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Programme Manager, Public Health Servies

The mission of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.
Vacancy Notice No: EURO/14/FT109

Title: Programme Manager, Public Health Servies

Grade: P5

Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment

Duration of contract:  Two years (*please see under additional information below)
 
Date: 4 March 2014

Application Deadline: 6 April 2014
Currently accepting applications

Duty Station:  Copenhagen, Denmark
 
Organization unit: EURO Europe Regional Office (EU/RGO) /
EU/DSP Health Systems and Public Health (EU/DSP)
 
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 seven point global health agenda contained in WHO's Eleventh General Programme of Work (2006-2015) includes: (i) investing in health to reduce poverty; (ii) building individual and global health security; (iii) promoting universal coverage, gender equality and health related human rights; (iv) tackling determinants of health; (v) strengthening health systems and equitable access; (vi) harnessing knowledge, science and technology; and (vii) strengthening governance, leadership and accountability.

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.

Mission of the WHO Regional Office for Europe and Objective of the Division of Health Systems and Public Health in: (i) developing and sustaining their own health policies, health systems and public health programmes; (ii) working to prevent and overcome threats to health; (iii) anticipating future challenges; and (iv) advocating public health. The objective of the Division of Health Systems and Public Health is to assist the Member States of the WHO European Region to design, adopt and implement comprehensive health and health systems policies, strategies and tools in line with the values of solidarity, equity and participation enshrined in the Tallinn Charter: Health Systems and Health and Wealth and the Health 2020. The Division provides policy and technical assistance in collaboration with development partners and Civil Society Organizations.

The Division of Health Systems and Public Health enables countries to benefit from international experience in reforming their health systems and public health services stressing quality, accessibility and efficient use of resources in line with the country's health policy framework. The Division contributes to the implementation of the WHO European Health Policy Health 2020 and National Health Policies, Plans and Strategies, and the knowledge base in the broad thematic areas of service delivery, health financing, human resources for health, health technologies and pharmaceuticals and public health in collaboration with other relevant international, regional, national and non-governmental partners.

Description of duties:
Under the guidance of the Director of Division of Health Systems and Public Health the incumbent will assume the following responsibilities and achieve the following objectives:

A. Core responsibilities in assisting Member States in relation to Public Health Services, in line with WHO/Europe's Health Policy Health 2020, the EAP/PHS and the WHO Regional Office for Europe Operational Approach for Health System Strengthening, as part of country efforts to strengthen health systems include:

(i) dialogue with and advice to policy makers on national and sub-national health plans and policies to ensure that policies contribute to the improvement of health and well being and decrease of inequalities through integrated public health and health system approaches in the WHO European region;

(ii) develop and implement innovative public health approaches, adapted to regional/country needs, in line with the essential public health operations, within a health system strengthening approach;

(iii) technical assistance with the development of mechanisms, instruments and tools (such as national health strategies and policies, monitoring and evaluation, system performance assessment and performance management and approaches to enhance effectiveness of stakeholder involvement) as well as the estimation of the required resources (human, financial, infrastructure and technological) and knowledge to build understanding and capacity for improving and assessing Public Health Services; and

(iv) advocacy, knowledge transmission and advice for the enhancement of the capacities and skills of health and other ministries and sectors in carrying out their Public Health Services function as part of the Divisional health system strengthening approach for better health outcomes.

B. Core responsibilities in providing intellectual and technical leadership and guidance in directing the development of Public Health Services include:

(i) acting as the WHO Regional Office for Europe content expert and focal point for Public Health Services through the Divisional health system strengthening approach for better health outcomes;

(ii) leading and managing the process of implementing the WHO European Action Plan on Strengthening Public Health Capacities and Services, including establishing governance and reporting mechanisms to ensure implementation and future development in a dynamic, innovative and sustainable way;

(iii) ensuring technical quality and competence in the Public Health Services programme and to be responsible for the overall timeliness and quality of all programme deliverables of both country and intercountry workplans;

(iv) developing regional tools, guidelines and instruments to implement EAP/ PHS, including monitoring and evaluation and performance assessment, 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;

(v) ensuring consistency and cohesiveness with the WHO guidelines, approaches, and messages, contributing to the WHO normative function;

(vi) coordinating international activities with relevant organizations, partners and networks in the technical area;

(vii) managing and synthesizing related knowledge to build the evidence base for dissemination to Member States as required;

(viii) producing authoritative and relevant policy papers and briefs on the subject matter and

(ix) documenting and rendering explicit the pros and cons of various policy options applicable to Public Health Services in terms of their implications and their impact on the level and distribution of health, responsiveness, and financial protection based on country experiences.


C. Core responsibilities as a Programme Manager:

(i) to provide leadership and managerial oversight to the work of all programme/project staff;

(ii) to mobilize resources to efficiently deliver services/products within country and intercountry workplans;

(iii) to be responsible for the allocation of resources within country and intercountry workplans in coordination with the Category Network Facilitator (ensure availability of funds and monitoring of dates and budget constraints);

(iv) to perform the general management of the programme's professional and general service staff, as first level supervisor (to include monitoring of workload, funds availability, 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.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Essential:
Advanced university degree (Masters level) in medicine, nursing, public health or health policy.

Desirable:
Doctorate in public health or health policy.
Skills: 
Functional skills required:

In depth knowledge of political, social and health systems of countries of the European Region would be an asset.
Knowledge of the WHO and UN system would be an asset.
Skills and knowledge in strengthening public health services and capacity related to all the Essential Public Health Operations described in the European Action Plan, including in lower and middle income settings would be highly desirable.

Other skills:
Knowledge of standard text, spreadsheet and presentation software applications required.


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. Provides staff with regular feedback, recognizes good performance and addresses performance issues. Motivates staff to achieve individual and team goals.

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.

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
Experience:
Essential:
At least ten years working experience in public health services and health systems/health care including at least five years at international level, attaining senior managerial rank.
Three to five years of practical experience in implementing or advising on key domains of public health services at the country level, as well as working experience advising ministries of health at national and subnational level in health systems/health care.
Experience in design and management of research projects and in development/institutionalization of capacity building activities in the area of public health/health systems/health care.
Proven track record of publishing in peer-reviewed international journals on public health, health systems and health care.

Desirable:
Senior experience in developing multi-sectoral policy, governance mechanisms and approaches to improve population health and well-being; senior experience on strengthening services and developing policy to strengthen health protection, disease prevention and health promotion.
Experience advising on Public Health Services and Health Systems in the former Soviet Union States (sanitary-epidemiological system [SES] services). Managerial experience in leading teams.
Languages:
Essential:
Advanced knowledge of English and working knowledge of another WHO and/or EURO official language.

Desirable:
Knowledge of other WHO EURO languages - especially Russian.
Additional Information:
* Any extension of appointment is subject to a) satisfactory performance, b) continued need for the function, and c) availability of funds.

Similar positions at the same grade may be filled using this vacancy notice.

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.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
USD 80,887 at single rate
USD 87,069 with primary dependants
Post Adjustment: 76.4 % 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.

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.