Public Health Specialist (Health Promotion & Determinants) Vacancy-Job Ref: ACSYWHO/2501/202485

Public Health Specialist (Health Promotion & Determinants) Vacancy-Job Ref: ACSYWHO/2501/202485
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 oversee the provision of technical expertise to develop, strengthen and implement policies and programmes of activities designed to strengthen national, public-health capacity in Universal Health Coverage/Health Promotion and Determinants.

This includes those designed to promote health and reduce the burden of preventable disease and injuries driven by environmental, social, and economic determinants of health, including the distribution of risk factors, through interventions in one or more of the following Health Determinants: Environment, Climate Change and Health (ECH), Health Promotion, Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity (HPD), Nutrition and Food Safety (NUT); Tobacco and Reduction of Other Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors (TNR), Violence, Injuries, or Health and Migration (PHM); and Demographic Change and Ageing. Health.

The endeavours target all populations, including refugees and migrants, through a coordinated, inter-sectoral approach in accordance with the country cooperation strategy that aligns with WHO global and regional commitments.

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

· Lead the process of, and provide technical advice on, the development, review and promotion of national policies, programmes, and structures for health promotion including for healthy cities, other settings, healthy eating, and physical activity.
· Provide leadership to coordinate multi-stakeholder dialogue and action to promote health and wellbeing across population groups.

· Serve as country focal point for matters related to health promotion and provide leadership to country teams, supporting research, plan development, implementation, and monitoring of policies and strategies for health promotion.

· Leverage expertise in national and subnational cultural norms to provide technical advice and support to the government to strengthen its health promotion capacity, in line with the guidance of the WHO country office senior management, including:
o for the implementation of strategies and interventions (including community-based) for supportive environments for health toward the reduction of risk factors and underlying social determinants for non-communicable and communicable diseases in the national, multisectoral plan.
o conducting capacity assessment and evidence reviews on health promotion theory and practice and the assessment of health inequities/disparities across populations and public health conditions using both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

· Create and enhance partnerships and networks to strengthen multidisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration to combat communicable and noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors in the country.

· Lead the process of documentation of lessons learnt and best practices in addressing social determinants of health, equity and SDGs at country level.

· Provide technical guidance to the country team to ensure systems and capacities for Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) in emergencies and public health events.

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

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
• Thorough knowledge of policies, strategies and guidelines in the field of public health, particularly in health promotion and the determinants of health

• Expert knowledge of multi sectoral engagement at national level on planning and providing technical assistance.

• Practical understanding of human behaviour theories and applications in complex settings including diverse cultures and social conditions.

• Good understanding of the sociopolitical, economic, and public-health policy environment of the country.

• Risk communication and community engagement expertise.

• Practical skills in management, coordination and implementation of technical programmes.

• Excellent analytical skills including the design of research studies and u se to initiate evidence-based health promotion interventions.

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.

• Proven skills in organizing and delivering training programs for public health workers.

• Ability to establish and maintain partnerships with national authorities and other stakeholders in relevant sectors and achieve strategic results from the engagements.

• Demonstrated ability to write technical and scientific reports.

• Ability to engage in and lead policy dialogue, advocacy, communication with partners on health promotion, noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors.

Educational Qualifications

Essential:

An advanced university degree (master’s level) in health promotion or health education or a master’s in public health with a focus on health promotion or health policy.

Work experience
Essential

A minimum of seven years of work experience relevant to the position (in coordinating, managing, implementation and evaluation in health promotion and social determinants of health, including 3 years in a leadership capacity with government or nongovernment agencies and/or international organizations), at national level.

Desirable

Experience in working with government, United Nations counterparts, and development partners at the country 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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