Polio Eradication Program Team Lead at World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Polio Eradication Program Team Lead

Job ID: 2203824
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade: P5
Schedule: Full-time
Organization: AF_NGA Nigeria
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): One year
Contractual Arrangement: Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4

Objectives of the Programme

• The Polio Eradication Program (PEP) seeks to ensure that all children are free from the threat of paralytic polio virus infections.
• Achieving this goal depends on ensuring rapid and effective responses to poliovirus outbreaks occurring in Nigeria.
• Notably, this goal is best achieved by aligning with the revised Standard Operating Procedures(SOPs) for responding to a polio virus events or outbreaks developed by GPEI. And to achieve this, the polio eradication program seeks to coordinate support to the country by all GPEI partners coming in as technical staffing, vaccines, finances and other logistics needed for timely and effective outbreak response interventions.
• In addition, mentoring/capacity building related to planning, risk mitigation interventions implementation, oversight for quality assurance, Monitoring and evaluation of implementation plans in collaboration with, IST, Regional Rapid Response Team at the regional office and the Outbreaks Response and preparedness Group at Headquarters

Description of Duties

• Represent the GPEI in-country and liaise between the GPEI and partners at county and regional level; providing direct feedback to the GPEI about outbreak response plans, progress, challenges and potential solutions.
• Support heads of WHO country office with strategic and operational oversight of polio outbreak response operations, ensuring that they address the needs of the population and are aligned with the government/Ministry of Health (MOH) plans and strategies and the polio outbreak response SOPs.
• Lead and guide Team A and Team B on outbreak response strategies and technical oversight of the response activities.
• Foster close coordination with MOH, in-country health and other partners, and regional offices and HQs and assist in the organization of regular coordination meetings, tele conferences, and updates.
• Collaborate with the communications team to ensure the preparation of an overall outbreak response communication plan and the appropriate content of advocacy and messaging strategies.
• Collaborate with the Outbreak Operations Manager to ensure that the logistical aspects of the outbreak response, especially financing and HR, are managed with optimal efficiency.
• Review and clear donor products and provide strategic guidance on resource mobilization and proposal development.
• Undertake other assignments and responsibilities as requested by heads of country office, regional Rapid Response Team and Polio Coordination Unit, regional director, and other partners to support the successful response to the outbreak
• Work with MOH, WHO, CDC, UNICEF and all GPEI technical partners to develop a national risk assessment, outbreak response plans, including cost estimates, chronogram of activities, and human resources (HR) surge plan, periodically adjusting and adapting the plan, as needed.
• Collaborate with MOH, WHO, CDC, UNICEF and all GPEI technical teams to establish outbreak response structures that include the four components of outbreak response: outbreak investigation, outbreak response immunization, strengthening AFP surveillance, and strengthening routine immunization.
• Collaborate with MOH, WHO, CDC, UNICEF and all GPEI teams to produce updates of outbreak response activities (e.g., SITREPS, bulletins, and newsletters) for distribution to relevant partners.
• Collaborate with MOH, WHO, CDC, UNICEF and all GPEI teams to organize periodic external outbreak response assessments.
• Collaborate with MOH, WHO, CDC, UNICEF and all GPEI teams to document the closure of the outbreaks.
• Collaborate with MOH, WHO, CDC, UNICEF and all GPEI teams to assess the security situation in the geographic areas included in the response; as necessary, engage appropriate partners to discuss special strategies and resources for insecure areas.

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: Advanced University Degree (Masters or higher) in a Health-related field (Medicine or Health)
• Desirable: Advanced degree in medicine / public health / communicable diseases. Higher Diploma in Epidemiology. Doctorate in Medicine, public health or epidemiology will be an added advantage

Experience:
Essential:

• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in disease management focusing on the areas of immunization, outbreaks investigation, surveillance and accelerated disease control, as well as strategy formulation and action plans for the implementation of disease prevention programs.
• Good international and / or regional professional experience in providing technical advice and services to national counterparts and other partners in addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases

Desirable:

• Experience working with bilateral or multilateral organizations would be an added advantage.

Skills:

• Ability to lead and effectively manage a team; Ability to develop innovative approaches and solutions;
• Ability to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills by working well as a member of a team, adapting to educational, socio-political and cultural diversities.
• Ability to maintain a high level of personal conduct.
• In-depth knowledge of the country’s situation regarding PEP/GPEI; good understanding of the needs, priorities and policies of Nigeria, as well as WHO policies, practices, guidelines and procedures in related areas and ability to apply them in the country office.
• Ability to identify problems, formulate arguments and opinions, formulate conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to review and revise policies and objectives of the program and assigned activities.
• Excellent knowledge of health and safety regulations and technical aspects of the specialty area. Public speaking techniques.
• Excellent writing and communication skills as evidenced by peer reviewed publications.
• Commitment to implement the goal of gender equality by ensuring equal participation and full participation of women and men in all aspects of work.

WHO Competencies:

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Promoting innovation and organizational learning
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment.

Use of Language Skills:

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

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 90,664 (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 3831 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.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Important Information and Notice

• 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.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.

Application Deadline 4th May, 2022 (10:59:00 PM).