Technical Officer

at  World Health Organization

Grade: P4
Contractual Arrangement: Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 11
Job Posting: Jan 13, 2025, 8:29:12 AM
Closing Date: Feb 3, 2025, 4:59:00 PM
Primary Location: Switzerland-Geneva
Organization: HQ/RFH Research for Health SCI
Schedule: Full-time
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.

EDUCATION

Essential: An advanced level university degree (Master level or above) in health sciences, science policy or related field.
Desirable: A PhD in health research, science policy or relevant field.

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the field of emerging technologies or science governance, including experience in the area of dual-use research.

Desirable:

• Prior experience in or collaboration with WHO.
• Experience in the application of strategic foresight in the context of health science and technology.

SKILLS

• Proven ability leading teams with excellent interpersonal skills in areas such as teamwork, facilitation, and negotiation.
• Strong skills in the area of developing strategies and establishing mechanisms.
• Very good skills in managing financial resources and mobilizing resources.
• Ability to engage and communicate effectively and diplomatically with external partners including Ministries of Health, Donor institutions, Civil Society, health product developers, and other stakeholders.
• Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area.
• Very good project management skills.
• Knowledge of the international landscape of global health R&D.

USE OF LANGUAGE SKILLS

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

Under the guidance of the supervisor, the incumbent will have the following responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership within the Unit in the area of responsible use of life sciences and emerging technologies.
• Develop and propose technical health policies and strategies for implementation through collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and provide advice in developing further the responsible use of life sciences and emerging technologies.
• Manage the programme area to deliver its objectives through efficiently managing time and financial resources and effective work planning to optimize the programme’s deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.
• Leads and conducts research on best practices in implementing programmes and activities and dissemination of information for capacity building in the respective area of work.
• Manage the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the subject area of work on key performance indicators, reporting requirements, and mechanisms to optimize the performance of the deliverables.
• Serve as the technical reference among the peer community, UN agencies, and other stakeholders at the technical levels in their respective areas of expertise.
• Represent the programme area of work at various meetings to advocate for approaches and mechanisms for emerging technologies.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Specific Duties:

• Lead the technical work on emerging technologies, including the identification of specific areas in science and technology that warrant specific considerations (including dual-use research)in terms of responsible use of life sciences and the development of guidance and technical products.
• Liaise with strategic foresight work to develop proactive mechanisms and frameworks for responsible innovations to maximize benefits and mitigate risks.
• Liaise with technical officers working on the implementation of relevant mechanisms for responsible use of life science and emerging technologies at regional and country levels.
• Develop a collaborative data analysis approach to identify priority questions in the responsible use of life sciences and emerging technologies.
• Liaise as appropriate with other technical departments and within the RFH department, including in particular the HealthEthics and Governance Unit.