OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The QNS Department sits within the Science Division. The overall mission of the Science Division is to harness the power of science and innovation in a systematic way, by ensuring the excellence, relevance, and efficiency of WHO's core technical functions, including norms and standards, and research. Within this Division, the specific purpose of QNS is to provide support to the Technical Departments in close consultation with Regional Offices, by ensuring norms and standards are produced to a consistently high standard, in a timely way, driven by what Member States need, and designed and delivered to have a real impact on the health of people. Its mandate is structured around these key roles: Ensure that all N&S products meet WHO highest quality standards by providing tailored, state of the art methodological support and guidance. Support project teams developing N&S products by ensuring the utmost efficiency of the N&S process. Secure maximum country impact by helping to develop fit for purpose N&S products advance and ensure timely, peer-reviewed, and accessible scientific evidence and information, through the WHO Library and Digital Information Outreach, and the WHO Press QNS is made up of 6 teams: Methods Quality, Process Efficiency, Product Impact, the Library and Digital Information Services, the Office of the WHO Publisher, and a Governance and Review Services team. Within QNS, the Process Efficiency team is more specifically dedicated to: Together with the Director, assessing, prioritizing, and managing the overall caseload of N&S projects within available human and financial resources. Coordinating access to key resources involved in the production of N&S, including Methodologists, Product Impact experts, corporate functions, or external specialists grouped in rosters (e.g. methodologists, editors, translators, etc.) Following up on ambitious efficiency KPIs to secure commitment to delivering results on the Department's mandate Continuously monitoring the overall development status of each N&S product, identifying potential bottlenecks, completing root causes analysis and providing actionable solutions to reduce them providing corporate functions with increased visibility on requests in order to anticipate workload.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the overall responsibility of the Unit Head, Process Efficiency (PEF):

• Provide Responsible Technical Officers and Teams with project management and relevant, tailored, end-to-end support to ensure that all WHO products meet defined quality standards and are compliant with requirements for product development and publication.
• Develop technical and information resources, including training resources, and respond swiftly to ad hoc requests for information or support.
• Contribute to the assessment, prioritization, and management of the overall caseload.
•  Manage and provide project management support for a defined portfolio of WHO products / publications under development by Responsible Technical Staff across all three levels of WHO (Headquarters, Regional Offices, and Country Offices) ensuring that the Responsible Technical Officer / Team receives relevant, fit for purpose, end-to-end support at each step of the development of their products.
• Collaborate with other experts within the department and division for continuous improvement in the service model and to manage access by Responsible Technical Officers and Teams to available technical resources.
• Contribute to connecting to other critical workflows in WHO, such as prequalification, R&D, and communication to accelerate product planning and development.
• Contribute to the maintenance of the unit and department Standard Operating Procedures and Service Level Agreements to ensure currency and efficient operations while minimizing response time, risks, and delays.
•  Contribute to the monitoring of efficiency KPIs.
• Analyze existing processes, workflows, and SOPs to identify common inefficiencies or sources of delay in the product development process and lead or participate in the design, development, and implementation of solutions to address them, including systems / platform solutions, when necessary.
• Collaborate with other PEF colleagues to contribute to the overall work of the unit.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• A first level university degree in project management, public health, health science, management, project evaluation and design, IT platform development, or another field relevant to the position.
• Project management course or training.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in project management, public health (MPH, DrPH), health science, management, or business administration (MBA).
• Project Management Certification (Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Project Manager (CPM), Certified ScrumMaster(CSM), PRINCE2, Professional in Project Management (PPM), or similar)

Experience

Essential:

• At least 5 years of recent professional experience in programme/project planning, management, and successful delivery of complex or interdependent projects.
• Proven experience in writing business plans, investment cases, work plans, project plans, or business requirements documents. Client-facing, service-oriented experience.
• Experience at the international level.

Desirable:

• Experience in business process management and managing IT / Platform development projects.
• Familiarity with principles of change management.
• Experience at WHO or another UN Organization.

Skills

• Proven skills in the areas of business process and project management, planning, and risk management with careful attention to detail to continuously monitor progress, actions, and initiatives.
• Strong problem-solving ability including conceptualization of creative solutions.
• Service-focused mind-set with the ability to manage client expectations and respond rapidly to support requests.
• Strong communication (written and oral), management, and customer service/support skills.
• Expertise in the use of collaborative software including Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
• Familiarity with the use of PowerAutomate to develop flows is an advantage.
• Knowledge of WHO's policies and programmes is an advantage.
• Knowledge of project management software is an advantage.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Knowing and managing yourself

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Beginners knowledge of Another UN Language.

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 64,121 (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 4793 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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• 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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.  
• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
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