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Team Lead (Emergency Preparedness and Response Team)

Lilongwe

  • Organization: WHO - World Health Organization
  • Location: Lilongwe
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Medical Practitioners
    • Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
    • Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
    • Emergency Aid and Response
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: 2023-12-05

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Strengthening and testing Emergency Management Systems: Coordinate all aspects of the emergency programme, at the country level, to ensure the concertedapproach of WHO in the areas of Emergency Information Management, Country Preparedness,and International Health Regulations (2005), Risk Assessments and InfectiousHazard Management. Support national and local health authorities, partner withUN agencies, international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations/institutions, Strengthen the national capability to prepare and respond to health emergencies from all hazards, ensure the required national procedures, skills, coordination mechanisms and health systems are strengthened to manage identified risks. Assess and map existing and emerging health risks in the country and prepare a national risk profile based on a risk assessment. Assess health needs of affected populations in cooperation with technical units at RO and HQ level Assess capacities for emergency management, including preparedness, and develop a national Health Emergency Response Plan. Review the National Health Plan/National Health Emergency Response Plan as needed, take additional action, including the development of contingency plans for specific high priority risks.Mobilize and coordinate resources, oversee the operational and strategic planning of the health response plans, identify resource needs and funding gaps, encourage donors to fund the overall health sector response to affected populations.Represent WHO to external stakeholders, including donors and partners, with respect to the country operations. Coordinate with other agencies and I/NGOs through the Health Cluster approach and directly as operational implementing partner. Operations and Finance:Lead the planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies, operational and HR plans for the WHO's overall emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities. Manage sensitive issues arising from the emergency.Oversee the development a detailed task-based work plan and budget for implementation of priority activities identified in the National Health Emergency Response Plan. Ensure the country has accessible contingency funds for immediate response to emergencies, including, outbreaks at national and other appropriate sites.Determine staffing needs, ensure the mobilization of the required human resources. Provide leadership, motivation, guidance, and performance management of staff and experts. Take concrete measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all WHO responders. Monitoring and reporting: In cooperation with other levels of response authorize the release of related information, communications, advocacy products and statements to internal and external partners as well as to the public. Monitor and provide guidance and briefings to senior and elected officials as required, on the progress and implementation of preparedness and operational readiness activities in alignment with the national action plan and throughout the full cycle of the emergency, including financial and implementation tracking, and output/impact monitoring. Managerial ResponsibilitiesBuilds a competent team by securing the best resources, allotting learning opportunities, and providing on-going coaching and feedback. Sets clear performance expectations, delegates effectively, and monitors and measures progress against objectives.To guide, coach, motivate and manage all the EPR Cluster staff under him/her (i.e. Country Preparedness and IHR Officer, Infectious Hazard Preparedness Officer, Health Operations Officer, Surveillance Officer, Operations Support and Logistics, Data and Information Management Officer and the Programme Assistant) including articulating the vision and goals of this sub-team in the SMO Cluster, ensuring the coordination, monitoring and approval of work plans and mission requests, resolving problems while promoting effective teamwork and results, within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, and AFRO accepted procedures. Managing related budgets within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, financial rules and AFRO accepted procedures.Perform any other duties as assigned by supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Master's level University degree or equivalent educational qualification in public health/epidemiology/emergency, humanitarian, disaster management or related field from a recognized institute.
Desirable: Specialized training in health risk management, emergency, and outbreak management or specific training in humanitarian response.

Experience

Essential: At least seven (7) years of related experience, at the national and international levels, in multisectoral coordination, strengthening country capacities and responding toemergencies and disasters, including infectious disease outbreaks, naturaldisasters or complex emergencies. Experience in coordinating operationalactivities in preparedness and response with a range of actors.
Desirable: Relevant work experience with WHO and/or UN agencies, health cluster partners; experience working inrelevant nongovernmental or humanitarian organizations.

Skills

Demonstrated knowledge of the rapid response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to public health, complemented by demonstrated abilityto identify and manage difficult situations, to lead and direct multidisciplinary and multinational staff. Excellent skills in the assessment,monitoring, analysis and evaluation of emergency situations, with the abilityto conceptualize and implement innovative strategies and advocate theirimplementation. Authoritative and comprehensive knowledge of the theory,principles, methods and techniques in international emergency incident management system. Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to quicklycomprehend strategic and tactical objectives and to formulate comprehensiveplans to address challenges/risks. Strong operational competencies in managing and coordinating humanitarian program cycle, including efficient human andfinancial resource management.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Promoting innovation and organizational learning
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:

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 77,326 (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 2861 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 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.
    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.
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