Technical Officer (Biomedical Engineering/Emergencies) – P4

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 objectives of the Health Emergency Core Capabilities department include the development and strengthening of core capabilities in the area of community protection, safe and scalable care as well as surveillance and laboratory systems. These capabilities are necessary to prepare, detect and respond to emergency risks and vulnerabilities focusing on community protection in support to the most vulnerable and low-capacity countries. The department works on safe and scalable care to enhance the emergency workforce in support of health systems’ resilience during emergencies and to strengthen key public health and clinical institutions.

The safe and scalable care unit works to ensure that health systems are prepared and ready to respond rapidly to emergencies, and that communities have access to high-quality health services in safe and functional settings during and after emergencies. This requires resilient health systems based on strong primary health care, that have the resources and capacity to re-organize and deploy existing resources in response to increased demands imposed by health emergencies with agility and flexibility, while maintaining essential health services and protecting and supporting health workers and patients. The safe and scalable care unit develops and implements evidence informed guidelines, protocols, tools, and clinical trainings including for improved medical oxygen systems. The unit coordinates networks and platforms, convenes partnerships to strengthen key public health and clinical institutions to support health systems resilience. The unit also provides technical expertise and operational support to strengthen and scale clinical care for emergencies, including infection prevention and control measures to protect health workers and patients and WASH services.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Develop norms and standards, training materials and tools to accelerate Oxygen scale up initiative, this will include new innovative assessment, tools, trainings, materials/tools for the biomedical engineers, health facilities, organizations and countries to continually assess operational needs of oxygen systems, advance member states ability to increase access to medical oxygen and develop/cost/implement national oxygen scale up plans to enhance the clinical response, including but not limited to supply forecasting, inventory and consumption tools, infrastructure development, monitoring and evaluation tools.

2. Lead coordination of WHO networks and partnerships on oxygen scale up project ensuring end to end country implementation. The incumbent will monitor and maintain networks of relevant biomedical and oxygen partners. The incumbent will also lead working groups within the Global Oxygen Initiative partnership and other health and humanitarian organizations with regards to funding, direct donations, program implementation innovations and response strategies to enhance country and field preparedness, readiness, response and recovery.

3. Lead coordination with WHO Operational Support Logistics and Procurement teams on oxygen scale up project ensuring end to end country implementation.

4. Manage the pillars multidisciplinary engagement with country/regional level counterparts related to core deliverables of the clinical emergency preparedness, readiness and response related to the oxygen scale up initiative.

5. Perform all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university degree in public health, management, business administration or other relevant field with a biomedical engineering or clinical engineering degree

Experience

Essential: At least seven years of work experience in public health programme operations among which 3 years at international level including relevant experience as biomedical or clinical engineer.
Desirable: Experience working with WHO mandate and goals related to outbreaks, emergency risk and crises management or experience in UN organizations/agencies, international institutions or NGOs.

Skills

1. Knowledge and experience in oxygen related technology implementation.

2. Supplier and chain management skills.

3. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

4. Ability to work with and/or coordinate a diverse groups of stakeholders.

5. Strong interpersonal, networking and diplomacy skills.

6. Conscientious with ability to take initiative and work independently.

7. Familiarity with the UN system, including knowledge of WHO mandate and WHO country, regional and global functions.

8. Demonstrated knowledge of outbreak response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to public health, complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations affecting several projects and involving the allocation of work, developing/adjusting operational procedures.

9. Excellent skills in assessment, monitoring, analysis and evaluation of emergency situation, with the ability to conceptualize and implement innovative strategies and advocate their implementation along with providing recommendation on key technical issues.

10. Strong public health and strategic thinking background showing leadership qualities and skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive areas.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Ensuring the effective use of resources

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 84,672 (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 5193 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

• Priority will be given to internal candidates.
• 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 E-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 workforce. 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 short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• 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.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to a fixed-term position in the Professional category with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
• 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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