Programme Area Manager (Health Information Management)

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Ensure close collaborative working arrangements with other technical units and departments in regional and headquarters’ offices to develop context specific approaches.
7. 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.
8. Promote and enhance ongoing coordination with all relevant stakeholders and provide advice on implementation and operational issues.
9. 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.

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.
-Proven experience in information management for acute and protracted public health emergencies.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Moving forward in a changing environment
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

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

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.
• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:
  1 -Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated.
  2- All required details regarding your qualifications, education, training and experience are provided under relevant sections.
  3- Your experience records are properly entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

• Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model:

  https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/enhanced-who-global-competency-model

• 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.

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