Technical Officer, Social Determinants of Health

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 across more than 150 countries, WHO works in various areas including health systems, communicable diseases, noncommunicable diseases, and health promotion. The organization aims to ensure that all people can attain the highest possible level of health, focusing on equity and access to healthcare services.

Job Overview:
The Technical Officer for Social Determinants of Health will play a crucial role in supporting Member States to create healthier and more equitable communities by addressing the social, economic, and commercial determinants of health. This position involves providing input to public health programs, conducting research, drafting guidelines, and monitoring health systems. The officer will also engage in capacity building and community outreach activities, ensuring that health equity is prioritized in all initiatives. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders to implement policies that promote health equity and address the social determinants of health effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide input to the work program in the area of Public health with regards to Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health and assist the Responsible Officer in the successful implementation of national health systems and public health policies.
• Undertake research on public health topics to facilitate the development and implementation of public health programs and activities.
• Draft, revise, and further develop public health guidelines, national strategies, and provide recommendations for improving existing public health policies and health systems.
• Monitor work plans and budgets, including resource mobilization for the work program, and follow up on the implementation of planned activities.
• Conduct data analyses and gather information on best practices and partners' experiences in implementing sustainable public health systems and disseminate this information.
• Participate in capacity building in the area of public health systems and the management and financing of these systems.
• Analyze and evaluate best practices from various public health databanks and information related to disease outbreaks; identify disease sources and provide recommendations concerning appropriate responses to identified risks and implementation of preventative measures.
• Conduct a variety of community outreach activities concerning the extension of health-care networks.
• Serve as a technical resource at the counterpart level concerning communicable diseases in the country; respond to inquiries and provide detailed and technical information concerning related principles, practices, issues, measures, techniques, and procedures. 1
• Perform all other related duties as assigned. 1
• Coordinate the implementation of social determinants policies and programs to promote health equity in line with the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work. 1
• Network and liaise with partners, stakeholders, and other WHO offices and headquarters to foster joint initiatives at regional and country levels. 1
• Produce high-quality written documents such as concept notes, technical briefs, draft oral communications, and reports on social determinants of health and related issues.

Required Qualifications:
Essential: A first university degree in public health, social sciences, health sciences, or a related discipline. Desirable: An advanced university degree in public health, sociology, gender, equity, community engagement, and/or human rights. Candidates must demonstrate strong theoretical and practical knowledge of social determinants of health and their role in reducing health inequities, as well as the ability to adapt and apply general concepts of health equity and social determinants to country contexts. Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills, integrity, tact, discretion, and sensitivity to cultural differences are essential. Good negotiation, communication, and advocacy skills, along with excellent writing skills, are also required. Candidates should be able to review and revise policies and objectives and establish harmonious working relationships as part of a team.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a first university degree in public health, social sciences, health sciences, or a related discipline. An advanced university degree in public health, sociology, gender, equity, community engagement, and/or human rights is desirable, indicating a higher level of expertise in the relevant fields.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of experience, including relevant international exposure, in public health and health inequity programs. Experience in social determinants of health and cross-cutting issues, including gender, human rights, and health equity mainstreaming, is essential. This experience should demonstrate the candidate's ability to effectively contribute to public health initiatives and policies.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English is essential for this position. Intermediate knowledge of other UN languages is desirable, which would enhance communication and collaboration in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve international recruitment. The remuneration for the position starts at USD 71,335 annually, with additional benefits including a variable post adjustment reflecting the cost of living, 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children. Candidates should be aware that WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States.