Technical Officer, Polio/EPI at WHO.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) provides technical guidance and operational support toprevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaksand emergencies. WHE assists countries to contain and mitigate the risk of high-threat diseases and infectious hazards; to detect and assess emergency health threats and inform public health decision-making; and to respond rapidly and effectively to emergencies under a coordinated Incident Management System. It ensures WHO’s work in emergencies is effectively managed, sustainably financed, adequately staffed and operationally ready to fulfil its mission. Its hub-and-spoke structure ensures country-specific and inter-country activities in priority countries.The objectives of WHO’s emergency programme are to design and implement programmes that prepare the health sector to deal with emergencies and that improve health during and after crises. Within the emergency programme, the objectives of WHO’s emergency response team are to support Member States by: (1) promptly assessing health needs of populations affected by crisis, identifying priority causes of ill-health and death; preparing damage estimates and emergency response and rehabilitation plans; providing prompt, credible health information and ensuring the continuity of essential health services; (2) ensuring that critical gaps in the health response to outbreaks are rapidly identified and filled; (3) revitalizing and building the capacity of national health systems to deal with preparedness, mitigation and response to outbreaks of communicable diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the WHO emergency response programme in Turkey, and under the direct supervision of the WHE Lead, WHO Gaziantep, the incumbent will provide technical support to national authorities and international partners towards the goals of polio eradication and the implementation of EPI programme and supplementary immunization activities for polio eradication and Vitamin A supplementation and effective disease surveillance systems. To elaborate and implement together with health partners strategies and policies for the EPI system, in view of preparedness for epidemic-prone diseases, producing and analyzing information on health threats, activities and outcomes, and ensuring dissemination to partners and local authorities.

The incumbent will:

1. Support the developing and strengthening of the national surveillance system for acute flaccid paralysis and for polio viruses, measles and other vaccine preventable diseases, monitor the completeness of reporting and advise on the use of performance indicators at country, regional and district level.
2. Promote coordination between surveillance and laboratory activities.
3. Develop and apply monitoring and evaluation methods and materials.
4. Cooperate with national authorities to plan, train and evaluate activities at national level and establish networks to ensure timely investigation and adequate response to identification of areas with persistent circulation of vaccine preventable disease outbreaks.
5. Collaborate with other staff in the Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals in areas including training, planning, logistics and development of appropriate guidelines.
6. Collaborate with technical staff to secure sources of information and recommending work plans for medium- and long-term work plans, successfully influence strategies for strengthening the implementation of the EPI and surveillance system within the context of emergency response for relief efforts.
7. Contribute to the Epidemiological bulletin and prepare and present updates on epidemiological status to different coordination meetings with all relevant partners and local actors/authorities.
8. Improve capacity of local actors/authorities and health partners to report and interpret epidemiological data, prepare and respond to outbreaks of communicable diseases, document achievements and obstacles to implementation, that will be contribute to better coordination mechanisms and improvement to current and future field operations in the area of work proactively participate in the development of project proposals to mobilize resources.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Master’s level) in Public Health and/or Health relatedfields, complemented by degree or studies in vaccine preventable diseases,epidemiology and surveillance.
Desirable: Degree or soundunderstanding of emergency response or disaster management in the context ofpublic health, or in communicable/infectious diseases.

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of professional experience in publichealth programmes in the areas of administration, planning, disease control,logistics and immunization, including experience at international leveland in working with developing countries.
Desirable: Experience of at least 4 years in EPI with UN organizations/agencies,international institutions or NGOs.

Skills

Demonstrated knowledge of health sector activities in developing countries and/or in the context of emergency response relief, or preparedness for epidemic-prone diseases and EPI or preparedness for epidemic-prone diseases.Excellent skills in the assessment, surveillance and monitoring in the context of emergency situations, with the ability to conceptualize and implement innovative strategies and promote their implementation.Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure.Proven ability to communicate effectively.Tact, discretion and ability to promote consensus.Emotional awareness; Ability to identify and harness one’s emotions and apply them to tasks; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one’s own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Arabic.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of a EURO language.

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 74,913 (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 1167 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: 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.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• 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.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://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.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply please follow this link https://vacanciesinturkey.com/jobs
• To help us track our recruitment effort, please specify (on the application form  and in your cover letter) how (vacanciesinturkey.com) you heard about this position.