National Professional Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of more than 7,000 employees. WHO's Health Emergencies Programme aims to help countries prevent, prepare for, detect, respond to, and recover from health emergencies, including outbreaks and pandemics.

Job Overview:
The National Professional Officer position within the WHO Health Emergencies Programme is crucial for advising on the development and implementation of national strategies to combat high-threat diseases with pandemic and epidemic potential. The role involves evaluating these strategies and ensuring compliance with global health policies. The officer will monitor outbreaks, work with partners to improve epidemic control methods, and contribute to surveillance and risk analysis of infectious diseases. This position requires a proactive approach to risk communication and collaboration with technical teams to provide comprehensive health interventions. The officer will also represent the Country Office in official meetings and perform related duties as required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advise on the development, implementation, and evaluation of national strategies for the prevention and control of high-threat diseases.
• Monitor early prevention, detection, verification, and investigation of outbreak risks.
• Collaborate with partners to enhance epidemic control methods.
• Conduct periodic reporting on infectious hazards and support national health information systems.
• Contribute to surveillance and risk analysis of infectious diseases.
• Participate in rapid response teams for alert investigations and field risk assessments.
• Ensure risk communication messages are technically sound and culturally appropriate.
• Provide guidance on actions to prevent and control excess morbidity and mortality.
• Collaborate with technical teams on vaccination, surveillance, infection control, sanitation, and medical supply prepositioning. 1
• Activate technical expert networks for pathogen characterization in unknown infections. 1
• Represent the Country Office at official meetings. 1
• Perform any other related duties as required by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Essential qualifications include a university degree in medicine, public health, or a related field from an accredited institution. Desirable qualifications include a master's degree or higher and specialized training in epidemiology or infectious diseases. Candidates must demonstrate knowledge of infectious diseases and the ability to coordinate health emergency projects, manage partnerships, and formulate strategies under pressure. Organizational skills and the ability to multi-task are also essential.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree in medicine, public health, or a health-related field from an accredited institution. A master's degree or higher, along with specialized training in epidemiology or infectious diseases, is desirable.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least one year of professional experience in planning, developing, and implementing infectious disease control and prevention programs, including outbreak management and infectious hazard management. Experience working with WHO, other UN agencies, or relevant NGOs is desirable.

Languages:
Essential language skills include expert knowledge of Portuguese. Intermediate knowledge of English and French is desirable, which would enhance communication in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
This position is a National Professional Officer role, meaning only applications from nationals of Guinea-Bissau will be accepted. The remuneration includes an annual base salary starting at XOF 18,614,000, subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance. The position offers 30 days of annual leave. Candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test or video assessment may be part of the screening process. WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and individuals from underrepresented Member States. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, and candidates must adhere to high ethical standards.