Chief Operations Officer (Polio)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), mandated by the World Health Assembly to stop transmission of wild poliovirus, has reduced global incidence of polio by 99.9%. It is a partnership spearheaded by WHO, Rotary International, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).As the lead technical partner in GPEI and as outlined in the Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026, the overall objective of the Department is to coordinate WHO’s efforts to eradicate polio. This includes supporting the national governments and the global polio eradication partnership to interrupt the transmission of wild and vaccine-derived poliovirus worldwide, rapidly detect and interrupt outbreaks following the global withdrawal of oral polio vaccine and sustain surveillance to keep countries polio-free.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Plan, coordinate and lead the Management, Finance & HR POL unit with overall responsibility for all aspects of human resources, financial management and budget support, operational planning, donor relations and general administration. The following overall duties include:

• Advising the Director POL and polio senior managers on all non-technical aspects of operational planning, covering a wide range of administrative, financial and budgetary human resources management.
• Oversee cooperation of POL GPEI team members to ensure the preparation of accurate, timely, consolidated information, reports and analysis including data from both WHO and UNICEF to enable the review of financial needs, possible source of funding, resource allocations and expenditures and risks associated with delays in fund flow, misallocation, overspend or under-utilisation of GPEI funds.
• Create an environment across the MFH team and the department that promote and support the implementation of the best management practices.
• Lead the effective and efficient implementation of WHO’s internal control framework in the department, including responding to audits, and oversee staff comply with mandatory trainings and PRSEAH.
• Establish and maintain donor relationships and strengthen accountability mechanisms.
• Responsible for the department-wide administrative processes including but not limited to development of the annual GPEI and biennial WHO budgets, workplans and HR plans, consultations with Regional Offices and country offices for the development of collaborative workplans, provision of Polio financial and technical inputs to WHO’s biennial Programme Budgets, management and administration of staff and non-staff arrangements, corporate performance assessment and reporting against deliverable and results in POL workplans, regular reviews of project implementations, regular reviews of PMDS, management of grants allocation and implementation and funding reports.
• Responsible for defining resource requirements and monitoring and responding to of funding gaps for WHO and for the GPEI.
• Work closely with the Director’s Office and the Transition team to ensure a smooth implementation of the WHO transition plan.
• Lead the consolidation and development of reports to governing bodies (IEOAC, PBAC and EB) on the winding down of the department post certification and management of human resources in this context.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• Advance university degree at master’s level in public or Business Administration, Management or related field.

Desirable:

• A Ph.D. or specialized post-graduate certification in business administration and/or management.

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 15 years of progressive senior level professional experience managing the administration and financial resources of programmes and/or departments in a large public, not-for-profit or commercial administration. Within this experience a minimum of 7 years’ experience must have been gained in an international context.
• Relevant experience in an Organization within the UN Common System preferably at WHO.

Desirable:

• Experience in working in developing countries.
• Experience in public private partnerships at senior level.

Skills

• Sound knowledge of administrative, financial, human resources management practices applicable to large administrations.
• Strong sense of leadership and responsibilities.
• Ability to provide authoritative advice, lead and motivate large and multicultural groups of staff.
• Ability to clearly and articulately present concepts and strategies on a broad range of issues while representing and promoting the Organization.
• Demonstrated capacity to negotiate across partners and different levels of an organization.
• Planning, organizational and management skills with excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Thorough experience and an extensive knowledge of WHO processes, procedures and systems, for all three levels of the Organization.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Ensuring the effective use of resources
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.
  

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of any other official WHO languages (French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic).

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 106,023 (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 8544 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.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• 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.

• 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 [email protected]

• 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.

• 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 [email protected].

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

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