Team Lead (Influenza)

Job Description

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department advances global efforts to prevent and control existing and emerging infectious diseases by increasing access to evidence-based interventions; fostering impactful innovation; and leveraging technical,operational and strategic partnerships. In addition, EPP develops global mechanisms to facilitate coordination and collaboration between countries and multi-sectoral partners for catastrophic events of natural, accidental or deliberate origin. The department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention (EPP) is committed to delivering GPW13 Outcome 2.2 Epidemics and pandemics prevented, through:

1. Delivering risk assessment, technical guidance, interventions and control strategies for country impact;
2. Promoting innovation and adoption of new technologies;
3. Aligning and coordinating international action through trusted partnership; (iv)Ensuring vulnerable populations have access to life-saving interventions and supplies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Generic duties: Develops and proposes innovative technical health policies and strategies for implementation through collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and provides advice in developing further the surveillance information analysis and evidence for policies for influenza and ORV via GISRS and GISRS Plus for strengthening and improving technical capacity of target clienteles. Manages the subunit area of work in delivering its objectives through efficient managing a team of technical staff, to optimize the programme’s deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization. Develops and monitors work plans and budgets for the team’s activities and follow up on the implementation of planned activities. Analyses data and information on best practices inimplementing sustainable public health programmes and disseminates information. Manages research activities and the implementation of the subunit’s activities and dissemination of information for capacity building in the respective area of work. Conducts monitoring and evaluation of the specific field of work and conducts timely reporting for decision makers. Provides technical guidance and works closely with counterparts in technical departments across the Organization and liaises with counterparts in partner UN Agencies, Donors and other stakeholders to harmonize recommendations on policies and strategies related to Public health and the facilitation of successful implementation of national and/or global health programmes. Upon delegation represent WHO atvarious meetings.

Perform all other related duties as assigned.Specific duties:Coordinate and develop GISRS and GISRS Plus surveillance data reporting systems and data quality monitoring & control measures on the FluMart based on WHO corporate supported platforms, in collaboration with teams in the Global Influenza Programme, and other teams inside WHO HQ,Regional Offices and Country Offices(it also includes collaboration with external entities hosting genetic sequencedata e.g. GISAID or GenBank).Review, develop and update influenza surveillance data analysis tools to serve the purposes of integrated surveillance of influenza and ORV to be part of joint efforts of efficient situation monitoring, risk and impact assessment and response measure development.

Provide expertise and serve as technical focal point on innovative tool developments including forecasting andother digital tools, evaluate their maturity and suitability for application to influenza and ORV surveillance and control (it includes the collaboration with WHO departments including those on IT, digital health and innovation, and the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin Germany). Coordinate projects related to analysis and evidence including the estimates of burden of disease associated with influenza and potentially ORV with the focus to generate and message critical evidence for disease surveillance and control policies in countries,and risk assessment with the focus on analysis and interpretation of data on the epidemiology and disease associated with influenza and in the context of co-circulations of other respiratory viruses.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: An advanced level university degree in medicine,epidemiology, public health or other relevant fields related to the functions of the position..
• Desirable: A PhD orequivalent in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

• Essential: A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in influenza or other respiratory viruses surveillance data management, including 5 years’ experience at regional or global levels in leading the development of evidence for health policies and strategies. A minimum of 5 years of professional experience at national level on epidemiological surveillance of influenza and other respiratory viruses with focus on surveillance data collection, analysis and utilization.Hands-on experience in developing data analysis tools and generating evidence to shape public health policies.Demonstrated experience managing human and financial resources. Demonstrated experience at the international level.
• Desirable: Experience in WHO on infectious disease surveillance and control.Field experience of epidemiological surveillance at human-animal interface of influenza. Demonstrated experience in working with WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.

Skills

Sounds skills in the management of public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes. Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies. Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources. Good skills in mobilizing resources. Ability to engage effectively and diplomatically with external partners including Ministries of Health, Donor institutions, Civil Society, and other stakeholders. Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area. Comprehensive knowledge of global influenza surveillance and epidemiology. Demonstrated skills in designing and developing surveillance analysis tools. In-depth knowledge of data systems and epidemiological data analysis.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Knowing and managing yourself
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of WHO language.

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.

DEADLINE: Jul 19, 2022, 5:59:00 AM