Programme Area Manager

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

• The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The Health Emergency Information& Risk Assessment area of the Health Emergencies Programme is responsible for providing timely and authoritative situation analysis, risk assessment and response monitoring available for all major health threats, events and emergencies. This includes detecting, verifying and assessing the risk of potential and ongoing health emergencies; establishing data collection mechanisms and monitoring ongoing health emergency operations; providing data management, analytics and reporting platform to produce and disseminate timely emergency health information products.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Contribute to WHO’s organization-wide work in the development, implementation and oversight of relevant policies, strategies, programmes of work, and annual work-plans in Health Emergency Information & Risk Assessment area, supporting the identification of new public health events, assessing risks to public health, conducting epidemiological surveillance and field investigations, monitoring public health interventions and the response to emergencies, and communicating public health information to technical partners and stakeholders.
• Lead and coordinate WHO’s information network across the region and at country level, providing leadership in strategic planning, execution and coordination of the information network and implementation of protocols for data gathering and analysis ensuring the provision of evidence for the impact of interventions during outbreaks and emergencies.
• Provide technical expertise and oversee the work activities of the HIM team in maintaining and disseminating technical guidelines and other knowledge products to support the collection and analysis of data for the identification of public health events, providing evidence forthe impact of interventions during outbreaks and emergencies.
• Lead and oversee WHO’s work and country support related to the identification of new public health events, the origins of outbreaks and the collection and dissemination of information.
• Lead the identification and implementation of innovative approaches for establishing evidence-based policies and strategies to improve the collection, analysis, reporting and dissemination of data associated with outbreaks and emergencies.
• Ensure close collaborative working arrangements with other technical units and departments in regional and headquarters’ offices to develop context specific approaches.
• Build strategic partnerships and networks throughout the region, represent WHO and its positions in negotiations in relevant interagency and international fora involved promoting the Health Emergency Preparedness & International Health Regulations system.
• Promote and enhance ongoing coordination with all relevant stakeholders and provide advice on implementation and operational issues.
• Act for the Regional Emergency Director in his/her absence, as requested.10. Perform Other tasks as agreed with supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: An advanced university degree in information management, epidemiology, public health and/or health information or related field.
• Desirable: Specialized training in emergency/humanitarian preparedness and response. Training in leadership or management

Experience

• Essential: At least 15 years of proven experience in information management in the context of international public health programmes, including at least 5 years of management experience in recognized senior leadership positions with direct responsibility for managing both human and financial resources.
• Proven experience in coordinating large scale projects with high political impact in developing countries.
• Relevant experience with the inter-agency mechanisms used to coordinate international preparedness for and response to health emergencies, including those most relevant to coordination of health policy and action in health emergencies.
• Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO and/or UN sister agencies.
• Experience working in relevant non- governmental or humanitarian organizations.
• Field experience in public health programmes or emergency response programmes in developing countries.

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of WHO language.

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2404174