Health Specialist - UNICEF (Apply by: 14 Sept'14)

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) the world’s leading organization working for the rights of children, invites applications for the following vacancy:

Position: Health Specialist 

Location: Guwahati 
Temporary Appointment – 364 Days
Closing date: 14 September 2014

If you are a passionate and committed professional and want to make a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you.

Purpose of the Post

Provide professional technical assistance and support to design, plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate UNICEF health interventions in all North East states (except Assam), to achieve planned objectives of reproductive, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health (RMNCH+A) in the context of Call to Action, with specific attention to maternal and new-born health.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

1. Timely sectorial analysis, input, support and coordination contributing to the Situation Analysis at state, district and block levels and its periodic update for effective project planning, development and management, in partnerships with key stakeholders, especially in close collaboration with the Health section in the UNICEF Delhi office. This evidence based analysis to be done in close collaboration with academic institutions, as well as with development partners in India and particularly in the North East states.
2. Quality contributions are made to the development and implementation of convergent and Integrated Health strategies on RMNCH+A, to address essential intervention throughout the continuum of care and in the “1000 days” window of opportunity through a convergent approach with the WASH, Nutrition and C4D sections, through participation and collaboration with internal and external partnerships.
3. Work plan and objectives are strategically established, implementation support is effectively provided, and planned results are timely delivered through the application of technical expertise, in consultation with all relevant partners, with primacy to high priority districts (HPDs).
4. Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability. Gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs provided, relevant to the Health programme.
5. Technical support is provided to government, NGOs, other partners as well as to UNICEF staff and consultants in North East states with special focus on capacity building on evidence based planning and programming, implementation and its monitoring and evaluation, at various stages of the Call to Action.
6. UNICEF and Government of India and implementing development partners’ accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for Health.
7. Effective working relationships with internal and external counterparts are kept maintained for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.
8. Relevant and strategic information is kept available and shared with relevant stakeholders as required to support the Health Programme by the effective implementation of an integrated monitoring system.
9. Required programme/project reports are timely prepared and shared with relevant stakeholders as required in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.
10. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with
effective coordination are provided and in line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action.
11. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished.

Qualifications, Skills and Attributes

a) Education

Master’s degree from a recognized University in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Medicine, Public Health, International Health, Health Policy and Management, , Family Health, Socio-medical Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, or a field relevant to international development assistance in Health.

b) Work Experience

Five years of professional work experience at the state and national levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes related to Health. Professional work experience in a managerial position, or a technical expert position in maternal and child health an asset.

Background/familiarity with Emergency and gender mainstreaming desirable.

Previous experience in working within UNICEF or other UN agencies and in international settings an asset.

c) Languages

Fluency in English and Hindi required. Knowledge of regional north-eastern languages an asset.

d) Competency Profile (For details on competencies please refer to UNICEF Professional Competency Profiles)

i) Core Values (Required)
• Commitment 
• Diversity and Inclusion 
• Integrity

ii) Core Competencies (Required)
• Communication [ II ] 
• Working with People [ I ] 
• Drive for Results [ I ]

iii) Functional Competencies (Required)
• Leading and Supervising [I] 
• Relating and Networking [II] 
• Deciding and Initiating Action [II] 
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [II]
• Analyzing [III] 
• Applying Technical Expertise [III]

iv) Technical Knowledge

a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required:

• Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming in UNICEF.
• UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines.
• Mid-Term Strategic Plan.
• Knowledge of Health related issues.
• Knowledge of:
• RMNCH+A in terms of contents, planning and monitoring guidelines.
• PMTCT, HIV/AIDS, malaria, EPI.
• Intermediate Technical Knowledge of the theories, principles and methods in one of the following areas:
• Public Health, International Health, Health Policy and Management, Environmental
• Health Sciences, Family Health.
• Health Education, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Educational Interventions in Health Care.

b) Common Technical Knowledge required (for the job group):

Knowledge of theories and practices in:

• Child and Maternal Health.
• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.
• Public Health.
• Educational Interventions in Health Care.
• Health Financing.
• Environmental Health.
• Knowledge Management.
• Health Education.
• Computer software application, including word processing, spreadsheet and corporate software packages.
• Gender equality and diversity awareness.

c) General Knowledge of:

• Methodology of programme/project management.
• Programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies and strategies in Health.
• Knowledge of global health issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current trends, methods and approaches.
• Policies and strategy to address national and global health issues, particularly relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery.
• Emergency programme policies, goals, strategies and approaches.

d) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job):

• Knowledge of the latest development and technology in related fields.
• Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes.
• UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues and the responses.
• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions.
• UN security operations and guidelines.
UNICEF strategic framework for partnerships and collaborative relationships.

e) Other Skills and Attributes:

• Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan and manage programmes as well as to transfer knowledge and skills.
• Supervisory and managerial skills; proven ability to lead a team.
• Good conceptual and analytical abilities.
• Communication skills to advocate, negotiate and promote UNICEF’s concerns related to equity, social inclusion in rural as well as in the urban poor contexts.
• Ability to network and develop alliances in support of UNICEF’s aims.
• Knowledge and use of standard office automation applications related towards processing, graphics presentations etc. as well as Management Information Systems and databases. Knowledge and training on use of work planning tools an asset. 
• High proficiency in the application of computers and electronic data management and interpretation.
• Good writing skills with special focus on report writing.
• Ability to work in an international and multi-cultural environment.

Applications consisting of a cover letter, an up-to-date CV and P11 – Personal History form should be sent to hsg-unicef@sams.co.in by close of business 14 September 2014. The P11 - Personal History Form, may be downloaded fromhttp://sams.co.in/P11_form.doc. In order to ensure that your application is sorted correctly, please clearly mention the title and location of the post in the subject line of your e-mail/application. Only applications of short listed candidates will be acknowledged. This vacancy is open to Indian Nationals only.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organizations.

UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc.

UNICEF is a non-smoking working environment.