OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Policies and Systems (CPS) assists countries in the Region with the design and implementation of appropriate health policies and systems to strengthen universal health coverage. It works to strengthen data-driven, evidence-informed, contextually tailored health policy development and implementation at national, regional, and local levels, taking an inclusive approach across the life course. The Division advocates strengthening of public health leadership, focusing on implementing policies that are people centred, promote health, prevent illness, and address the social and economic determinants of health, while fostering leadership on equity, human rights, and gender mainstreaming in health. It focuses on building capacity for health systems innovation to enable the sustainable delivery of high-quality primary health and community services that are effectively linked to hospitals, and mental health, public health and social care services. To do so, CPS supports country efforts to facilitate access so as to leave nobody behind, to improve financial protection, to strengthen the health workforce, to increase access to affordable medicines and technologies, and to promote the uptake and implementation of digital technology. The WHO European Centre of Excellence for Quality of Care and Patient Safety located in Athens (Athens Quality of Care Office/QoC), works to achieve the highest level of well-being, health, and health protection in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Its main aim is to support the Member States in the European region, with a special focus on southern European countries, in building safe, qualitative, effective, and resilient health systems at the core of post-COVID-19 strategies. The Athens Office acts on the following major areas: Country support, national strategies and frameworks and sharing lessons to scale up successful interventions. This involves inter alia documenting and collating practices and country-specific assistance for strengthening quality of care and patient safety. Quality of care and patient safety innovation and knowledge synthesis. This includes the creation of an innovation hub to share novel quality of care and patient safety approaches. Policy analysis in the sphere of quality of care and patient safety. This stream of work aims to systematize evidence on quality of care and patient safety to inform national health policies policies. Network building, alliances, and stakeholder engagement. Under this pillar partnerships with relevant stakeholders such as leading academic institutions and think tanks are developed and scaled up. Implementation of a Framework for Quality Measurement & Assessment of Health Care and of services project – HEALTHIQ” started in July 2023 aims at a) the development of a documented methodological guidebook for the establishment of permanent procedures for recording and measuring key indicators of qualitative performance regarding patient care, health needs and the provision of health services, b) the pilot implementation of human-centered quality health systems, which maximize the value of health care, through rationalization of costs and the assurance of equal access to provided health services for all and c) the dissemination of health quality standards, which will arise via the project, to all Member States of the European WHO region that face similar challenges with Greece.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To provide specialist communication support to the Health IQ project in Greece and the related work of the WHO Athens Quality of Care and the Country Office in ROMGRE (WHO CO GRE) at national level. To contribute to keeping health high on the national and regional agenda by enabling a high visibility of the project and the work carried out by the CO within the WHO European region.

Key duties:

Propose, and implement HealthIQProject communications strategy and action plan in line with the objectives and targets of the project and in close coordination with counterparts and partners. Lead on periodic reviews, suggest any adjustments as may be needed and record lessons learned.

Within the context of the HealthIQ project, plan and develop, with support from the CO and Regional Office staff specific communication tools, products and targeted messages on WHO work at country level for public and professional groups (policymakers and health professionals, media, web and social media audiences) and the general public. Oversee this work and provide strategic advice to the CO on how to ensure optimal effectiveness.

Develop and implement selected information/communication campaigns and events on public health and health care within the context of the HealthIQproject and other project related areas of WHO work including the preparation and dissemination of messages, visuals and other multimedia materials across social media and traditional media channels.

Review and oversee the national social press and media landscape. Establish and maintain close relations with press and media at national level. Propose and arrange press briefings, conferences, and other press visibility events.

Identify appropriate platforms and channels to build/strengthen a WHO GRE presence and maintain this presence through regular postings and engagement on a variety of platforms and channels, including the web. Develop and provide the content for all such messages/postings. Ensure the appropriate use of the organizational emblem in all communications.

Provide general communication specialist support and advice to the Athens QoC team and staff, including the CO, within the context of the WHO corporate (Global and Regional) communication strategy at country level. Contribute to regional communications strategies and plans, and coordinate/share information as appropriate with the regional communications team on key activities including capacity- building.

Carry out other tasks within the scope and remit of this position as required by the supervisors to support the internal and external communications of the CO.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Bachelor’s level) in communications, public relations, journalism. Also acceptable is a degree in psychology, public health or political and/or social sciences.
Desirable: Advanced university degree in any of the above disciplines.

Experience

Essential: At least two years’ experience arranging and coordinating communication activities, media relations and targeted messages development. Demonstrated experience with online communications, including web and social media.
Desirable: Experience organizing press conferences and briefings. Demonstrated relevant work experience within WHO and/or UN agencies or other international organizations or entities active in the health sector.

Skills

1. Demonstrated knowledge of WHO’s mission and work in the country.
2. Demonstrated skill in effectively using a variety of media and press channels and communication tools/platforms to spread health related messages at national level.
3. Proven ability to quickly identify opportunities/channels for effective promotion of topics and dissemination of key messages at national level.
4. Demonstrated ability to draft copy and visuals for mainstream social media platforms
5. Ability to work comfortably in an international, multi-disciplinary and fast-paced environment

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French, Russian, German.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at EUR 50,665 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (

https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

) are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to

[email protected]

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.

• In case the website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click this link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates