Scientist (Implementation Research)
( 2305674 )
Grade : P4
Contractual Arrangement : Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 12 months
Job Posting: Sep 20, 2023, 3:33:58 PM
The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research is a hosted partnership situated in the Science Division, aiming to promote the generation and use of health policy and systems research (HPSR) as a means to improve developing country health systems. Specifically, the objectives of the Alliance HPSR are to: Stimulate the generation and synthesis of policy relevant health systems knowledge, encompassing evidence, tools and methods; Promote the dissemination and use of health policy and systems research knowledge to improve the performance of health systems; Facilitate the development of capacity for the generation, dissemination and use of HPSR knowledge among researchers, policy-makers and other stakeholders.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Under the guidance of the Policy Advisor and the Executive Director, the Technical Officer will undertake day to day leadership and management of the Alliance’s diverse portfolio of implementation research.
- This will include coordination of external stakeholders, outreach to potential funders, development of proposals, and maintaining networks with institutions in low and middle-income countries undertaking IR.
- S/he will diversify the Alliance’s portfolio of IR, in particular, to support IR on service delivery for non-communicable diseases.
- S/he will support processes of priority setting, capacity building, research, and knowledge utilization activities in low and middle-income countries.
- S/he will develop, and coordinate the development of relevant documents, reports, and journal publications, and make presentations on the work of this portfolio to diverse audiences as needed.
- S/he will liaise with in-country and international partners, research institutes, policy makers, and funders to advance the aims of this portfolio.
- S/he will actively develop and manage partnerships with other departments within WHO and external partners with the aim of advancing the broader field of Implementation Research.
- S/he will build relationships with policy and decision-makers, researchers, and funders to stimulate and support the generation of HPSR and IR evidence and its uptake in decision-making in LMIC.
- S/he will provide national-level training for researchers and decision makers, and organize and facilitate meetings, symposia, and conferences to better understand challenges to HPSR and IR evidence generation and uptake in LMIC and advocate for the Alliance HPSR’s role in strengthening health systems.
- S/he will also perform other related duties as assigned by the Executive Director and the Policy Advisor.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: Advanced University degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Systems or Health Systems Research
Desirable: Ph.D. in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Systems, or Health Systems Research
Experience
Essential:
- A minimum of seven years of experience in the conduct and management of HPSR and IR in LMICs.
- Experience in engaging with initiatives and networks for implementation research, and working with national and subnational leaders.
- A minimum of 10 publications in peer-reviewed journals in areas relating to IR or HPSR.
- Research coordination and management experience in a department, organization, or project/consortium engaged in international development work.
- Experience in developing partnerships with policymakers in Member States towards facilitating evidence informed-decision making at the national and global levels.
- Experience in developing and maintaining partnerships with other stakeholders in the HPSR community including global and national research institutions and global health funders.
- Experience in the development and management of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for reporting to donors
Desirable: Relevant experience at the global, regional, and/or country level with an international organization.
Skills
- Expertise in research on health systems strengthening in LMICs, including demand-driven IR.
- Excellent understanding of the current state of HPSR and IR, challenges and opportunities facing the field, and linkages with larger global health agendas.
- Ability to conceptualize and develop high-quality HPSR and IR outputs including journal articles to inform health system strengthening in LMICs.
- Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills towards engaging with high-level policymakers in Member States, global health donor agencies, and global experts in health systems research.
- Proven programme management skills towards ensuring timely production of high-quality deliverables.
- Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to tailor messages depending on the intended audience.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with international and national staff at all levels.
- Good understanding of the requirements of working with policy and decision-makers and stimulating the use of evidence, especially in developing countries.
- Good track record of management of projects and research grants and coordinating or conducting implementation research in LMICs.
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.
WHO Competencies
- TeamworkRespecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Beginners knowledge of French. Beginners knowledge of Spanish.
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 77,326 (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 5297 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 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.
- Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
- For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
- 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 staff. 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 for WHO jobs.
- 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.
- Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.
- 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.
- WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- 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.
- In case the website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates