Technical Officer, Logistics and Supply Chain

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Non-communicable diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO African region. The strategic agenda of the cluster is to reduce disease burden in the WHO African Region, by guiding disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control. This approach is underpinned by the guiding principles of comprehensive whole of society, people-centered, integrated approaches to disease control. The comprehensive whole of society approaches to disease control involves: (a) coherent implementation of triple response – technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting intervention mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systems response: building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors, communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public and private sectors, health and non-health sectors; and (c) community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health services demand creation and accountability by local health stewards.
The people centered, integrated approaches to disease control involves: (a) integrated guidance on disease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms through deployment of appropriate technologies and analytics to guide stratification of disease risks across population groups to develop and deploy comprehensive packages of interventions appropriate to each targeted population group and health service delivery platform, as well as monitor population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind.
The specific objectives of the UCN cluster to which the VPD programme contributes, are to: (i) provide leadership on disease control coordination, partnership and resource mobilization; (ii) contribute to the development of WHO disease control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) support generation and use of strategic information for action and decision making including optimizing investment; and (iv) provide or facilitate provision of technical support in deployment of WHO technical products and services and institutional capacity building, including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The position is required to allow the VPD to contribute to the Strategic Development Goal 3.8 (within the context of the Universal Health Coverage target) by ensuring access to safe, effective, and quality vaccines for all. The position will focus on effectively engaging partners’ and countries in the practice of immunization supply chain management, vaccine procurement and allocation, monitoring and using country-specific vaccine wastage rates for more efficient forecasting.
To have first line responsibility for all aspects of logistics and supply chain, including facilitating
coordinated approaches; proactively contributing to the development of standard operating procedures (SOP), strategies and policies; reviewing and adapting existing guidelines; conducting and contributing to training activities; and developing and managing work plans and budgets.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• To lead the area of work aimed to strengthen logistics and supply chain at regional and country levels.
• To facilitate coordinated approaches on logistics and supply chain.
• To contribute and support to the development of guidelines, strategies, policies, norms and standards, standards operating procedures (SOP) at all levels.To develop plan and strategies to increase stakeholders and country awareness about the vaccine management and supply chain.
• To provide technical support to countries logistic and supply chain for trainings as well as capacity building for effective vaccine management and use of comprehensive improvement plan to ensure implementation of activities, and efficiency in vaccine forecasting, procurement, allocation, and supply chain management.
• To represent WHO in technical/managerial meetings as relevant to the above-mentioned work areas.
• To develop new effective linkages with other technical groups in IST and across WHO AFRO departments/clusters to support the integration of activities and collaboration towards the achievement of Immunization Agenda 2030 and Regional Strategic Plan.
• To support the VPD team leader in development of proposals, updating of workplans, budget, financial expenditure projections and resource mobilization for the work area.
• Strengthen partnership, collaboration with all stakeholders and alliances to harmonize and streamline country support for the logistics and immunization supply chain at all levels.
• Facilitate the back-up of Inter Country Support Teams (ISTs), to provide highly specialized technical assistance to Member States relating to logistics and immunization supply chain.
• Collaborate with other programmes to promote and support the adoption of innovations, particularly in the optimization and digitalization of logistics and immunization supply chain.
• Developing/collaborating on the development and maintenance of up-to-date regional and national databases for logistics and immunization supply chain as part of the development on new/improved tools and strategies.
• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Educational (Qualifications)

Essential

Master’s degree in pharmacy, Logistics, Supply chain management, Engineering or another related field.

Desirable

Post-graduate training in public health, vaccinology or another related filed

Experience

Essential

• At least seven (7) years’ experience at national and international level in logistics, supply chain management in the health sector (either public or private).
• Experience in immunization logistics and supply chain in low-resource environments.
• Experience in managing diverse teams.

Desirable

• Experience in planning, monitoring and evaluation of Immunization programmes at national or international level.
• Demonstrated experience of working with and managing data/statistics for analytical and decision-making purposes.
• Demonstrated experience in working to deadlines and budgets, including in collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Skills

• Knowledge on immunization supply chain, including vaccine forecasting and familiarity with effective vaccine management initiative and other existing vaccine/ supply chain management tools.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to work as a team member and/or coordinate diverse groups of stakeholders. Strong interpersonal, networking and diplomacy skills.
• Ability to take the initiative and work independently under general guidance. Familiarity with the UN system and a range of international public/private health partners, including knowledge of WHO country, regional and global functions.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Creating a motivating and empowering environment
5. Producing results
6. Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Excellent knowledge of English or French.
• Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN official languages

Other Skills (e.g., IT)

Proven ability to use standard office software packages, Conversant with common IT software including eHealth tools. Familiarity with immunization supply chain management tools, relevant data management and visualization tools and other applications is an advantage.

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. 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 may be used as a form of screening.
• In the event 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
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  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.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
• 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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