Technical Officer, Food Safety

The mission of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.
Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/13/TASR21 Title: Technical Officer, Food Safety Grade: P5 Contract type: Temporary Appointment under Staff Rule 420.4 Duration of contract:  Twelve (12) months	Date: 4 April 2013 Application Deadline: 25 April 2013 (4 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  Brazzaville, Congo   Organization unit: AF/DNC Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (AF/DNC) / AF/HPR Health Promotion (0)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : To provide technical support to WHO Country Offices (WCO) and countries for planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation of food safety policies, plans of action and strategies in the countries.
Description of duties: 1.Support development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as reporting of progress in implementation and on the status of National food safety policies, plans of action and strategies in the sub-region; 2.Provide technical assistance to countries in raising awareness of food safety and scaling up the implementation of key interventions for food safety including foodborne disease surveillance and food safety information, education and communication (IEC); 3.Establish regional databank on morbidity and mortality rate of food-borne diseases in collaboration with IST and country focal points, extract from available national disease statistics from Member States and from other sources for submission to the Regional databank; 4.Collect, analyze and disseminate good practices in the area of food safety; 5.Provide technical support and advice to countries within the region and assist them in the planning and implementing of national and inter-country programmes including strengthening of National Codex Contact Points as required; 6.Develop regional, sub-regional and national capacities in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of food safety activities, including all other issues related to food safety; 7.Work in collaboration with the Regional Adviser for Nutrition to address the synergies of nutrition and food safety issues.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Essential: Master's level university degree in microbiology or food and environmental sciences or Medical or veterinary degree with postgraduate degree in any of the above field. Desirable: PhD in microbiology or food and environmental sciences. Public Health background.
Skills:  -Ability to find appropriate solutions to public health matters especially those related to food control; -Strong ability to act strategically, to build and maintain solid networks of contacts to disseminate food safety and nutrition information in a targeted and effective manner; -Project preparation and evaluation skills; -Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to work effectively in a team; -Ability to motivate, guide and develop other capacities at national and sub regional levels of advocacy and communicating nutrition message.
Experience: Essential: -10 years of experience in the field of food safety at national and international levels especially in the African Region; -Experience in food safety issues including microbiological risk analysis, HACCP, surveillance; -Experience in food microbiology or medical microbiology. Desirable: Previous experience in working with communities to promote the concept of adequate Food Safety.
Languages: Excellent knowledge of French or English and a working knowledge of the other. Working knowledge in Portuguese will be an added advantage.
Annual salary: (Net of tax) US$ 80,734 at single rate US$ 86,904 with primary dependants	Post Adjustment: 65.3 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at:www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.
WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.