World Health Organization (WHO) is recruiting for Public Health Officer positions in multiple locations: APPLY NOW!
Public Health Officer (Epidemiology) – Multiple Locations –
Grade: P3
Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 1 year ( further extensions subject to performance and availability of funds)
Closing Date
: Mar 6, 2024, 12:59:00 AM
Primary Location
: Multiple locations
Organization
: EU/CDE Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health
Schedule
: Full-time
Purpose of the Public Health Officer Post:
The Public Health Officer will manage WHO’s access to, and analysis of, country-specific data. The Public Health Officer will collaborate with relevant authorities to enhance the analysis and provision of data-driven evidence to facilitate public-health policy advice and decision making. The incumbent will enhance national capacity in overall disease prevention and control by collaborating on the development and implementation of national, public health programmes and strategies on surveillance and response which may include emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. This may also serve to strengthen early detection, verification and rapid response to epidemics and other public health events of national or international concern.
Objectives of the Public Health Officer Programme and of the Division:
The Division of Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health (CDE) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of communicable diseases and addresses the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health through stewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. It focuses on health promotion measures, behavioural insights; communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases; elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocacy for increased use of vaccines; containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance; addressing existing and emerging environmental health risks and supporting violence and injury prevention.
A determination to ensure universal access to people-centred quality health services across the continuum of care is matched by enriching the evidence base for policy design and interventions using social, cultural and behavioural approaches, to drive implementation of innovation at national, regional and local levels”.
The WHO country office works with the National Authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions are engrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectives of promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressing health emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal Health Coverage.
WHO’s mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providing Global Health leadership; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends. The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work 2020–2025 –“United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a vision of how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries in meeting citizens’ expectations about health.
WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable, and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavour; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all national and international partners in the country, provision of direct technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation, and to promote health equity.
Summary of Public Health Officer Assigned Duties:
The incumbent will manage WHO’s access to, and analysis of, country-specific data. The Public Health Officer will collaborate with relevant authorities to enhance the analysis and provision of data-driven evidence to facilitate public-health policy advice and decision making. The incumbent will enhance national capacity in overall disease prevention and control by collaborating on the development and implementation of national, public health programmes and strategies on surveillance and response which may include emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. This may also serve to strengthen early detection, verification and rapid response to epidemics and other public health events of national or international concern.
Public Health Officer Key duties:
The incumbent will perform all or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office:
– Work in coordination with all technical focal points at regional and headquarters levels, under the guidance of the head of the WHO country office.
– Provide advice to national public health authorities and manage the epidemiological work of the country office that underpins policy formulation. Support to relevant teams on building core capacities for surveillance, early detection, verification and rapid response to epidemics and other public health events of international concern, as required in the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.
– Ensure that the WHO Country Office has access to all relevant existing country-specific health-related data. This includes national and subnational datasets, such as demographics of populations affected by specific diseases (relevant age, gender, etc.) and time trends. Analyze such data sets to provide additional insights on the country’s health context and epidemiological situation.
– Serve as focal person for all internal and external requests related to country-specific data. As needed, ensure government agreement for the use and dissemination of such data.
– Assist the government and relevant institutions on the enhancement of national capacities in epidemic and disease-trends’ forecasting and detection systems, including epidemiology and laboratory surveillance for monitoring and evaluating the core surveillance and real-time analysis of outbreak intelligence data.
– Coordinate the development of training courses for public health professionals on epidemiological surveillance, outbreak investigation, and/or the improvement of related data management.
– Manage the WHO Office’s support to the government in conducting field investigations of public health events. when required by the specific country or health situation.
– Collaborate with Health Emergency teams to promote WHO’s position and successfully influence national health authorities to develop infection prevention and control programmes in health care facilities, including (where and when required) focusing on preparedness and response to epidemics and pandemics.
– Participate, as needed, in risk assessments for unusual health events.
– Collaborate with relevant authorities on the development and maintenance of a national system for comprehensive data collection and trend analysis of public health events.
– Manage the analysis, interpretation, and knowledge building of surveillance data (including virological data) through WHO and peer-reviewed publications and media.
– Encourage collaboration and develop advocacy initiatives and project proposals for joint action and resource mobilization to augment national, operational responses to public health events.
– Act as the main liaison between government and WHO (all levels) on country-specific data gathering and dissemination of WHO-generated data and data analysis.
Competencies:
1) Teamwork
2) Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3) Communication
4) Producing Results
5) Ensuring effective use of resources
WHO global Competencies model at http://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=1
Public Health Officer Functional Knowledge and Skills:
Demonstrated knowledge and professional skills in the development and implementation of public health surveillance systems.
Seasoned expertise in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of epidemiological and event-based surveillance data.
Strong ability to process, analyze and interpret epidemiological and event-based surveillance data.
Expertise in providing technical support/guidance for a rapid, public-health response to public-health events.
Experience in data analysis and interpretation related to epidemics/pandemics.
Knowledge of the communicable and non-communicable disease profile of the country.
Demonstrated training skills (developing and conducting training).
Ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams, projects, and programmes.
Demonstrated skills to develop public-health guidelines.
Proficiency in specialized surveillance/data-management software, computers and office software packages, handling of web-based management systems, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and Cloud Management Enterprise System such as Workday.
Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.
Public Health Officer Educational Qualifications:
Essential: A university degree in epidemiology, public health, medical or other studies in a field directly related to the position. Post-graduate training in epidemiology (EPIET) or similar programme
Experience:
Essential: A minimum of five years of work experience relevant to the position (in epidemiology including developing and/or implementing programmes, policies, and guidelines as well as monitoring and evaluation of diseases and public health issues), with some of it obtained in an international context.
Desirable: Experience in public-health responses in complex emergency and humanitarian crisis situations. Relevant experience in a developing country context is desirable. Experience in WHO or within the UN system with an understanding of its mandate, goals, and procedures.
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 64,121 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), in addition to 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.
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