Programme Area Manager (Emergency Operations) – P6  

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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. Emergency Operations within the Health Emergencies Programme is responsible for ensuring that emergency-affected populations have access to timely and effective health services. This includes ensuring a strong emergency management system (based on incident management), effective and inclusive coordination mechanisms, joint assessments and planning with partners, effective implementation of operations and services according to agreed standards, and strong logistics and operational support. The expansion and strengthening of operational partnerships are key priorities.  EMO also leads on humanitarian policy and guidance, as well as representation to key interagency bodies.  Contributions to WHO’s work on operational readiness is a key priority. 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following duties: 
1.    Lead the development of annual work plans in emergency operations; ensure their effective implementation and monitoring and reporting of results. 
2.    Lead, supervise and manage a team of emergency professionals to ensure high quality technical and operational support to WHO country programmes responding to emergencies from all hazards, including disease outbreaks, natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies and technological disasters. 
3.    Direct and guide the consistent application of WHO standards (e.g., Emergency Response Framework, Emergency Standard Operating Procedures), technical guidelines and best practices; revise and update guidance, as required. 
4.    Oversee the functioning of the EMRO Emergency Operations Centre and ensure that it operates according to international standards and best practices. 
5.    Oversee and supervise the Operations Support and Logistics team, including the Dubai logistics hub, and ensure strong end-to-end supply chain management, health logistics, and field operations support.  
6.    Establish Incident Management Support Teams at the regional office in support of country-level response to graded emergencies; establish clear lines of communications, promote and foster effective collaboration with and provide authoritative technical advice to other agencies, with emphasis on the coordination and consolidation of health agencies and health cluster activities. 
7.    Ensure the effective functioning of Country Support Teams in the context of protracted emergencies.  Advance WHO’s work in trauma management, especially in humanitarian settings.  Ensure that WHO’s Code of Ethics and the WHO Policy on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct are consistently observed in all of EMO’s work, including in support of country operations ; ensure that the PRSEAH function is consistently included in WHO country-level Incident Management Teams and regional-level Incident Management Support Teams.  
8.    Oversee and promote, with a broad range of UN agencies, international, governmental and nongovernmental organizations/institutions, the mobilization and coordination of resources, identify needs and funding gaps; encourage donors to fund the overall health sector response to affected populations. 
9.    Develop WHO operational readiness capacities to ensure timely and effective response to acute emergencies, including participation in simulations and exercises. 
10.    Deploy to emergency operations as a member of surge teams as needed, and undertake regular country visits to ongoing emergency operations. 
11.    Collaborate with Health Systems Department, other WHO departments and partners to develop context-specific approaches to working in protracted emergencies, including the operationalization of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus. 
12.    Collaborate with Health Information Management Unit to ensure consistent application of Public Health Information Standards and the Response Monitoring Framework including regular reporting of the quality and effectiveness of WHO emergency operations. 
13.    Play a key role in overseeing sound and effective leadership, motivation, guidance, management and performance evaluation of EMO staff, including proactively promoting effective team work and achievement of results and resolving problems, within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, and WHE accepted procedures; and managing EMO global budget within the framework of WHO Staff and Financial Rules and Regulations. 
14.    Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including deployment for emergency operations and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced University degree (Master’s degree) in medicine, nursing, public health, emergency management or related field.

Desirable: Specialization in epidemiology, emergency and/or humanitarian response; training or studies in leadership or management

Experience

Essential: At least 15 years of proven experience in public health in the field of emergency operations in response to acute emergencies from all hazards (e.g. outbreaks, natural disasters, technological disasters) and protracted humanitarian crises; combined with leadership and managerial experience, with at least five years’ experience in coordinating large scale public health projects in developing countries, with knowledge of inter-agency mechanisms in the area of international preparedness for and response to health emergencies.

Desirable: Experience in WHO and/or the UN System in the areas of outbreak response and/or humanitarian interventions; field experience in public health programmes or emergency response programmes in developing countries.

Skills

• Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills in international and multi-cultural settings combined with proven ability to successfully coordinate, manage and lead projects, and build partnerships with multiple partners in the context of health emergencies.
• Sound strategic and tactical thinking with ability to formulate clear comprehensive policies, strategies and plans.
• Superior organizational skills with ability to multi-task and produce results under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with proven ability to communicate in a clear and effective way, with tact, diplomacy and courtesy.
• Authoritative and comprehensive knowledge of the theory, principles, methods and techniques in international emergency management and humanitarian response, with a broad-based understanding of its growing complexity including knowledge of the workings of relevant international policy-setting bodies.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Ensuring the effective use of resources
6. Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of 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 106,023 (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 3137 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.

https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

[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].
• 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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