Senior Technical Officer, Pandemic Fund Secretariat

The Senior Technical Officer provides expert advice and support to the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) of the Pandemic Fund hosted by the World Bank. The role includes managing WHO staff working with the Pandemic Fund, overseeing technical aspects of workplans and reports, and providing infectious disease and health system strengthening leadership to the Pandemic Fund.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) of the Pandemic Fund hosted by the World Bank in Washington D.C.
• Act as technical health lead and manage WHO staff working with the Pandemic Fund.
• Provide expert advice and support to the TAP in the delivery of their functions.
• Oversee the technical aspects of the preparation of coherent workplans and completion of periodic assessment reports to inform TAP processes.
• Provide senior executive level support to the TAP, ensuring timely delivery of outputs and preparation of regular communications.
• Liaise on behalf of the TAP Chair and Vice Chair with staff at all levels including TAP, Pandemic Fund Secretariat and Implementing Entities' senior management on strategic, technical and programmatic issues.
• Provide infectious disease and health system strengthening thought leadership to the Pandemic Fund.
• Oversee preparation of data, analysis and background documentation to support TAP's Governing Board agenda items and facilitate strategic decision-making.
• Make recommendations regarding solutions, modifications, improvements and alternative actions in response to existing problems.
• Convene and coordinate TAP working groups including preparation of agenda, background documents and decisions for TAP leadership.
• Monitor implementation levels, provide qualitative feedback to the Secretariat and TAP, and ensure follow-up actions.
• Support TAP Leadership's convenings and coordination of TAP meetings including oversight of agenda and background documents.
• Provide technical advice to TAP leadership and selection panels in the selection process of TAP experts with attention to conflict of interest management.
• Prepare the budget of the TAP and oversee allocation of financial resources related to TAP activities.
• Prepare amendments to TAP terms of reference as requested by the Board and oversee documentation of gaps and lessons to inform future improvements.
• Ensure all operations and functions of the TAP are properly coordinated and aligned with TAP's terms of reference and Governance Framework.
• Provide technical expertise and operational support to the Pandemic Fund Secretariat to ensure effective implementation of objectives including design of funding rounds, revising Call for Proposals guidance, developing strategic documents and planning.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Master's degree in public health, international relations, political science, business or public administration, or a discipline related to the functions of the position.
• PhD in a field related to public health, international relations, political science, business or public administration is desirable.
• At least ten years of experience working in public health in a national and international context with increasing levels of responsibilities in executive support, management or public health programmes, providing technical guidance to senior level decision makers.
• At least three years of experience supporting responses to infectious diseases in resource-limited settings.
• Proven experience in providing advice for decision making within a technical secretariat.
• International experience within WHO, and/or with other UN organizations, working at the different levels of the organization.
• Experience with international partner coordination and collaboration is desirable.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of programs and project management is desirable.
• Experience in developing guidelines, tools and training materials is desirable.
• Experience in managing databases and data systems, in collaboration with IT colleagues is desirable.
• Skills in providing technical assistance to national programmes and capacity building including health systems.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing preparedness and/or institutional readiness programmes.
• Proven leadership skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of WHO mandate and goals in the PPR context.
• Proven ability to adapt, develop and/or produce operational documents.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate and write in a clear and concise manner.
• Strong expertise in leading and implementing administrative processes.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate activities and multitask.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to negotiate with and convince others with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner, and to present information, both in writing and orally, in a logical and persuasive manner.
• Strong computer skills in office applications including excel, PowerPoint, and word.
• Demonstrated ability and the necessary personal organization skills to take initiative, personal ownership, and accountability to meet deadlines, work under pressure, and achieve agreed-upon results.
• A commitment to teamwork and demonstrated willingness to provide help and support to others in a dynamic environment; to lead or follow, depending on the needs of the team.
• Tactful, and sensitive to issues and needs of external partners and countries.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of French is desirable.
• Intermediate knowledge of WHO Language is desirable.

Skills

• Public Health Expertise
• Infectious Disease Response
• Technical Guidance
• Executive Support
• Programme Management
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Guideline Development
• Training Material Development
• Database Management
• Health Systems Capacity Building
• Preparedness Program Implementation
• Institutional Readiness
• Multidisciplinary Program Coordination
• WHO Mandate Understanding
• Operational Document Drafting
• Analytical Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Technical Assistance
• Administrative Process Management
• Stakeholder Negotiation
• Excel
• Power Point
• Word

Languages

English, French