Technical Officer (Health Emergency & Communicable Diseases)

The Technical Officer supports the WHO Country Office in China by providing technical advice and support on health emergency and communicable diseases. The role involves coordinating with technical focal points, supporting national health security and emergency preparedness, and contributing to communicable disease prevention and control efforts.

Responsibilities

• Technically support the concerted approach of WHO in the areas of Emergency Risk Management, Country Preparedness and International Health Regulations, Risk & Situation Assessments, and Infectious Hazards Management.
• Utilize national insights to collaborate with and support relevant ministries and other stakeholders to undertake gap analyses in relevant areas of work for emergency preparedness and management, and support the improvement of national strategies and a national multi hazard, health emergency preparedness and response plan.
• Support the assessment of capacities and national competency development systems, and the planning and implementation of appropriate measures and training for strengthening core capacities under the International Health Regulations (2005).
• Provide technical support to national authorities and to the WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) programme, to enhance the national capability in preparedness and response to emerging infectious diseases, outbreaks, and health emergencies from all hazards.
• Support evidence generation, advocacy, and strengthening of partnerships and networks to enhance multisectoral collaboration and mobilize resources to address integrated communicable disease prevention and control.
• Technically support the efficient and effective management, as well as coordination of expertise, to provide technical advice on the development and implementation of sustainable, multisectoral and integrated national strategies, policies, interventions, and plans for improvements in health systems and capacity building in the area of communicable diseases control and elimination.
• Contribute to the knowledge capture from policy, strategic and field interventions, documentation and dissemination of best practices and partners' experiences.
• Identify emerging opportunities for collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders on global health, to advance WHO's strategic partnership with China.
• Prepare briefings and presentations on health emergency and communicable diseases for senior WHO representatives as needed; draft speeches, fact sheets, talking points on health emergency and communicable diseases, and respond to relevant media enquiries as needed.
• Perform other related duties as required by the supervisor and WHO Representative.

Requirements

• University degree (Bachelor's degree) or above in medicine, public health, epidemiology, communicable diseases, or other related health fields.
• Post graduate degree or specialization in public health, applied epidemiology, communicable diseases or related disciplines (desirable).
• A minimum of two years relevant work experience supporting public health programmes, including epidemic or emergency preparedness and response activities, at the provincial or national level.
• Professional experience in working with main stakeholders in public health in China on health emergencies and disasters, and communicable disease related issues (desirable).
• Knowledge of WHO mandate and goals and experience with United Nations funds and programmes (desirable).
• Knowledge of the profiles of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in the country, and the principles and programmes of epidemic and emergency preparedness and response.
• Knowledge of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and their implementation.
• Knowledge and skills to contribute to health policy, strategic and operational interventions in major communicable diseases, emergency preparedness, response and recovery with a range of actors.
• Proven record of analytical skills.
• Ability to develop plans, strategies and proposals, draft policy analysis and prepare documentation and reports in a concise and accurate manner.
• Ability to work with a broad range of stakeholders, leverage common interests, draw synergies across teams and interact with policy makers in the health emergency, communicable diseases or other public health fields.
• Ability to work under short deadlines.
• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
• Ability to demonstrate gender equity and cultural appropriateness in the delivery of services to Member States.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Chinese.
• Strong English writing skills (desirable).

Skills

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Communicable Diseases
• Health Emergency Preparedness
• Emergency Response
• Epidemic Preparedness
• International Health Regulations
• Health Policy Development
• Strategic Planning
• Policy Analysis
• Report Writing
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Health Programme Support
• Analytical Skills
• Bilingual Communication
• Chinese Language
• English Language

Languages

English, Chinese