Coordinator for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control

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. With over 7,000 employees, WHO operates in more than 150 countries, working to combat diseases, improve health systems, and respond to health emergencies. The organization focuses on a wide range of health issues, including communicable and noncommunicable diseases, health promotion, and environmental health, aiming to ensure that everyone can attain the highest possible level of health.

Job Overview:
The position of Coordinator for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control is crucial for leading WHO's initiatives in Mozambique. The incumbent will coordinate efforts to reduce the burden of both communicable and noncommunicable diseases through comprehensive strategies that include universal access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This role involves strengthening surveillance systems, improving data quality, and promoting integrated approaches that address social and environmental determinants of health. The Coordinator will work closely with national counterparts to enhance the country's capacity for disease investigation, surveillance, and control, ensuring that health promotion and disease prevention are prioritized across various sectors. The position requires a strategic mindset to develop innovative action plans targeting high-risk groups and environments, while also addressing the impacts of climate change on health.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including but not limited to:

• Leading and managing the communicable and noncommunicable disease prevention and control programme in Mozambique.
• Establishing innovative action plans for high-risk groups and environments, integrating disease prevention and control interventions across the life course.
• Advising on the adoption of norms, standards, guidelines, and tools to support disease control projects.
• Managing operational research, surveillance, epidemiology, and health surveys related to disease control.
• Guiding the implementation of projects for disease control, including the procurement of safe and effective medicines.
• Analyzing and evaluating data related to communicable diseases and outbreaks, providing recommendations for appropriate responses.
• Monitoring the national burden of diseases through health information systems and research activities.
• Acting as a technical advisor to the public on communicable diseases, particularly vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Advocating for and strengthening partnerships to enhance multi-sectoral collaboration in disease prevention and control. 1
• Coordinating the Disease Prevention and Control Cluster, which encompasses various areas of work.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess in-depth knowledge of the transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of communicable diseases, including HIV and other noncommunicable diseases. They should have technical and programmatic expertise in disease prevention and control, particularly in vaccine-preventable diseases. The ability to strategically plan and coordinate health programme interventions is essential, along with practical experience in managing national immunization programmes. Candidates should also have a strong understanding of health systems, universal health coverage, and primary health care delivery systems. Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills are required, as well as the ability to lead diverse teams and negotiate with multiple stakeholders.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (master’s level) in a relevant field such as medicine, public health, epidemiology, or statistics is essential. A PhD in public health or a related medical field is desirable, along with training or specialization in communicable diseases and vaccine-preventable diseases.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of seven years of relevant work experience in communicable and noncommunicable diseases, focusing on disease investigation, surveillance, and control. Experience in developing strategies and action plans for capacity building and disease prevention programmes is required, with some experience in an international work environment. Demonstrated professional experience providing technical advice to national health ministries and partners is essential. Experience in leading and managing diverse teams is also necessary, with additional experience in managing vaccination programmes at national or international levels being desirable.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English or French is essential, with at least a working knowledge of English. Proficiency in Portuguese or expert knowledge of Spanish or Italian is also required. Knowledge of a second UN language is desirable.

Additional Notes:
This position may be filled at the same grade level for similar roles. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. A written test and/or video assessment may be used for screening. Candidates selected for an interview will need to provide scanned copies of their educational qualifications. WHO prioritizes recruiting staff from diverse geographical backgrounds and encourages applications from women and persons with disabilities. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, and all staff members are expected to promote a safe and respectful workplace. Mobility is a condition of employment with WHO, and candidates may be assigned to any duty station worldwide. WHO offers a range of benefits, including parental leave and flexible work arrangements.