Technical Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The strategic objective of the Global Malaria Programme (GMP) is to support Member States to adopt WHO’s malaria-related technical recommendations, and to advance implementation of the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 (GTS). The major functions of the department as identified in the 2019 transformation process are: 1) To play a leadership role in malaria, effectively supporting member states and rallying partners to reach Universal Health Coverage and achieve GTS goals and targets; 2) To shape the research agenda and promote the generation of evidence to support global guidance for new tools and strategies to achieve impact; 3) To develop ethical and evidence based global guidance on malaria with effective dissemination to support adoption and implementation by national malaria programmes; and 4) To monitor and respond to global malaria trends and threats. The role of the Global Strategy & Agenda Setting (STR) team is to shape the R&D and innovation space, to track the development of tools leading to accelerate more predictable policy recommendations that achieve burden reduction on the path to a world free of malaria. This is achieved by: i. Identifying unmet public health needs in malaria control and elimination; ii. Ensuring the development and availability of Product Profiles which define the characteristics of tools and strategies needed to overcome the unmet public health needs; iii. Horizon scanning and monitoring malaria product development pipelines to identify gaps and opportunities or needs to accelerate the development of specific product types; and iv. Engaging with the research and academia community to monitor the development of new strategies to effectively deliver malaria interventions and increase coverage; and v. With a view to informing an understanding of how best to deliver the available tools in different contexts, supporting the development and execution of prioritized implementation research agendas at regional and national levels.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Support the SeniorTechnical Officer, IVR, to provide sound technical reports on progress of the Pilots to inform the WHO Programme Advisory Committee, SAGE and MPAC. Manage interactions with the evaluation partners, including attending routine meetings. Interface with the statistical team and participate in assuring data quality.Develop and manage protocols and interactions with the various ethical review committees. Perform on-site country visits to support the implementation and evaluation of the Pilots and manage interactions with the external monitors.. Collaborate with appropriate teams in WHO in both Immunization, Vaccines& Biologicals and Global Malaria Programme , as well as Regional Offices, toestablish the necessary sub components of the protocols for feasibility of implementation, impact and safety objectives.Link with counterparts in PATH,and manage WHO/PATH partnership agreeing roles and responsibilities for studies implemented by different agencies and research institutions. Ensure appropriate interactions with Ministry ofHealth including regulatory authorities and ethics committees. Provide technical input and technical review of study protocols and prepare and review study reports, including agreements/contracts with partners. Support the Senior Technical Officer, IVR for all technical questions related to the malaria vaccine pilots, as well as technical contents of briefings that may serve communication purposes.Act as spokesperson for the malaria pilots both inside WHO and with external Agenciesas required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced level degree in Medicine or a post-graduate degree in biological sciences, public health, epidemiology and/or a related field
Desirable: Formal qualification in public health desirable.

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of national and international industry-, non-governmental organization- governmental- or academic implementation research experience including strong malaria research and programme experience. Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa conducting implementation research.
Desirable: Experience with vaccine introduction or research in Africa; experience with the RTS,S malaria vaccine and malaria or vaccine implementation in Africa. Experience of product development considerations in both low/middle income settings highly desirable. Project management experience desirable.

Skills

Knowledge of malaria research and programme. Knowledge of and vaccine research and programme. Ability to understand and contribute to data reviews. Ability to write scientific papers to communicate the work of the pilots. Ability to brief and communicate with scientists, public health agencies and senior Ministry of Health officials. Capacity tointeract with researchers measuring impact of the vaccine introduction, technical experts in regulatory agencies and academia and vaccine developers in the public and private sector, in Europe and Africa. Solid computer literacy with standard software packages.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Knowing and managing yourself

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Beginners 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 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 2709 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.