Unit Head, Newborn Health

Critères de l'offre

**L'entreprise**: OMS

OMS

Description du poste

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing supports a world where by 2030, every woman, newborn, child, adolescent and aging person in every setting realizes their rights to physical and mental health and well-being. This will be achieved by supporting WHO's General Programme of Work and universal health coverage for all. The department provides support to countries with a focus on high burden countries to ensure evidence-based policies and strategies are in place to achieve universal access to high quality health services for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and ageing (MNCAH&A), and increase coverage and quality of effective MNCAH&A interventions among pregnant women, newborns, children, adolescents, young adults and older people, and to create mechanisms to measure the impact of those strategies. This includes the identification of global research priorities for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, resource mobilisation, design and coordination of clinical and implementation public health research in areas where critical gaps exist in the global research portfolio.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Coordinates and provides senior technical leadership in establishing new approaches, evidence-based policies and strategies, surveillance, and capacity building initiatives for implementation across Regional and Country Office programmes in the respective area of work.

Coordinates and provides senior technical leadership in priority areas of public health research - both clinical and implementation research - in all population groups in the Department. Research should aim to inform evidence-based guidelines, policies and strategies relevant to Regional and Country Office programmes.

Provides senior level health technical expertise and advice to the Director and Senior Management in the area of Newborn Health on the development and establishment of new health strategies and policies for implementation and/or the monitoring and evaluation of national and global policies. Also, to advise the Director and Senior Management in the area of public health research
- both clinical and implementation research - across the life course.

Ensures effective coordination, management, and accountability of the programme area and departmental public health research activities through efficient management of a diverse team of technical experts, financial resources and effective work plan coordination to optimize the programme's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.

Ensures the coordination and management of the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the Department's area of work of key performance indicators and global reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize performance of Department deliverables.

Serves as the scientific/technical reference among UN Agencies and the peer community on Newborn Health and public health research.

Builds technical partnerships with other UN Agencies, Donors, research institutions and other stakeholders in Newborn Health to position the technical area of work and implementation into respective policies.

Represents the programme area of work in global fora and capacity building activities.

Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties

As the Lead on research, the incumbent will coordinate and support research activities in all population groups namely, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health teams and Ageing in the Department and contribute to the Organization's research activities. This will include development of new research ideas in areas where there is a gap in global evidence and also mobilize resources to implement them. As Research lead, the incumbent will also be available to provide guidance on guideline development to all MCA teams. Leads the cross-cutting thematic team on research and guideline development across the life-course, identifying key opportunities and fundraising for public health research across the life course. Works closely with the Director on the STAGE, in particular the Evidence for Impact Working Group.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

**Essential**:
A degree in medicine from a recognized university with an advanced degree (master's level or above, plus certified professional specialization) in newborn health or child health or nutrition, public health, or another area related to the functions of the position.

**Desirable**:
A Ph.D. in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

**Essential**:
A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the field of newborn or child health, including linkages to maternal health, especially in low or low-middle-income settings, including experience providing senior-level advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision/Policymakers, managing human and financial resources, as well as experience in the area o