Technical Officer (Infection Prevention and Control) – WHO jobs in Switzerland

• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Vacancy No: N/A 
• Salary: N/A
• Organization: WHO
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-04-01

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of 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 objectives of the Country Readiness Strengthening Department include the development and strengthening of core national capacities necessary to mitigate and respond to emergency risks and vulnerabilities. The Department prioritizes support to the most vulnerable and low capacity countries. The Health Care Readiness (HCR) Unit enhances readiness measures through the development of technical and clinical care standards addressed from a person-centered and system’s perspective. The unit includes the promotion across partners and regional offices of capacity building and rapid deployment of health care experts and teams as surge capacity to provide both immediate, short-term care in order to reduce the loss of life and prevent long-term disability in different emergency scenarios.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform part or all of the following duties:

1. Coordinate country operational IPC support for national, health care facility and community settings in collaboration with regional counterparts and implementing technical partners.
2. Responsible for IPC technical product adoption, adaptation and dissemination strategies at country level (assessment tools, SOP, etc) in collaboration with risk communication and community engagement counterparts
3. Support and coordinate development of IPC outbreak health care and community setting readiness and response assessment materials/tools.
4. Support and coordinate IPC outbreak country data systems, including monitoring and evaluation of activities implementation and IPC/Personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies where appropriate.
5. Coordinate the establishment and maintenance of an IPC in emergencies readiness country support hub
6. Support establishing IPC country surge capacity, including network for deployments.
7. Be the regional WHO IPC counterpart liaison as well as be available to be deployed to IPC emergency operations to provide country support and evaluations as required.
8. Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A first level university degree in Public Health or in health-related field with a graduate certificate in infection prevention and control

Experience

Essential:

• At least five years of experience in Public Health and Infection Prevention and Control programme operations.

Desirable:

• Experience in public health and IPC programme operations at international level.
• Experience or sound knowledge of WHO mandate and goals related to outbreaks, emergency risk and crises management or experience in UN organizations/agencies, international institutions or NGOs

Skills

• Knowledge and experience managing health care associated Infection and/or community outbreak responses
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work with and/or coordinate a diverse groups of stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal, networking and diplomacy skill
• Conscientious with ability to take initiative and work independently
• Familiarity with the UN system, including knowledge of WHO country, regional and global functions
• Demonstrated knowledge of outbreak response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to public health, complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations affecting several projects and involving the allocation of work, developing/adjusting operational procedures
• Excellent skills in assessment, monitoring, analysis and evaluation of emergency situation, with the ability to conceptualize and implement innovative strategies and advocate their implementation along with providing recommendation on key technical issues
• Strong public health and strategic thinking background showing leadership qualities and skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive areas.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Ensuring the effective use of resources

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 64,121 (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 4793 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 TA (Temporary Appointments) other similar positions at the same grade level
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.
• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
• 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.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.
• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
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