Regional Adviser, Research Promotion and Research Governance – P5  

The programme envisions a region where all health-related policies, decisions on healthcare development and implementation, and innovations are informed by best available evidence from verifiable knowledge, research and reliable information. The programme’s mission is to strengthen the capacity of Member States to improve availability, quality and use of evidence from reliable information, research and other sources of knowledge, and to enhance effective innovations toward Universal Health Coverage and health related Sustainable Development Goals.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Lead and supervise activities of Research Promotion and Research Governance (RPG) team.

2. Support and coordinate training and research development at the regional and country levels, including scientific writing, as well as coordination of Calls for Research Proposals for different areas of work in EMRO (Research in Priority Areas in Public Health), Tropical Disease Research and during health emergencies.
3. Promote and strengthen national capacities and institutions for governance, management and support of research and development (R&D) for health. 
4. Build skills in design and conduct of research and generation of research evidence, priority setting for research, and standards and good research conduct which lead to ethical, accessible and timely dissemination of research findings.
5. Support, strengthen national health research institutions and bodies, including national ethics / bioethics committees, and enhance their capacity in promoting and monitoring the ethical conduct of health and medical practice and research. 
6. Manage the team of the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, the flagship health periodical of the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, under the supervision of its Executive Editor.
7. Plan and develop reports on the status of health research and governance in EMR countries, their priorities and monitor progress over time.
8. Coordinate the work of WHO Collaborating Centers in the Region through overseeing (re)designation processes, in line with WHO policies and priorities.
9. Contribute to and foster inter-agency collaboration with UN partners and academic and research institutions, via existing or future platforms as well as the work with UNESCO on bioethics and supporting national ethics / bioethics committees. 
10. Provide technical and managerial advice as member or secretariat of related global or regional platforms or committees as assigned by the WHO.    

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSEducation

Essential

University degree in medicine or pharmacy and Master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, health policy, health economics, pharmaco-economics or biostatistics 

Desirable

PhD in epidemiology, public health, health policy, health economics, pharmaco-economics or biostatistics

Experience

Essential

 At least 10 years of relevant experience at the national and international levels in conducting and managing health research, of which at least 3 years should be at international level. This should include at least five years of senior managerial experience with adequate exposure/engagement with the international research community. At least 15 academic publications in the last five years.

Desirable

Previous experience with UN. Academic designation at the level of associate or full professor positions. Previous chairing or management of national/international research institutions or committees. Previous editor responsibility in an international peer-reviewed journal. Proven experience of supervising conduct of research projects (e.g. masters or PhD level students).

Skills

• In depth knowledge of Research Methodology and Management for health. 
• Excellent critical appraisal, writing and drafting skills to produce reports, policies and documents on subject matter(s). 
• Proven ability to manage the work of a team requiring an in-depth understanding of its strategic direction and is able to integrate the work of the team into the assigned work programme. 
• Excellent communication skills to provide expert advice on substantive issues and to defend and explain difficult issues with respect to action plans and WHO’s position in the assigned area(s)
• Ability to demonstrate professional competence and mastery of subject matter; to meet commitments, observe deadlines and achieve results.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills to identify the key issues in a complex situation and finds solutions to problems and takes decisions with an eye to the impact on stakeholders and counterparts and on the Organization. 
   

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.
• Communication.
• Producing results.
• Moving forward in a changing environment.
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment.

Use of Language Skills

Excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of French and/or Arabic an asset.

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

• Proficiency in MS Office applications

• Proficiency in use of at least one major statistical analysis application (e.g. SPSS, STATA, R, SAS)

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 92,731 (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 1793 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 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.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• 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 for WHO jobs.
• 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 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.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
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