Closing date: Wednesday, 1 April 2015

The mission of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.

Vacancy Notice No: HQ/15/PHE/FT116

Title: Technical Officer

Grade: P3

Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment

Duration of contract: One year - Renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and continuing need for the post

Date: 9 March 2015

Application Deadline: 1 April 2015

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland

Organization unit: HQ/PHE Protection of the Human Environment (HQ/PHE) /

HQ/WSH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (HQ/WSH)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The objective of the Department for Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (PHE) is to address the environmental determinants of health in a comprehensive way, working through the health sector and with other relevant sectors. The Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health (WSH) is a major unit within PHE with diverse responsibilities, including water and sanitation monitoring and development of norms and guidelines. The objectives of the WSH programme are to: a) build capacity in countries, particularly within the health sector, for effective engagement in global, regional and national policy processes to address unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene and associated risks to health; b) strengthen the global evidence base on the health impacts of unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene, its sources and the effectiveness of interventions to address them; c) review the evidence base and produce normative guidance along with tools to aid with implementation; and d) monitor and report changes in exposure and health outcomes associated with policy measures taken to address the effects of unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene.

Description of duties

Under the supervision of the WSH GLAAS (The UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water) Project Manager/Team Leader, the incumbent supports monitoring and reporting efforts in the unit under specific activities related to GLAAS, including the TrackFin initiative which aims to track financing to the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector (WASH) in a number of countries.

Key tasks

1. Provide support to WHO Regions and Member States in the acquisition of data on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) by working through existing WASH monitoring platforms and the GLAAS survey and TrackFin methodology.
2. Through the WSH monitoring initiatives, contribute to strengthening and harmonizing country-led WASH sector assessments.
3. Support the coordinating of the biennial data collection from more than 90 countries in all WHO regions, including capacity building activities at global, regional and national level to facilitate the process.
4. Coordinate the implementation of GLAAS in-depth assessment on tracking finances to WASH in countries requesting to participate.
5. Develop and configure the data management system of the UN-Water GLAAS and TrackFin datasets in close collaboration with WHO Regional and Country focal points.
6. Support UN-Water GLAAS dataset manager, in the analysis, interpretation and write-up of relevant reports, including development of country profiles in close consultation with regional and national counterparts.
7. Contribute towards the production of the UN-Water GLAAS and TrackFin assessments and reports, global, regional and country highlights, including thematic briefs.
8. Undertake other duties as required, including occasional support to other areas of work within the unit.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential

• A first university degree in environmental sciences or first degree in computer sciences, civil engineering, public health or related field complemented with training in environmental sciences.

Desirable

• Advanced university degree in statistics, economics or environmental sciences, public health or epidemiology.

WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an accredited institution.

For WHO staff please see e-manual III.4.1, para 220.

Skills

• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Initiative and ability to work with internal and external partners at national and international level.
• Sound knowledge of the broad social determinants of health and their inter-relatedness in particular with the environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, experience in compilation, collection and analytical methods, including processes for analysing survey data (e.g. household survey data), country reported data or national facility or routinely collected data (e.g. Health Management Information Systems);
• Strong scientific research and writing skills, including data processing (i.e. data quality), analysis, synthesis and interpretation;
• Good understanding of the role of WHO globally, regionally and at country level.
• Advanced knowledge of database management systems or statistical software (e.g. SQL, STATA ,(SPSS or R), word-processing and presentation software as well as with Microsoft Office suite and others, e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop and ArcGIS.

Competencies

1. Producing results
2. Fostering integration and teamwork
3. Communicating in a credible and effective way
4. Moving forward in a changing environment
5. Knowing and managing yourself

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of five years of experience working with quantitative and qualitative data related to health outcomes, environmental risk factors and impacts on health, at national and international level.

Desirable

• Experience with water, sanitation and hygiene interventions.
• Experience working on health or environmental health-related issues in the context of multi-stakeholder initiatives on social determinants of health, children's health, children's environmental health, energy, poverty, energy access, climate change, water, sanitation and hygiene, and/or sustainable development.

Languages

Essential

• Expert knowledge of English and intermediate knowledge of French.

Additional Information

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WHO: www.who.int (To learn more about WHO's operations )

icsc.un.org Click on: Quick Links > Salary Scales > by date

WHO's salaries are calculated in US dollars. They consist of a base salary and a post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station and exchange rates. Other benefits include: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, home travel, education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance.

This vacancy is published in English only.

Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

Annual salary: (Net of tax)

UD$56 766 at single rate

US$ 60 813 with primary dependants

Post Adjustment: 99 % 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.

A written test and interviews may be used as a form of screening

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.

Application Information: https://erecruit.who.int/public/hrd-cl-vac-view.asp?o_c=1000&jobinfo_uid_c=30879&vaclng=en