Head of Office, WHO European Office for Investment for Health & Development, Venice, Italy (P-6)

The mission of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.
Vacancy Notice No: EU/15/FT380 Title: Head of Office, WHO European Office for Investment for Health & Development Grade: P6 Contract type: Fixed-term Appointment Duration of contract:  Two years (*see under additional information)	Date: 21 July 2015 Original published date: 21 July 2015 Application Deadline: 20 August 2015 (22 day(s) until closing deadline) Republished (Currently accepting applications) Duty Station:  Venice, Italy   Organization unit: EURO Europe Regional Office (EU/RGO) WHO European Office for Investment for Health & Development; Division of Policy & Governance for Health & Wellbeing (PCR)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : All the Member States of WHO in the European Region share the common value of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right. All of WHO actions are based on this and rooted in the underlying values of equity, solidarity and participation. The seven point global health agenda contained in WHO's Eleventh General Programme of Work (2006-2015) includes: (i) investing in health to reduce poverty; (ii) building individual and global health security; (iii) promoting universal coverage, gender equality and health related human rights; (iv) tackling determinants of health; (v) strengthening health systems and equitable access; (vi) harnessing knowledge, science and technology; and (vii) strengthening governance, leadership and accountability. WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providing leadership on global health matters; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends. The Global Programme of Work (GPW) should be seen with specific reference to the values and principles embedded into the European Health Policy Framework - Health 2020 - for both the work of the incumbent and the Venice Office as a whole. The European Region (EURO) of WHO is made up of 53 countries, with over 900 million people. The diversity of countries and their health situations requires a solid understanding of the social determinants of population health and their impact of current and forecast of demographic, economic and cultural trends at both European as well as national and sub-national levels. It also require due sensitivity to the needs of disadvantaged populations and vulnerable segments of the society. Mission of the WHO Regional Office for Europe and Objective of the Division of Policy and Governance for Health and Well-being (PCR): The mission of the WHO Regional Office for Europe is to support Member States in the implementation of Health 2020 that is characterized by two strategic objectives: (a) improving health for all and reducing health inequalities; and (b) improving leadership and participatory governance for health, Health 2020 has four Cross-cutting priorities areas: (i) investing in health through a life-course approach and empowering people; (ii) tackling Europe's major health challenges of noncommunicable and communicable disease; (iii) strengthening people's centred health systems, public health capacity and emergency preparedness, surveillance and response; (iv) creating resilient communities and supportive environments. With the endorsement of Health 2020 by the Regional Committee (RC) 62, the Division of Policy and Governance for Health and Well-being (PCR) leads and coordinates the implementation of the Health 2020 - the European policy framework supporting action across government and society for health and well-being. It supports development of national and sub-national health policy in Member States and provides strategic and technical directions and leadership on governance for health and health equity. Key areas of responsibilities of the division includes social determinants of health, gender, human rights and vulnerabilities and the coordination of the Healthy Cities Network, as well as the Regions for Health Network. The PCR Division has staff located in Copenhagen and in Venice (WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development, Venice, Italy). The overall mission of the Division is:(a) lead and coordinate the implementation of the new European Policy and Strategy for Health and Wellbeing - Health 2020 and the findings of the major studies that informed the development of Health 2020 (European Social Determinants and Health Divide Review; Governance for Health; and the Economics of Health Promotion) and (b) provide strategic directions and technical leadership in a number of programmatic areas that also have a strong relevance (cross-cutting) to the work of all technical divisions. The programmes and technical areas of work that are the responsibility of the PCR Division are as follows: 1. Health 2020 Implementation; 2. National and sub-national intersectoral Health Policies; 3. Governance for Health; 4. Social Determinants of Health and Reduction of Inequities; 5. Vulnerability and Health, Migrant and Roma Health; 6. Gender and health; 7. Human Rights and health; 8 .Patients empowerment; 9. Public Health implications of Migration; 10. Urban Health and Healthy Cities Networks; 11. Regions for Health Network; 12. Coordination of Healthy Settings networks & Mainstreaming health promotion. In addition, PCR is responsible for the coordination of the designation and management of WHO Collaborating Centres in the European Region. Objective of the European Office for Investment for Health and Development (Venice Office): As stated in the WHO Constitution, the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, and political belief, economic or social condition. Evidence from global, regional and national reviews such as that of the 2008 WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health and the more recent 2014 European Review of Social Determinants of Health and the Health Divide, clearly show that processes and conditions that systematically prohibit or restrict population groups from economic, social, political, and cultural inclusion are strongly associated with the observed gaps in opportunity to be healthy and in risk and consequences of poor health across the European region. Acting on the pathways from social and economic conditions to better health for all in society, requires countries of the European region and their institutions to better position health and equity in their investment decisions and development agendas. There is also a need to establish partnerships and alliances across different stakeholder and communities of practice to create the conditions for change on the social determinants of health locally, nationally and across the region. These two dimensions are core to the mission of the Venice Office which is established on the basis of a Memorandum of Agreement between WHO/EURO and the Italian Ministry of Health and states: "The Venice Office shall, within its field of competence, help the Member States at national, regional and local level in implementing health investment strategies which places the promotion of health and well-being at the centre of human, social and economic development". The work of the Venice Office is an integral part of the PCR Division's technical deliverables and mandate. The Venice Office performs the following functions: (a) Synthesising the evidence on leading practices in addressing the social determinants of health and health equity and translating it into tools, tailored advice and services to support advocacy and improved decision making in Europe; (b) Providing technical assistance to Member States to implement the recommendations of the European Social Determinants and Health Divide review in the context of Health 2020; (c) Providing technical assistance to Member States to increase their institutional capacity and know how on investing for health and promoting health equity through multisectoral development policies and in public health programmes; (d) Supporting partnerships and coordinating structured platforms for knowledge exchange on how to use a social determinants approach to promote health and reduce health inequities in the European region; (e) Monitoring progress in the implementation of commitments on the social determinants and inequities in health in the European region, within the context of Health 2020. A crucial factor in the work of the Venice Office will be the search for effective and efficient ways to enable Member States to invest in the promotion of population health and the reduction of health inequities by tackling their social gradient and by placing the pursuit of health at the centre of their development agenda. The work of the Venice Office is an integral part of the PCR Division's technical deliverables and mandate.
