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 Infectious Hazard Prevention and Preparedness Unit of the Health Emergencies Programme is responsible for establishing risk mitigation strategies and capacities for priority high-threat infectious hazards. This includes developing and supporting prevention and control strategies, preparedness tools and capacities for high-threat infectious hazards, establishing and maintaining experts' networks to detect, understand and manage new or emerging high threat infectious hazards as well as providing support for strategic implementation of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework in Eastern Mediterranean Region including regional level coordination support.The Infectious Hazard Management Unit of the Health Emergencies Programme is responsible for establishing risk mitigation strategies and capacities for priority high-threat infectious hazards. This includes developing and supporting prevention and control strategies, tools and capacities for high-threat infectious hazards, establishing and maintaining experts networks to detect, understand and manage new or emerging high threat infectious hazards as well as providing secretariat support for the management of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework.
Description Of Duties:
Contribute to WHO's organization-wide work in the development, implementation and oversight of relevant policies, strategies, programmes of work, and annual work-plans in infectious hazards management.
Oversee and coordinate EMRO's technical and operational support to WHO country offices in the management of high-threat infectious hazards.
Provide advice and oversee the work activities of the IHP team in maintaining and disseminating technical guidelines and other knowledge products for the prevention, preparedness and control of infectious hazards and other country health emergency preparedness related activities for high threat pathogens.
Lead and oversee WHO's work and country support related to the implementation of the PIP Framework in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Lead the identification and implementation of innovative approaches for establishing risk mitigation and disease control strategies and preparedness capacities for high-threat infectious hazards.
Ensure close collaborative working arrangements with other technical units and departments in regional and headquarters' offices to develop context-specific approaches.
Build strategic partnerships and networks throughout the region, including the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network.
Promote and enhance ongoing coordination with all relevant stakeholders and provide advice on implementation and operational issues.
Provide high quality technical inputs and guidance for the risk assessment of acute public health events, in collaboration with the Health Information Management Unit.
Provide technical guidance and operational support for the response to graded and protracted emergencies, especially those involving high threat pathogens, in collaboration with the Emergency Operations Unit.
Participate in surge support to country offices as required for emergency operations and participate in or lead Incident Management Support Teams at the regional office, as required.
Provide technical advice on infectious hazards management to WHO Senior Management in the region as required, including relations with other UN agencies and other partners.
Represent WHO at official meetings and in media context as needed.
Determine IHP team staffing needs, oversee the deployment arrangements and the mobilization of the required human resources. Provide leadership, motivation, guidance, and performance management of staff and experts to build dynamic and efficient teams.
Perform other related duties including replacing and backstopping as required by his supervisors.
Required Qualifications: Education Essential:
Master's degree in Medicine or a health related field, complemented by a post-graduate degree in public health or related discipline.
Desirable:
Specialized training in epidemiology or infectious diseases; specialized training in providing leadership and management in large scale humanitarian emergencies
Experience Essential:
At least 15 years of international and national relevant professional experience in emergency public health programmes particularly emerging infectious diseases. Experience in critical competencies for promoting a public health perspective and approach, such as infectious disease epidemiology, prevention, preparedness or control at national and international levels. Out of the 15 years, at least 5 years of management experience at international level in recognized senior leadership positions with direct responsibility for managing both human and financial resources. Proven experience in coordinating large scale projects such as disease outbreak and/or pandemics with high public health or political impact in developing countries. Relevant experience with the inter-agency mechanisms at country or regional level used to coordinate international preparedness for and response to health emergencies, including those most relevant to coordination of health policy and action in health emergencies.
Desirable:
Relevant work experience in WHO and/or UN sister agencies; experience working in countries complex emergency with relevant multilateral, non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. Field experience in public health programmes or emergency response programmes in developing countries.
Functional Knowledge and Skills:
Demonstrated exceptional leadership and team management skills in international and multi-cultural settings, including the proven capacity to lead and deliver on deadlines during periods of intense stress and activity.
Demonstrated ability to provide independent leadership in such periods with capacity to organize, monitor and synthesize information quickly and concisely.
Proven ability to successfully coordinate, manage and lead projects, and build partnerships, across agencies and organizational departments in the context of health emergencies.
Thorough knowledge of epidemiology of infectious diseases and other global health security threats and of issues and practices for the prevention, preparedness and control of disease.
Proven experience in developing and implementing public health strategies to address infectious hazards
