Senior Public Health Specialist Vacancy-Job Ref: ACSYWHO/2501/202487

Senior Public Health Specialist Vacancy-Job Ref: ACSYWHO/2501/202487
Damascus (Syria)

JOB DESCRIPTION

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

JOB PROFILE SUMMARY

The incumbent will lead and coordinate the development and implementation of action plans and programmes of activities in one or more of the programme areas belonging to Universal Health Coverage/Healthier Populations (environment, climate change and health; health promotion, social determinants of health and health equity; nutrition and food safety; tobacco and reduction of other noncommunicable disease risk factors; violence, injuries, or health and migration; and demographic change and ageing.

Through a coordinated, intersectoral approach aimed at building capacities and enabling all people to enjoy better health and well-being, the incumbent will manage organizational contributions to public health actions designed to reduce health inequalities and the burden of preventable disease and injuries driven by environmental, social and economic determinants of health, including the distribution of risk factors. Following a One Health Approach will be critical in this.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent will perform the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office:

1. Oversee technical and managerial coordination in the designated areas under the Universal Health Coverage/Healthier Populations portfolio (that is, environment, climate change and health; health promotion, social determinants of health and health equity; nutrition and food safety; tobacco and reduction of other noncommunicable disease risk factors; violence, injuries, or health and migration; demographic change and ageing), through a One-health approach, ensuring that the activities are carried out efficiently and effectively.

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2. Directly provide and/or advance the coordination of technical expertise to advise the government and national stakeholders on the development of national strategies and policies and the formulation, management, and implementation of the respective disease prevention and health promotion work programme(s).

3. Lead and coordinate the adaptation and implementation of WHO evidence-based norms, standards, guidelines and tools in the broad programme areas.

4. Develop and monitor work plans and budgets, and follow up on the implementation of planned activities, in consultation with national counterparts.

5. Advance data analyses and knowledge, and information on best practices and partners’ experiences in healthier populations programmes.

6. Lead the mobilization and optimization of resources for the respective projects and programmes including through partnerships with donors and development partners (United Nations, other multilateral and bilateral organizations as well as nongovernmental organizations). Coordinate the engagement with UN partners and other stakeholders on matters relevant to the purpose of the position.

7. Lead the development, coordination and implementation of programmes for capacity building in the respective areas of healthier populations and the management and financing of the systems.

8. Engage with other sectors beyond health that are key to healthier populations (environment, transport, agriculture, urban, energy, water, etc.) in order to identify and advance common objectives that improve people’s lives, health, and well-being.
9. Serve as a leading technical resource concerning the multisectoral integration of programmes in healthier populations and mainstreaming of cross-cutting themes (such as health equity, commercial determinants, urban health, or migration and health) and/or the use of behavioural sciences in implementing disease prevention and health promotion approaches.

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10. Represent WHO in designated forums and function as a technical focal point for healthier populations’ programme areas.

11. Promote and establish new and innovative community outreach activities to facilitate the expansion of networks that advance and/or focus on healthier populations-related programmatic work.

12. Support the establishment of monitoring and surveillance systems and lead the collection of data and evidence in the areas of interest.

RECRUITMENT PROFILE

Core Competencies

1) Teamwork

2) Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

3) Communication

4) Promoting innovation and organizational learning

5) Ensuring the effective use of resources

6) Creating an empowering and motivating environment

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
· Knowledge of innovative approaches and solutions in healthier populations.

· Knowledge and expertise in technical aspects of healthier populations systems development and management at country level.

· Knowledge of the relevant country’s public-health needs, priorities, and policies

· Skills to develop and revise policies and objectives of assigned programme and activities.

· Skills to facilitate consensus and achieve results in resource mobilization activities.

· Excellent communication skills to author reports, technical documents, and deliver presentations for high level audiences.
· Ability to integrate, synthesize and communicate complex, health-policy concepts and ideas.

Educational Qualifications

Essential:

Advanced university degree (master’s level) in a relevant field (such as public health or another area relating to healthier populations’ programmatic work).

Desirable:

Postgraduate training or specialization in health systems.

Work experience
Essential

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible work experience relevant to the position (in developing and implementing public health, capacity-building policies/strategies and programmes) a significant part of this to have been obtained at an international level.

A minimum of 4 years of experience in Healthier Population programmes.

Demonstrated professional experience working at the country and/or regional level providing technical advice and services to Member States and other partners on public health programmes.

Desirable

Some of the above-listed experience to have been obtained at an international level.

Language Requirements
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Arabic.

Information technology (IT) and other skills
Proficiency in computers and office software packages, handling of web-based management systems, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and Cloud Management Enterprise System such as Workday.

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