Description of duties: A.1. Technical nature: (i) To ensure that all aspects of work in the Venice Office are at highest scientific and managerial standards and in accordance with WHO general rules and procedures, contributing to the WHO normative function; (ii) To provide technical support to Member States in strengthening responses to addressing the social determinants of health and reducing health inequities in accordance with their specific needs as defined primarily in the Biennial Collaborative Agreements and also in other agreed collaborations in non-BCA Member States and supporting implementation of decisions stemming from the endorsement of the European Health Policy Framework - Health 2020 and in line with WHO Governing Bodies decisions and resolutions; (iii) To support the work of the PCR division reaching out to and working with other sectors and in working with countries developing their national health policies and introducing whole of government and whole of society approaches for health and wellbeing; (iv) To organize, supervise and lead the WHO Venice Office towards achieving the relevant Division´s and Organization´s Programme Budget Deliverables in a timely manner and to a high quality standard, in accordance with both country and intercountry work plans and through the organizational arrangements set by the Divisional Director; (v) To represent WHO Venice Office towards the host country, donors, partners and Member States. A.2. Managerial nature: (i) To provide leadership and managerial oversight to the work of all Venice Office staff and to effectively manage human and financial resources available and assigned to WHO Venice Office, acting as the first level supervisor for assigned staff (monitoring of performance through reporting & evaluation, monitoring of workload, coordination within the division regarding travel, holidays, funds availability); (ii) To be responsible for the planning and allocation of resources within country and intercountry work plans in consultation and coordination with the Director of the Division; (iii) To mobilize resources to efficiently deliver services/products and to develop activities at country and inter-country level within the relevant Programme Area budget envelopes.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Essential: Advanced university degree in health policy, public health social sciences, social epidemiology and/or health administration and management. Desirable: Doctorate in health policy, policy development, public health, international relations and development, health economics or health systems. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an accredited institution.
Skills:  The incumbent should be: - Aligned with the core values of the World Health Organization; - Skillful in modern leadership and management methods (performance measurement, design and operation of modern management information systems, planning and evaluation, etc., with a track record of applying these in the management of teams. He/she should have: - Excellent analytical skills; - Excellent communication skills and sensitivity to cultural and socio-political realities of countries; - Direct experience/knowledge of the WHO and/or UN system. Other Skills: Knowledge of standard text, spreadsheet and presentation software applications required. Competencies required: See WHO Global Competencies model at http://www.who.int/employment/competencies/en/ 1) Producing results - Produces and delivers quality results. Is action oriented and committed to achieving outcomes. 2) Fostering integration and teamwork - Develops and promotes effective relationships between team members to ensure full use of the team competencies in the Venice Office work outputs. Able to promote innovative arrangements to maximize the effectiveness of his/her team in line with variations in workload. 3) Ensuring the effective use of resources - Organizes and effectively manages the financial and human resources needed to achieve results within WHO strategic directions. 4) Building & promoting partnerships across the Organization - Builds and maintains mutually beneficial work relationships and alliances inside and outside the organization. 5) Creating an empowering and motivating environment - Guides and motivates staff and teams towards meeting challenges and achieving objectives. Skilful in understanding the potential motivating factors of his/her staff to adjust to new approaches in an increasingly complex environment.
Experience: Essential: More than ten years of progressively responsible experience in public health with experience in developing, implementing and reviewing or evaluating multi-sectoral policies for health and equitable and sustainable development, of which at least 5 years is at the international level. Track record in implementation of health strategies/programmes and/or reforms and institutional restructuring addressing equity and social determinants of health. Track record in positions that required strong leadership of highly-skilled professional teams in multidisciplinary tasks with precise goals. At least five years of management of a team of 10-20 staff. Documented scientific or policy development achievements directly related to social determinants of health, health equity and/or public health policy. Desirable: Working experience within the World Health Organization or other UN agencies. Work in the field of international relations, strategic planning, managing change and team building. Working experience in the WHO European Region is an asset.
Languages: Essential: Excellent command of English and working knowledge of another WHO official language (ie Russian, French, German, Spanish, Arabic or Chinese). Desirable: Working knowledge of Italian. Knowledge of other WHO EURO languages an asset (Russian, German or French).
Additional Information: (*) Extension of appointment is subject to a) satisfactory performance, b) continued need for the function, and c) availability of funds. Similar positions at the same grade may be filled using this vacancy notice. Long-listed candidates may be contacted to sit a written test or presentation prior to final short-listing. This does not preclude a written test or presentation prior to final interview. 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 these will be reviewed individually. 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's salaries are calculated in US dollars. They consist of a base salary and a post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station and exchange rates. Other benefits include: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, home travel, education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WHO: http://www.who.int - to learn more about WHO's operations http://icsc.un.org Click on: Quick Links > Salary Scales > by date
Annual salary: (Net of tax) USD 96,540 at single rate USD 104,444 with primary dependants	Post Adjustment: 40 % 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.
This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.
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Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.