| The mission of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. | |
| Vacancy Notice No: EURO/15/FT63 Title: Programme Manager, Vaccine Preventable Diseases & Immunization Grade: P5 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract: Two years (*please see under additional information) | Date: 6 February 2015 Application Deadline: 28 February 2015 (13 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station: Copenhagen, Denmark Organization unit: EURO Europe Regional Office (EU/RGO) / EU/DCE Communicable Diseases, Health Security & Environment (EU/DCE) Vaccine Preventatble Diseases & Immunization (VPI) |
| OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : Underlying Values and Core Functions of WHO: All Member States of WHO in the European Region share the common value of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right. All of WHO actions are based on this and rooted in the underlying values of equity, solidarity and participation. The nine point global health agenda contained in WHO's Twelfth General Programme of Work (2014-2019) includes: (i) Providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed; (ii) Shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge; (iii) Setting norms and standards, and promoting and monitoring their implementation; (iv) Articulating ethical and evidence‐based policy options; (v) Providing technical support, catalysing change, and building sustainable institutional capacity; (vi) Monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends. Mission of the WHO Regional Office for Europe: WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providing leadership on global health matters; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends. The European Region (EURO) of WHO is made up of 53 countries, with over 880 million people. The diversity of people and health situations requires, on the demand side, a solid understanding of the emerging socio-economic, epidemiologic and demographic patterns and trends at both aggregate as well as national and sub-national levels, with due sensitivity to disadvantaged populations and vulnerable segments of the society. On the supply side, it is equally crucial to have a solid understanding of the commonalities and divergences of the health systems, the circumstances and political economy under which they have evolved and operate and, more specifically, how these bear upon the way the health system stewardship function of health ministries is carried out. Objectives of the Division of Communicable Diseases, Health Security & Environment: (i) To assist countries in the Region to design, establish and run effective health programmes that are able to tackle the burden of communicable diseases, particularly, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, especially X/MDR-TB, influenza, malaria, vaccine-preventable diseases, and antimicrobial resistance, and to achieve/maintain regional elimination/eradication goals as for measles, rubella, malaria, and poliomyelitis; (ii) To improve health security across the WHO European Region by maintaining regional alert and response operations and assisting countries in developing disease surveillance systems, preparedness for, and response to public health emergencies, in line with the requirements of the International Health Regulations and specific country risks; (iii) To determine and monitor environmental risks to health as well as environmental determinant of health, and propose relevant research projects, health interventions and partnership to tackle the acute and long-term health impact of environmental changes, including climate change; (iv) To ensure, within EURO, the availability of state-of-the art competency to provide high level technical support to Member States of the Region, in collaboration with Headquarters and in close partnership with relevant institutions of the Region; (v) To promote WHO leadership in communicable disease control, health security, and environment and health programmes, including through relevant regional initiatives and specific research projects. Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate unit or field activity (Overview of the programme): The Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization (VPI) Programme aims to reduce disease and death caused by vaccine-preventable diseases by: (i) strengthening routine immunization programmes by achieving and maintaining high vaccination coverage with childhood vaccines; (ii) ensuring that all children, adolescents, adults, and women of childbearing age have equal access to safe and high-quality immunization services; (iii) ensuring that epidemiological surveillance, including laboratory networks, is sufficient to achieve and sustain disease elimination targets; (iv) supporting the implementation of an immunization week to promote immunization; and (v) fostering appropriate partnerships with governmental and intergovernmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations and other relevant partners. The VPI Programme is divided into four main strategic areas each with its own scope, goal and set of objectives. These strategic areas are: (i) communication, partnerships, and management; (ii) immunization systems strengthening; (iii) accelerated disease control, including eradication and elimination goals; and (iv) surveillance, laboratories, and monitoring and evaluation. The VPI Programme provides technical input into the implementation of WHO country programmes (Biennial Collaborative Agreements), which are led by the WHO country offices, aimed at prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases through strengthening health systems capacity. It supports Member States in designing and implementing evidence-based operational research and interventions, assessing the burden of disease and monitoring progress towards disease reduction and elimination/eradication goals. These activities are coordinated with management and dissemination of technical knowledge. The VPI Programme develops norms and standards, provides normative guidance in developing regional and national policies to assist countries to implement effective vaccine-preventable disease control programmes, promotes partnerships, and advocates for political commitment towards elimination and eradication goals. | |
| Description of duties: Under the guidance of the Director of Communicable Diseases, Health Security & Environment, the incumbent will assume the following responsibilities and achieve the following objectives: A. Core responsibilities as a Programme Manager - (i) To provide leadership and managerial oversight to the work of all Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization programme/project staff in regional and country offices; (ii) To establish, maintain and strengthen partnerships and mobilize resources to efficiently deliver services/products within country and intercountry workplans; (iii) To be responsible for the allocation of budget and resources within country and intercountry workplans in coordination with the Category Lead; (iv) To perform the general management of the programme's professional and general service staff, as first level supervisor (to include monitoring of workload, performance management and to establish mechanisms which ensure proper coordination within the team regarding travel, holidays), including, in liaison with the Head of Country Office, technical programme staff based outside Copenhagen; (v) To regularly monitor and assess the performance of the technical programme through evaluation and reporting. B. Core responsibilities in assisting Member States in relation to vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization, and disease elimination/eradication as part of country efforts to strengthen health systems include - (i) With the support of the relevant technical experts in the VPI Programme and in main partner institutions, dialogue with and advise policy makers on national plans and policies to ensure that policies do not perpetuate social injustices and inequities, nor increase inequalities in access to health services and in health outcomes; and that redefined responsibilities in health systems are shared in a coordinated and pluralistic manner across all stakeholders with clear lines of accountability and transparency, with special emphasis on immunization system