cross-cutting hepatitis lead on issues related to treatment, care and service delivery.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The overall assignment of the incumbent is to coordinate and facilitate the development of the norms and standards by the HHS department, including maintaining a watch brief on new innovations and treatment optimization opportunities for viral hepatitis. The incumbent will work towards the development of a consolidated hepatitis guidance, ensuring that this guidance remains up to date, and providing technical support to implement the new guidance in countries and regions.

Detailed tasks:

1. To provide technical expertise and lead on the development of the adult and paediatric treatment, care and service delivery components of Hepatitis norms and standards, including diagnostics. Contribute to HIV and STIs and other relevant collaborative WHO norms and standards to maximize and integrate and leverage a person centred and differentiated focus and approach for different populations, based on epidemiology and needs. Hepatitis guidelines will combine recommendations on hepatitis screening and testing, management of acute and late stage chronic hepatitis infection, and service delivery considerations.
2. Conduct and support evidence reviews to support new global guidance; and work closely with the technical counterparts within WHO and with relevant stakeholders outside WHO and facilitate evidence generation and research mapping exercises on interventions and product selection,developing and maintaining research networks, as well as organising and convening technical meetings.
3. Conduct annual stakeholder meetings on treatment and drug optimization approaches for viral hepatitis (PADO/CADO) and publish ashort, medium and long-term outlook on new treatments available for improved access.
4. Provide technical support to regional and country offices and provide advice to member states related to hepatitis and integration of hepatitis treatment and care and service delivery, and in other programme areas, including HIV and key populations intervention packages, maternal, child and adolescent health, primary health care, and other relevant areas.Collect and dissemination good practices at international fora and within WHO. Work with Regional Offices and Country Offices in providing targeted assistance to priority countries for the introduction of new hepatitis norms and standards, innovations to early adopter and capacity building exercises.
5. Support the GHP team lead in the technical and organizational leadership for the guidelines dissemination processes, including the facilitation of meetings and communications and capacity building.
6. Collaborate with the Strategic Information staff on the development and implementation of the hepatitis M&E frameworks on hepatitis treatment, care and service delivery and collection and analysis of the core treatment and care indicators. Contribute to the hepatitis team across cross-cutting, treatment and strategic information to work towards elimination of hepatitis as a public health threat.
7. Support hepatitis drug and diagnostic development, roll-out and optimization including addressing shortage and emergence of resistance through development of tools and collaboration and partnerships with relevant WHO staff, departments and external stakeholders.
8. Support preparation of documentation for pre-qualifications and develop relevant implementation guidance in liaison with the departmental diagnostics focal point and the Department staff responsible for prequalification of new diagnostics for new Pre-qualified products.
9. Any other duties as assigned by the Head Of Unit (10%).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• Medical degree, with an advanced degree in public health and/or infectious diseases or equivalent
  

Desirable:

• PhD in Public Health

Experience

Essential:

• At least 7 years of experience in communicable disease programmes, of which five years delivering hepatitis treatment and care, and at least three years experience providing technical support on hepatitis in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
• At least two years’ experience in developing clinical guidance related to hepatitis treatment and care, and service delivery for international or regional public health institutions.
  

Desirable:

• A proven track record in clinical and operations research on hepatitis.
• Experience in research, systematic reviews and other relevant evidence reviews.
• A track record of publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Skills

• Expert knowledge of contemporary clinical and public health issues related to Viral Hepatitis treatment and care and research.
• Familiarity and hands-on experience in the development and publication of WHO norms and standards.
• Excellent organizational and management skills.
• Proven ability to manage and produce results for complex projects involving multiple components and partners.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with solid writing and editing experience and ability.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.
  

Desirable:

• Beginners’ knowledge of French.
• Beginners’ knowledge of any another UN language (Spanish, Russian, Chinese or Arabic).

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 77,326 (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 5696 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.

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