Regional Emergency Director

Purpose of the Position

The purpose of the position is to provide technical and managerial leadership towards strengthening the capacity of countries to prepare for health emergencies, to rapidly detect and respond to health emergencies and to prevent epidemics and pandemics, while ensuring that they are operationally ready to assess and manage risks and vulnerabilities. The incumbent is also responsible for ensuring incorporation of emergency and outbreak preparedness and response aspects in health systems strengthening through close collaboration with the HSS and DPC Clusters. He/she will be responsible for ensuring strong WHO management, coordination and leadership of the health response during outbreaks and other health emergencies, including acute humanitarian crises, disasters and protracted emergencies.

Objectives of the Program and the immediate Strategic Objective

The overall objective of the Cluster is to provide leadership and action in supporting Member States to improve their capacities to implement the International Health Regulations and to detect and rapidly respond to health outbreaks and epidemics in order to contribute to attaining Health Security and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the SDGs in the WHO African Region.

The Cluster seeks 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 Cluster brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacities in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner.

The Director, EPR, working closely with the Executive Director (ExD) of the WHO Emergencies Program, will report to the Regional Director on the oversight and day-to-day management of organizational readiness, Member States preparedness, protracted emergencies, graded events, and on issues of policy, strategy, and operational planning related to all EPR activities, management of protracted emergencies.

Within the scope of work defined by global and regional strategies, policy guidelines, and program objectives, the incumbent will lead, coordinate, facilitate, and be accountable for the development, implementation, and performance of WHO AFRO's regional strategies, plans, program and interventions in the area of EPR and contribute to the attainment of the SDG targets, within the context of the WHO Transformation Program and the GPW14.

The incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:

Advise the Regional Director on policy, strategic and technical matters related to strengthening the capacity of countries to prepare for health emergencies, to rapidly detect and respond to health emergencies and to prevent epidemics and pandemics, while ensuring that they are operationally ready to assess and manage all-hazards risks and vulnerabilities to ensure health security and to contribute to attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the SDGs in the WHO African Region.

Provide leadership to staff under his/her responsibility. Ensure their continuous training and development; promote an enabling and empowering culture for team leaders in the pursuit of high performance, ethical behavior and integrity in accordance with the Organization's Policies, Rules and Procedure.

Lead the region's work in the development of evidence-based policies, strategies and plans for Health Emergency, Pandemics & Threats Preparedness; Health Emergency Intelligence, Surveillance, & Laboratory; Operation Support & Logistics and Epidemics & Humanitarian Health Response, in countries, ensuring sound technical support for planning, programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Provide WHO Country Offices with authoritative guidance on technical oversight and standards on organizational readiness activities, with a focus on high vulnerability countries (e.g. for annual simulations) in his/her region. Is responsible for readiness of the Regional Office and guides WHO Country Offices in high vulnerability countries to build their core response capacities through critical readiness activities.

Provide overall oversight of outbreaks and grade two acute/protracted emergencies which will be managed through the Incident Management System, including having direct supervision of the Incident Manger at country and regional level and coordinating with the DPM and GMC on the management of regional surge capacity within and beyond the EPR Cluster.

Facilitate collaboration and integrated programs with other Clusters, HQ, and external partners, in order to expand and scale up delivery of programs on EPR at national and regional levels.

Build strategic partnerships for Emergency Preparedness; Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment; and Emergency Response to enhance resource mobilization for these important areas in the region, including building and coordinating regional partner networks and coordinating regional response partners during graded and protracted events.

Drive and guides resource mobilization activities within the Region, working closely with the RD', ExDs and WCO's resource mobilization teams.

Contribute to the conceptualization and implementation of integrated approaches in the areas of Health Emergency Pandemic and Threats Preparedness; Health Emergency Intelligence, Surveillance & Laboratory, Operation Support & Logistics and Health Emergency Epidemics and Humanitarian Health response in countries, ensuring sound technical support for planning, programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Coordinate and facilitate the development and implementation of the workplan for the cluster and ensure delivery of its major outputs, including effective and efficient use of resources and timely reporting.

Identify research needs and priorities aimed at improving the response to Emergency Pandemics and Threats Preparedness; Health Emergency Intelligence, Surveillance and Laboratory and Emergency Epidemics and Humanitarian Response at country level, including promotion and strengthening of research capabilities.

Monitor the trends in Health Emergency Pandemics and Threats Preparedness; Health Emergency Intelligence, Surveillance and Laboratory; Operation Support & Logistics and Health Emergency Epidemics and Humanitarian Response.

Document and share the evidence and experiences for policy and programmatic actions, while ensuring rapid and clear information flows with other Regions and HQ.

Perform any other duties assigned by the Regional Director and/or the Executive Director, WHE.

2. Recruitment Profile

Competencies

Teamwork

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Driving the Organization to new heights in Health Leadership
• Producing results

Managerial competency

• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Functional Knowledge and Skills

Describe the essential knowledge and the skills specific to the position

Extensive knowledge of policies, strategies and interventions in management of acute and protracted public health emergency response efforts, including infectious disease outbreaks. Knowledge of the epidemiology of infectious diseases and other global health security threats and of issues and practices for the prevention and control of disease. Familiarity with the work of WHO including the Regional Office, the Executive Board, the World Health Assembly, and the WHO Regional Committee for Africa.

Ability to exercise leadership and to work effectively with colleagues at national and international levels. Excellent communication skills with solid writing and editing skills. Proven ability to plan, execute, supervise and manage a large international health program Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Education

Essential

A Medical degree with postgraduate degree in Public Health or a related field.

Desirable

Specialized training or degree in epidemiology. Specialized training or degree in emergency/humanitarian response. Training in leadership or management.

Experience

Essential

A minimum of 15 years’ national and international experience in managing and planning development and implementing health security, emergency, surveillance, disease control and/or public health, including at least 3 years in a senior management role providing senior level advice with responsibility for human resources and finance. Proven experience in policy and strategy development, and in coordinating large-scale projects or pandemics with high political impact in developing countries. Relevant experience with UN inter-agency mechanisms for coordinating preparedness and response to health emergencies, including health policy and operational coordination.

Desirable

Relevant working experience in both developing and developed countries, including experience in public health or related fields; work experiences that are diverse incorporating private sector, NGOs, other UN or governmental Health related agencies will be an advantage.

Use of language skills

Expert Knowledge of English with intermediate knowledge of French or Expert knowledge of French with intermediate knowledge of English is required.

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

Working level of computer literacy with proven ability to use standard office software packages, including eHealth tools.

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 117,953 (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 4,452 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

• 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.

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