Director, Polio Eradication, D2

Director, Polio Eradication, D2

WHO - World Health Organization

Geneva, Switzerland

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall objective of the Polio Eradication Initiative is to achieve certification of the eradication of polioviruses worldwide. This is done by providing support to national governments via the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Partnership. The two goals of the present GPEI Strategy are to permanently interrupt transmission of all Poliovirus in endemic countries and to stop vaccine derived poliovirus transmission and prevent outbreaks in nonendemic countries.

The five objectives within the GPEI Strategy are to:

• create urgency and accountability to generate greater political will;
• generate vaccine acceptance through context-adapted community engagement;
• expedite progress through expanded integration efforts with broader partners;
• improve frontline success through evaluating and adapting campaign operations and outbreak response; and
• enhance detection and response through sensitive surveillance activities.

In addition, implement the four objectives in the GPEI Gender Equality Strategy for Polio Eradication.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Leads the Department in providing technical expertise to Member States and other Stakeholders with guidance and technical data required for the development, implementation, and monitoring of national and/or global policies and activities for polio eradication;
• Provides the overall leadership, management accountability, and direction of the Programme in delivering its objectives through managing and galvanizing a diverse workforce and financial resources to optimize the Programme deliverables and mandate;
• Oversees mobilization and allocation of the financial, human and technical resources for WHO polio eradication activities across the three levels of the organization;
• Oversees and coordinates strategies and leads efforts for mobilizing financial resources engaging with donors from public and private entities;
• Provides senior level technical advice and expertise to Senior Management in the area of assigned responsibilities in order to position the Department and Organization as a leader in the respective area;
• Directs and leads overall establishment and development of the Department's evidence-based policies and strategies in alignment with the Strategy for roll out and delivery for Regional and Country Office implementation;
• Oversees the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the Programme's area of work in collaboration with Regional and Country Offices to ensure development of key performance indicators and global reporting requirements and mechanisms to ensure optimal performance of Department deliverables;
• Facilitates prompt budget and financial analyses and transparent reporting to POB and to donors;
• Serves as the scientific/technical reference among UN Agencies, donor partners and other key players in Polio eradication;
• Serves as chair of the GPEI Strategy Committee, and as such is accountable to the Polio Oversight Board, through its chair, for implementation of the current Polio Eradication Strategy;
• Coordinates the planning and implementation of consolidated WHO-wide work plans for polio transition;
• Promotes the integration of Regional and Country Office perspectives and operational capacities into the Department's programme area of work;
• Ensures implementation of GPEI Gender Equality Strategy at all levels of the programme;
• Contributes to the WHO's commitment to the United Nations wide Accountability Framework for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment;
• Builds and maintain strong partnerships and fosters consensus building with External Partners, Member States, UN Agencies, Donor, cutting edge research institutions and other stakeholders in the subject area to politically position the technical area of work and implementation into national and/or global policies;
• Represents the Organization and Department area of work in a diverse array of global fora to position WHO as a leader in the global health community;
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: An advanced level university degree in a health discipline or related field. Postgraduate training in public health, epidemiology, vaccinology or related field.

Experience

• Essential: A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the management of programmes in public health and/or disease immunization and control. Within this experience, demonstrated experience at the international level in developing countries. Experience providing senior level advice and guidance to senior management/decision makers, managing human and financial resources. Demonstrated experience in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies in immunization disease control and in particular related to polio eradication. Demonstrated experience in vaccines and surveillance at the international level.
• Desirable: Experience in conflict negotiations and political advocacy. Experience working in the Middle East and Africa. Research and scientific publications.

Skills

• Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies;
• Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources;
• Proven skills in developing strong partnerships across multiple groups, organizations and individuals to work towards a common goal but with different capabilities and methodologies;
• Strong capabilities in relationship building with core implementing partners (e.g. Unicef) and especially critical to develop strong working relationship with AFRO, EMRO regions and high-risk polio country teams;
• Strong understanding and skills in mobilizing resources;
• Ability to engage, build consensus and communicate effectively and diplomatically with Member States, donors, country governments, partners and media;
• Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area;
• Globally-respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in public health and epidemiology with broad practical knowledge of immunization programmes, vaccine policies and strategies and their application in developing and developed countries;
• Proven leadership skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which should include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes;
• Basic knowledge of research in vaccines, immunology and virology;
• Comprehensive understanding of fundamental gender concepts;
• Proven experience in supporting gender equality and women's empowerment at both strategic and policy levels.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork;
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences;
• Communication;
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond;
• Driving the Organization to a Successful Future;
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment.

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English;
• Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

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