DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Develop guidelines, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for detection, verification and response to public health events of national and international concern in the context of integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR)Coordinate and manage technical activities and surveillance programmes as part of the health emergency preparedness, outbreak control and health emergency management programme at the country level. Facilitate the application of the International Health Regulations (IHR), including participation in the verification and risk assessment process for reported public health events. Strengthen the capacity of surveillance teams to ensure effective and ongoing surveillance of diseases with epidemic potential by organizing training courses on field investigations, detection, data management and rapid response to epidemics and health emergencies.Conduct, in collaboration with other team members, real-time analysis of outbreak data from a wide range of sources, including sectors other than health, to predict and detect outbreaks. Promote effective coordination to ensure rapid assessment and surveillance of diseases with epidemic potential, as well as response activities, in consultation with the country office, the Regional Office, WHO Headquarters and local, regional and national entities, as well as other international health sector partners, including UN system agencies and non-governmental organizations.Provide technical advice on the management of a unified information system to ensure the availability of basic country data files and other information on related technical areas such as case incidence, surveillance data on case management, surveillance data from laboratories, or contact tracing.Analyze, systematize and disseminate evidence-based scientific and technical information and knowledge; support the preparation of WHO status reports and other related regular and ad hoc surveillance reports.Conduct regular monitoring visits to the field to assess the implementation of monitoring activities, identify gaps and recommend corrective actions based on key performance indicatorsSupport operational research where applicablePerforms other tasks related to incident management in accordance with the requirements of the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A first-level university degree in medicine, epidemiology, statistics, database management or public health from an accredited or recognized institute.

Desirable: Advanced university degree in quantitative epidemiology statistics or a health-related field, coupled with specialized training in communicable diseases.

Experience

Essential: At least five years of experience in the field such as quantitative epidemiology and implementation of public health surveillance, outbreak investigations and outbreak response in humanitarian crises.

Desirable: Previous humanitarian field experience with WHO, other un system agencies, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations or an international non-governmental organization specializing in outbreak and disaster response.

Skills

Proven knowledge of surveillance and monitoring systems related to emergency relief operations, and skills in the collection, evaluation and analysis of epidemiological or statistical data, and evaluation and monitoring in a public health context.Proven ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously in various planning and implementation processes in a highly demanding environment.Demonstrated knowledge, skills and professional skills in public health control, preparedness and response to infectious diseases in the context of the International Health Regulations, including the application of a threat-encompassing approach in the context of the International Health Regulations, the use of event and indicator surveillance, descriptive epidemiology and public health principles in the area of communicable disease surveillance and response.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Producing results

Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 42,723 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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: http://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: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• 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 final candidates.

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

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.