OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :

The mission of the WHO Human Resources for Health programme is to assist countries in providing equitable universal access to an adequately trained, skilled and supported health workforce, so as to contribute towards the attainment of the highest possible level of health.

Under the direction of the Director of the Health Systems Policies and Workforce department (HPW) the incumbent will lead a dynamic multidisciplinary team of experts in workforce statistics, information, policy and planning.

The incumbent will have complex and wide-ranging interactions with colleagues across WHO and other international agencies, with global partners including various health professions and NGOs and with representatives of Member States to ensure the successful achievement of national and international goals to strengthen the health workforce and find sustainable solutions to the health workforce problems in countries.

Description of duties:
The Coordinator's duties cover the breadth of WHO's work under HRH:

  • Formulate the strategic directions for the Team, demonstrating an excellent understanding of the complex interrelationship of global and local factors and mechanisms which impact on health workforce development in countries and across borders;
  • Provide dynamic leadership and expertise for innovative, evidence-based strategic support to Member States in addressing their health workforce problems;
  • Formulate and coordinate the development and implementation of the global strategies to assess, improve information, monitoring and evaluation of health workforce at national and global level;
  • Lead and cooperate with relevant partners to enhance relevant research and exchange of experience on health workforce issues, so as to inform policymaking processes at global and country levels;
  • Promote synergies between the work produced by WHO and the work of external partners to optimize organizational success;
  • Support and provide authoritative advice to Member States, the public and private health sectors, partners, UN agencies, international institutions and/or NGOs on the development and implementation of guidelines and tools related to health workforce classification, information, policy and planning;
  • Identify and engage critical stakeholders, within and beyond the health sectors, with a view of developing global and national health workforce policies and special initiatives;
  • Identify and engage critical stakeholders, within and beyond the health sectors, in order to mobilise resources for promoting the health workforce agenda globally and for enabling WHO efforts to support that agenda;
  • Collaborate with the Regional and Country Offices and staff in HQ to implement strategic and annual work plans and reports.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Essential: Advanced degree in health or social science.

Desirable: Post-graduate training (doctorate or PhD) in public health or related field with emphasis on health workforce policy, planning or development or on health labor markets.

Skills:
The Coordinator must demonstrate the following:

  • Ability to integrate and clearly explain complex health workforce development concepts;
  • Capacity to work with senior officials at national and international levels and capacity to adapt to multicultural environments;
  • Knowledge of international public health issues and trends;
  • Ability to design strategies and policies in the relevant subject area;
  • Team management skills in an international, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment;
  • Negotiation and advocacy skills combined with excellent interpersonal and communications skills.

Other Skills:
Writing and editing skills; knowledge of standard office software applications.

WHO competencies:
Promoting WHO's position in health leadership
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Moving forward in a changing environment
Fostering integration and teamwork

Experience:
Essential:
- At least ten years relevant national / international experience in developing strategies and projects on health workforce policy, development and information of which at least five years experience at the international level.
- Internationally recognized authority in the field of health workforce, based on both academic production and hands-on experience.
- Proven knowledge of health systems and health workforce development, including policy frameworks for human resources development; organization and management of health workforce systems.
- Experience in working with partnership and multi-constituency programmes and in dealing with the health workforce issues.

Desirable:
- Five or more years of national or international experience in health workforce strategies, policies, development and information for developing countries.
- Practical experience in the organization and management of human resources for health for service delivery. Knowledge of international agencies active in the realm of health workforce.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English required. Working knowledge of French or Spanish an asset.

Additional Information:
A written test may form part of the screening process. This Vacancy Notice is published in English only.

Annual salary: (Net of tax)
USD 95394 at single rate
USD 103204 with primary dependants

Post Adjustment: 104.1 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

Currently accepting applications
Off-line applications should be sent to: World Health Organization, HRD/HRQ
20, avenue Appia CH-1211 Geneva 27
Fax: +41227914864

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