Technical Officer (Digital Health) – 2 Positions

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Policies and Systems (CPS) assists countries in the Region with the design and implementation of appropriate health policies and systems to strengthen universal health coverage. It works to strengthen data-driven, evidence-informed, contextually tailored health policy development and implementation at national, regional and local levels, taking an inclusive approach across the life course. The Division advocates strengthening of public health leadership, focusing on implementing policies that are people centered, promote health, prevent illness, and address the social and economic determinants of health, while fostering leadership on equity, human rights, and gender mainstreaming in health. It focuses on building capacity for health systems innovation to enable the sustainable delivery of high- quality primary health and community services that are effectively linked to hospitals, and mental health, public health, and social care services. To do so, CPS supports country efforts to facilitate access so as to leave nobody behind, to improve financial protection, to strengthen the health workforce, to increase access to affordable medicines and technologies, and to promote the uptake and implementation of digital technology.

The Data and Digital Health (DDH) coordinates the digital health flagship and provides technical and policy guidance and expertise on the safety and efficacy of digital health solutions; and preserving health equity, gender equality, equity and human rights as core values in their deployment. Through its work it will support countries to leverage the use of digital technologies for improving the interface between people and health services; for improving health system performance; and for strengthening critical public health functions including disease surveillance, early warning and risk assessment. Furthermore, the unit is responsible foredate collection, collation, analysis, presentation and dissemination. It will monitor and measure progress in achieving the SDGs and the triple billion goals whilst developing and implementing a measurement framework for the EPW. It will provide strategic direction, technical assistance and tailored support to countries to strengthen their capacity to be able to generate timely, credible, reliable and actionable data. The priority will be to strengthen health information systems in non-EU countries. The unit will engage with experts and partners both within and outside the Region to harness synergies, reduce data collection burden and fill important data gaps. It will seek to develop new approaches and methodologies including the use of big data to complement traditional methods for timely measurement and monitoring of health status and health system performance. It will also be responsible for ensuring timely and effective dissemination of health statistics to serve as a basis for planning and prioritization of activities in countries.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To provide senior technical leadership and oversight for the Digital Health Flagship on the application of digital technologies supporting the transformation of health systems and services in the European Region. The main focus of the positions will be leading the “ICT Platform on Quality of Health Care” workstream under the HEALTH-IQ Project in the Quality-of-Care Office OR coordinating the implementation of the Healthcare and Digitalization Components of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania 2022-2026.

Key duties:

Under the guidance of the Regional Adviser, DDH, the incumbent assumes following duties:

• Coordinates the “ICT Platform on Quality of Health Care “workstream under the HEALTH-IQ Project in the Quality-of-Care Office;
• Leads the technical implementation and support the coordination of the Healthcare and Digitalization Components of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania 2022-2026;
• Provides expert and specialized advice and technical leadership on attainment of programme objectives and execution options, developing concrete proposals and implementation plans for concrete actions.
• Develops and integrates contributions from across the organization for implementing approaches for strengthening Health systems and public health in Member States through the implementation of appropriate digital technologies.
• Coordinates the design, development and delivery of activities for implementing digital transformation of Health Services at country level with a strong focus on implementation of digital health for health systems strengthening and universal health coverage.
• Provides technical leadership and contribution to the development and delivery of key programmatic activities and events, relevant frameworks and technical guidance.
• Partners with national research institutes, non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations and Non-State Actors, where relevant, to advance the implementation of the data and digital health programme through united action with various partners and identifies and draws experts from related fields and institutions into an active network of cooperation for delivery of the strategic objectives of the DDH programme.
• Provides consultation, technical assistance, training and support to Ministries of Health in the formulation of national policies and programmes intended to innovate and strengthen health systems through digitalization as well as to empower people to protect their own health and prevent disease.
• Advocates for the incorporation of human rights and gender equality in policies, workshops, activities by the actors normally involved in policy-making.
• Promotes awareness among Member States and identifies opportunities for collaboration that lead to greater focus on innovation of health systems through digitalization and helps secure funding and other resource streams.
• Contributes to the formulation of regional technical and operational guidance across all aspects of digital health.12. Provide technical assistance in other related work within the above areas, as relevant and needed by DDH.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Master’s level) in computer sciences, statistics, demography, epidemiology, public health, health systems or similar sciences.
Desirable: Additional university degree in any of the above fields or training in public health, health technology, digital health, health informatics.

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in the area of health data governance and digital technologies applied to health services. Experience assessing or developing conceptual frameworks and policy proposals for health data governance, digitalization of public systems, healthcare delivery and public health. Experience participating in networks or advising international entities or organizations on health data and digital health.
Desirable: Relevant experience within WHO, the United Nations or other international organizations. Relevant experience in research-to-policy engagements, health systems political outreach, facilitation and analysis.

Skills

• Proven skills in the design and implementation of health data governance and digital health architectures and digital service design.
• Proven skills in strengthening and innovation of public health functions through digital means.
• Proven ability to provide sound policy and technical advice to institutions and governments.
• Knowledge of Project management frameworks and methodologies, process reengineering, and innovation practices is required.
• Ability to work comfortably in an international, multi-disciplinary, fast-paced environment.
• Emotional intelligence;
• 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
Moving forward in a changing environment
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French, Russian, German.

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 77,326 (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 5252 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.

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