Unit Chief, Risk Factors and Nutrition at WHO, Washington, D.C., United States

Deadline: 23 October 2022

World Health Organization (WHO) is currently seeking applications from the eligible applicants for the post of Unit Chief, Risk Factors and Nutrition in Washington, D.C., United States. The duration of this post is 2 years.

The primary role of WHO is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations system.

Key Job Responsibilities

The Unit Chief, Risk Factors and Nutrition will perform the following functions:

• Provide technical and strategic advice and policy and programmatic direction for technical cooperation at the regional and sub-regional levels, for nutrition and the prevention and control of noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors including tobacco, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol, in order to strengthen capacities of Member States to respond to the burden of NCDs and related risks;
• Lead the Organization´s technical cooperation to support Member States in the implementation and execution of the relevant topics in the PAHO Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018-2030, including: Plans of Action for the Prevention and Control of NCDs; Prevention of Obesity in Children and Adolescents; Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2018-2022; Plan of Action to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol; Plan of Action for the Elimination of Industrially Produced Trans-Fatty Acids 2020-2025 and other relevant mandates, consistent with country needs and the Organization’s overall policies and plans;
• Advise Member States on the development of their national noncommunicable disease prevention and control programs, including regulation of risk factors, and in identifying research priorities;
• Develop and strengthen the dialogue, interaction and collaboration with governmental sectors other than health, United Nations (UN) agencies, academia, civil society and private industry in line with WHO guidance on avoiding conflicts of interest, in order to foster intersectoral approaches to tackle NCDs and related risks, as well as to promote optimal nutrition and physical activity;
• Guide the development and dissemination of best practices for the management of NCD risk factors and nutrition within the Organization, including at country level;
• Mobilize national and international political, technical and financial resources to support and expand regional, sub-regional and national programs and activities related to NCD Risks and Nutrition; coordinate the preparation of projects and proposals to support these programmatic areas;

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must have:

• University degree in a health, biological or social science and a master’s degree in public health or in any other field related to the functions of the position, from a recognized institution.
• A Ph.D. degree in one of the public health disciplines, health risk analysis and management would be an asset.
• 13 years of combined national and international progressively responsible experience in non communicable diseases, and/or nutrition. Of these, at least five years should include supervision, management and /or coordination of multinational activities. The experience should include activities on epidemiology, surveillance, health promotion, risk regulation, disease prevention, or program evaluation and research. Experience should include technical cooperation at a senior decision-making level in institutions concerned with public health management.
• Specialized experience in organizational development, information management and analysis.
• Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with a working knowledge of the other language.
• Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their applications through online process.

For more information, visit WHO.