strengthening and other immunization priorities; (ii) Manage and oversee development and implementation of innovative approaches, adapted to regional/country needs with special emphasis on immunization systems strengthening, behavior change, new vaccine introduction and elimination and eradication goals for measles, rubella, and poliomyelitis; (iii) Oversee and mobilize expert technical advice and guidance for assisting national health authorities with the development of mechanisms, instruments and tools (i.e. national health strategies and policies, monitoring and evaluation, performance assessment and performance management and approaches to enhance effectiveness of stakeholder involvement); including the establishment and promotion of CISID and other surveillance systems to monitor and evaluate immunization programmes and interventions and the impact of new vaccine introduction; (iv) Oversee the development of mechanisms for performance assessment and performance management and approaches to enhance effectiveness of stakeholder involvement; (v) Advocacy, knowledge transmission, advice and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned for the enhancement of the capacities and skills of health ministries in carrying out vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization functions, especially towards elimination and eradication goals and new vaccine introduction; (vi) Contribute to attaining health system goals and strengthening public health capacities in MSs, by advocating for and supporting action across government and society to improve the health and well-being of populations, in line with WHO/Europe's Health 2020 policy framework. C. Core responsibilities in providing leadership and guidance in directing the advancement of the Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization Programme include - (i) Acting as the WHO EURO content expert and focal point for vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programmes; (ii) Ensuring technical quality and competence in the Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization Programme and to be responsible for the overall timeliness, management and quality of all programme deliverables of both country and intercountry workplans; (iii) Developing regional plans to implement global and regional strategies in vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization and harnessing European and other experience and knowledge (e.g. including influencing other sectors to incorporate health concerns in their policies and enhance effectiveness of donor and other stakeholder involvement), documenting gaps therein for the definition of the research agenda on the subject matter; (iv) Ensuring consistency and cohesiveness with the WHO guidelines, approaches, and messages, contributing to the WHO normative function; (v) Coordinating international activities with relevant organizations and partners in the technical area; (vi) Manage the collection and synthesizing of relevant knowledge to build the evidence base for dissemination to Member States as required; (vii) Oversee the production of authoritative and relevant policy papers and briefs on the subject matter; (viii) Documenting and rendering explicit the pros and cons of various policy options applicable to vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization in terms of their implications and their impact on the level and distribution of health, responsiveness, and financial protection based on country experiences. | |
| REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS | |
| Education: Essential: Advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in medicine, social sciences, public health or epidemiology. Desirable: Additional training in communicable disease prevention and control and/or immunization programmes. Post graduate degree in public health and/or epidemiology. | |
| Skills: Competencies required: 1) Ensuring the effective use of resources - establishes measures to monitor resources and progress of activities as planned. Monitors costs and seeks to use the most cost-effective methods. Identifies, organizes and effectively manages the financial and human resources needed to achieve results. Identifies priorities and defines realistic objectives and timelines. 2) Creating an empowering and motivating environment - Ability to provide staff with clear direction and support in meeting objectives. Promotes ownership and responsibility for desired outcomes at all levels. Provides staff with clear direction and support in meeting their objectives. Ensures roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clearly defined, understood and accepted. Delegates technical work appropriately within the programme. Motivates staff to achieve individual and programme goals. Provides regular feedback, recognizes good performance and addresses performance issues. Ability and willingness to work in a team with other health professionals and motivate people of different nationalities and cultures. 3) Producing results - Ability to produce high-quality results and workable solutions that meet client needs. Acts appropriately without prompting and makes things happen; handles problems effectively. 4) Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond - Ability to work collaboratively with team members and counter parts inside and outside the organization to achieve results. Encourages co-operation and builds rapport among fellow team members at all levels.. Actively encourages people from different parts of the Organization to work together. Ability to lead negotiations with senior officials in member States, of other international organizations and institutions. 5) Communicating in a credible and effective way - Excellent writing ability, as reflected in a history of high-quality and concise technical reports. Excellent presentation skills, as reflected in a history of high quality technical and policy related presentations in international foray. Conveys information and opinions in a structured and credible way. Ensures key messages are communicated and understood and keeps others informed of key and relevant activity updates and issues. Recognized skills in communication and contributing and/or advancing resource mobilization activities. Functional Skills and Knowledge: In depth knowledge of political, social and health systems of countries in the European Region would be an asset. Knowledge of the WHO and UN system would be an asset. Other Skills: Knowledge of standard text, spreadsheet and presentation software applications required. | |
| Experience: Essential: At least ten years working experience in communicable diseases, prevention and control, of which at least 5 years at international levels, attaining senior managerial rank. Three to five years of practical experience in implementing or advising on key domains of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization and/or polio eradication, with particular emphasis in lower and middle income countries. Experience in management, planning, monitoring and programme evaluation. Desirable: Experience in advocacy and working with other national/international agencies active in the health sector and community-based organizations. | |
| Languages: Essential: A very good command of the English language. Desirable: Knowledge of other WHO and/or EURO Official languages is a strong asset. | |
| Additional Information: * Any extension of appointment is subject to a) satisfactory performance, b) continued need for the function, and c) availability of funds. Long-listed candidates may be contacted to sit a written test or presentation prior to final short-listing. This does not preclude a written test or presentation prior to final interview. Interviews will take place using a competency-based approach. Similar positions at the same grade may be filled using this vacancy notice. | |
| Annual salary: (Net of tax) USD 80,887 at single rate USD 87,069 with primary dependants | Post Adjustment: 63.3 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation. |
| This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level. | |
| Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures. | |
| All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. | |
| WHO is committed to workforce diversity. | |
| Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. | |
