Job Detail

Technical Officer - (1803768)  Grade: P4Contractual Arrangement: Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4Contract duration: 24mths: 

Job Posting

: Sep 25, 2018, 10:16:18 AM

Closing Date

: Oct 16, 2018, 11:59:00 PM

Primary Location

: Switzerland-Geneva

Organization

: HQ/IVB - Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals

Schedule

: Full-time  
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings. 

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) is to work towards a world in which all people are vaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases. The overall work of the department is distributed in three main areas:

1. Initiative Vaccine Research Team (IVR) that provides leadership on the research activities to develop new or improved vaccines against diseases of public health importance and to facilitate their introduction and use.

2. Immunization policy that provides guidance and norms for vaccine roll-out.

3. The Expanded Programme on Immunization Plus Team (EPI) whose work is aimed at developing strategies for maximizing the use of vaccines and their delivery; supporting regions and countries in acquiring the necessary skills, competence and infrastructure to implement policies and strategies and achieve disease control/elimination and eradication objectives.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To lead the area of work targeting enhanced access to timely and affordable supply of vaccines and manage the Market Information for Access Initiative by:

 

- working with and oversee consulting groups to enhance data collection and analysis,

 - overseeing annual collection of data on vaccine shortages and purchase (including price, manufacturer of source, procurement agency, terms and conditions), quality control and analysis to identify affordability and availability risks (two in-depth market studies per year, annual updating of past market studies, yearly global vaccine market overview),

- contributing to development and to coordinate implementation of policies/guidance/strategies for enhanced access to supply particularly in self-funding and self-procuring countries in collaboration with other WHO departments and market shaping stakeholders; this includes expanding access policies to meet specific policy objectives by working with manufactures and other partner agencies for improved price and availability agreements,

- strengthening dialogue and collaboration with market shaping internal and external partners by regular convening of relevant stakeholders to ensure information sharing (including through website development and regular updating) and coordination,

- providing technical support to regions and countries, e.g. regular mapping of priority needs for assistance by countries (understanding available information, improvement of negotiating skills, budget impact analysis etc.), development of tools (e.g. pricing fact sheets), engagement with countries on bilateral or group basis to leverage regional platforms and peer learning,

- developing and managing other “access to supply” initiatives (e.g. the Humanitarian Mechanism for access to supply for refugee/displaced populations, setting up of a DiphtheriaAnti-Toxin stockpile),

- representing WHO in technical/managerial meetings as relevant to the above mentioned work areas,

- developing new effective linkages with other technical groups in IVB and across WHO departments (e.g. Essential Medicines and Health Products Department, and WHO Health Emergencies Programme) to support the integration of activities and collaboration towards the achievement of Global Vaccine Action Plan goals and post 2020 agenda,

- supporting the supervisor in the area of fundraising, development and updating of workplans, budget, financial expenditure projections for the work area,

- carrying out other duties as assigned by the supervisory line.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential : Advanced university degree in Public Health, Economics, International Development Studies. 

Experience

Essential : At least seven years internationally based professional work experience in the health sector (either public or private), including demonstrated experience with low-resource environments, relevant experience in immunization, and immunization and pharmaceutical financing, procurement and supply areas. Demonstrated experience working with development partners in the development, planning, implementation or monitoring and evaluation of development strategies and programmes, particularly in the health area. Demonstrated experience working to deadlines and budgets, including in collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders. Experience supervising and managing teams. Demonstrated experience working with and managing data/statistics for analytical and decision making purposes.

Skills

Knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization systems with particular knowledge of vaccine/medicine demand, procurement, supply, price dynamics. 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. Conscientious, with the 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, pharmaceutical industry, procurement agencies, civil society organizations.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Producing results

Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential : Expert knowledge of English.


Desirable : Intermediate knowledge of French.

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 71,332 (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 4274 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 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: www.whed.net/ . Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link:www.who.int/employment/en/. 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.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.