World Health Organization (WHO) Job Vacancies for Incident Managers, 23rd March, 2017
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 of:
Job Title: Incident Manager
Vacancy Notice No: 1700495
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Grade: P5
Contractual Arrangement: Temporary Appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Contract Duration: 12 Months
Organization: AFRO/WHE WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme
Purpose of the Position
- In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Incident Management
System (IMS), at the country or regional level, the incumbent will have
overall responsibility in the coordination of planning, management,
adaptation and implementation of strategies and work plans for the
particular incident, including deciding on the ordering and the release
of resources.
- The incumbent will manage the operational and technical
components with WHO headquarters, establish clear lines of
communications, ensure proper documentation of the incident, including
the provision of situation reports and action plans.
Objectives of the Programme and of the Immediate Strategic Objective
- The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The
Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health
emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead
and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks
and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.
Organizational Context (Describe the individual role of incumbent within
the team, focusing on work environment within and outside the
organization):
- Reporting to the respective supervisors (depending on the
location of the position and level of the emergency) the Incident
Manager (IM) constitutes the first and primary organizational component
of the IMS organization structure at the respective level (country or
regional).
- In close coordination with the respective regional office,
country office and WHO/HQ and input from the IMS team, the IM directs
and coordinates WHO overall emergency response and recovery activities.
- The IM will engage and closely collaborate with WHO senior
management, regional office counterparts, heads of WHO country offices
and external partners. Guidelines and key documents available include
Incident Management System document, emergency SOPs, Framework on
Emergency Risk Management (FERM), Accountability and delegation of
authority framework.
- The incumbent is expected to exercise full judgment in adapting
or modifying relevant WHO guidelines and to lead the development of new
policies and guidelines to meet particular requirements or changing
circumstances.
- He/she provides strategic leadership to the health
sector/cluster response in support of national and local health
authorities and is responsible for all aspects (operational, technical
and programmatic) of the incident management system.
- This requires building dynamic and efficient teams to bolster
WHO’s emergency response and recovery operations, extensive and ongoing
contacts with officials and representatives from health cluster partners
and other cluster leads and coordinators, other policy staff and
technical staff in partner agencies (both within and outside the UN
system), and senior staff of ministries of health (MOH) and related
ministries to advocate and successfully influence national strategies.
Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to
achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected):
- During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme.
During the Complete Operational Period:
- Coordinate WHO's incident management system at the country or
regional level, assess and reassess the emergency situation, determine
strategies, set objectives appropriate to the level of the required
response; prioritizing filling health service delivery gaps, develop an
operational planning cycle to reach health sector performance standards
and approve the incident action plan (IAP) -- ensuring fulfillment of
WHO’s critical functions.
- Ensure the implementation of the IMS, ensuring synergies and
smooth functioning between the operational and technical components,
oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the operations, take corrective
actions as necessary.
- Provide guidance to the respective state’s capacities with
respect to emergency preparedness, response and recovery; ensure the
participation of the country office in the joint risk assessment process
of any suspected or actual emergency event.
- Build external relations, represent WHO and its positions in
negotiations in relevant inter-agency and international fora involved
with the incident management system at the country level.
Immediate Actions:
- Manage the Health Emergency Operations, and provide technical
advice to other agencies, with emphasis on the coordination and
consolidation of health agencies and health cluster activities.
Coordinate overall incident health related activities to ensure the
concerted approach of WHO in all required functional areas as per
incident management structure.
- Support national and local health authorities and partner with
UN agencies, international, governmental and nongovernmental
organizations/institutions, in respect of the mobilization and
coordination of resources, identify needs and funding gaps; encourage
donors to fund the overall health sector response to affected
populations.
- In cooperation with other levels of response authorize the
release of related information, communications, advocacy products and
statements to internal and external partners as well as to the public.
Provide information to/briefing of senior and elected officials as
required, manage sensitive issues arising from the incident.
- Determines WHO response team staffing needs, ensures deployment
arrangements and the mobilization of the required human resources.
- Provide leadership, motivation, guidance, and performance
management of staff and experts, build dynamic and efficient teams to
bolster WHO’s incident management operations, take concrete measures to
ensure the safety and well being of all WHO responders.
Demobilization/Recovery
Oversee demobilization of the Operations Centre and restocking of supplies, as appropriate.
Ensure that after-action activities are coordinated and completed including:
- Collection of all event documentation
- Conduct of staff debriefings to identify accomplishments, response and improvement issues
- Identify needed revisions to the event management procedures,
job action sheets, operational procedures, records, and/or other related
items
- Writing the after action report and improvement plan
Recruitment Profile Competencies (Describe the core, management or leadership competencies required commencing with the most important ones):
- Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
- Communication
- Respecting and promoting cultural differences.
- Ensuring the effective use of resources
- Creating an empowering and motivating environment
- Promoting WHO's position in health leadership
- Teamwork.
Educational Qualifications
Essential:
- An advanced University Degree in Health-related field,
Management, Emergency, Humanitarian, Disaster Management or related
field from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable:
- Specialized training in emergency management; specific training in humanitarian response.
- A Medical Degree.
Experience
Essential:
- At least 10 years of related experience in emergency management and operations, with proven experience in emergency response.
- Substantial experience at both national and international levels
in leadership positions, capacity-building and their implementation.
- Experience in developing and promoting collaborative
partnerships and/or experience in developing countries. Substantial
experience in efficient human and financial resource management.
Desirable:
- Relevant work experience in outbreaks and/health emergency
management and related strategy development with WHO and/or UN agencies,
health cluster partners; experience working in relevant nongovernmental
or humanitarian organizations.
Functional Knowledge and Skills:
- Describe the essential knowledge and the skills specific to the position
- Demonstrated knowledge of the rapid response operations and
their implementation in emergencies as related to public health,
complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult
situations, to lead and direct multidisciplinary and multinational
staff.
- Excellent skills in the assessment, monitoring, analysis and
evaluation of emergency situations, with the ability to conceptualize
and implement innovative strategies and advocate their implementation.
- Authoritative and comprehensive knowledge of the theory,
principles, methods and techniques in international emergency incident
management system.
- Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to quickly
comprehend strategic and tactical objectives and to formulate
comprehensive plans to address challenges/risks.
Use of Language Skills:
- Excellent knowledge of English or French (depending on the country of assignment).
- Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset.
Other Skills (e.g. IT):
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply
Application Deadline: 6th April, 2017.