Programme Management Support Officer

Objectives of the Programme and of the Division:

The Executive Director’s division (EDD) provides the vision and leadership through which country offices and technical divisions are supported in the efficient delivery of the General and European Programme of Work (GPW/EPW) and the WHO Programme Budget. It encompasses the functions of programme and resource management, resource mobilization, external relations and communications, and support to governing bodies of the European Region.

The WHO country office works with the National Authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions are engrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectives of promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressing health emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal Health Coverage. WHO’s mandate revolves around six core functions:

(i) providing Global Health leadership;

(ii) shaping the health research agenda;

(iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends. The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work 2020–2025 –“United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a vision of how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries in meeting citizens’ expectations about health.

WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavour; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all national and international partners in the country, provision of direct technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation, and to promote health equity.

Description of duties:

The incumbent enables the effective implementation of WHO collaborative programmes by supporting the delivery of strategic and results-based, operational planning, programme budgeting, resource distribution, technical monitoring, evaluation, and reporting functions, while ensuring adherence to organizational guidelines and standards. The incumbent also supports technical strategic dialogue between the Country Office and Regional Office related to strategic and operational planning.

Key duties:

• The incumbent will perform all or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office.
• Coordinate and provide support to the head of the WHO country office (HWO) and senior staff on the implementation of the one-planning and monitoring approach anchored in the Country Cooperation Agreement at the country level.
• Support the promotion and processes of technical dialogue during strategic and operational planning, including for the Country Cooperation Strategy.
• Support the planning, monitoring, analysis, and reporting of programme initiatives for the country office for quality results and strategic decision making.
• Support the coordination of the overall results-based management of the country office including grants management, budget, work planning, and resource allocation to ensure the effective execution of the WHO country office public health programmes.
• Collaborate with the resource’s mobilization focal point on resource mobilization activities.
• Ensure appropriate use of funds, especially the thematic funding and specified voluntary contributions (VCS) to achieve results.
• Organize various programme management meetings, coordinate relevant activities, and ensure
• predictable follow-up on agreed action points with relevant stakeholders.
• Prepare related elements for briefings, proposals, reports, communications, and advocacy documents required for strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with the Health Policy Adviser or Specialist to support the promotion of integrated approaches and cross-programme collaboration in the entire results-based management cycle that is anchored in the country cooperation strategy.
• Support the capacity-building programme or initiatives of the country office on all processes and tools for managing results.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in a relevant field (such as public health, public administration, management). An accredited academic course, training and/or certification in programme planning or development implementation or monitoring and evaluation is required if not included in the degree qualification.
Desirable: An advanced university degree (master’s level or above) in public health, public administration, management, administration, or related field.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of two years’ experience providing programme or project management services in public sector, international development, or public health programmes at national level.
Desirable: Relevant experience in WHO, the UN system or in an international organization or institution.

Skills

• Delivering public health programmes.
• Facilitating strategic planning processes.
• Results-based management and monitoring and evaluation with a sound understanding of work planning and monitoring.
• Analytical skills and logical thinking.
• Excellent oral and written communication, including for reports, presentations and technical documents.
• Proficiency in computers and office software packages, handling of web-based management systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and Cloud Management Enterprise System, such as Workday.
• Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Ensuring effective use of resources
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Romanian.
Desirable: Working knowledge of French, Russian and/or German.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at RON 217,435 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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.

• 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

[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 theWHO Values Charterinto 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.

• 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.

• 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].

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.

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