Medical Officer

Position details

• Vacancy number: 2604298
• Grade: P4
• Contractual arrangement: Fixed-term appointment
• Contract duration: 2 years
• Organization: HQ/HRP Special Programme for HRP PPC
• Schedule: Full-time
• Closing date: Nov 30, 2026, 1:59:00 AM

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The vision of the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care (PPC) is to advance health for all by anticipating change and integrating promotion, prevention and care across all health and disease areas to address today's greatest health burdens and tomorrow's challenges. Within PPC Division, the Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent and Ageing Health (LHR) aims to advance a more just and equitable world where human rights are upheld and every person can achieve health, realize their rights, and live with dignity across the life course by harnessing science, generating and interpreting evidence, monitoring global trends, establishing international norms, and shaping integrated systems that enable individuals to thrive from birth through older age. LHR hosts the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP) which is the main instrument within the United Nations system for identifying research priorities on sexual and reproductive health and rights; for promoting, conducting, evaluating and coordinating related interdisciplinary research; for collaborating with countries to build national capacity to conduct research; and for promoting the use of research results in policy making and sexual and reproductive health programmes. HRP is operated from the World Health Organization's Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health and Ageing Health (LHR). The Department draws on HRP research and global expertise to generate evidence, strengthen health systems, and impact lives through work to set norms and standards and develop global guidelines, and to support programme development in sexual and reproductive health and rights. More information about LHR and HRP can be found at https://www.who.int/hrp.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Provide scientific and technical leadership and expertise in contraception and fertility care, serving as a technical reference for WHO, HRP cosponsors, Member States, other UN agencies, the scientific community and other relevant stakeholders. 

• Contribute to setting research priorities and strategic directions in contraception and fertility care, including men's sexual health drawing on emerging evidence, identified knowledge gaps, recommendations of HRP advisory bodies, and priorities identified by Member States, HRP cosponsors and other stakeholders; and translate these priorities into operational research plans and programmes of work. 

• Design, lead and oversee research activities in contraception and fertility care, including protocol development; selection and engagement of research institutions; preparation and management of research agreements; coordination of multicountry and multi-institutional research networks; scientific meetings and research training; site monitoring; data management and analysis; interpretation, publication and dissemination of findings; and evaluation of research processes and outcomes. 

• Strengthen research capacity of collaborating institutions and research networks to conduct high-quality research in accordance with internationally accepted scientific, ethical and research governance standards. 

• Synthesize and assess evidence relevant to contraception and fertility care, including through systematic and other evidence reviews, and contribute scientific evidence to the development and updating of WHO norms, standards, clinical recommendations and implementation guidance. 

• Provide scientific and technical guidance to Member States and partners on contraception and fertility care, working in close collaboration with WHO Regional and Country Offices and relevant technical programmes to support the interpretation, adaptation and application of WHO and HRP evidence and guidance. 

• Build and maintain strategic scientific and technical collaborations with governments, research institutions, WHO Collaborating Centres, UN agencies, civil society, professional organizations, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders to generate evidence and support its responsible use to improve equitable access to contraception and fertility care within the broader context of sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

• Support the dissemination and uptake of WHO and HRP research and normative products relating to contraception and fertility care, working with technical teams, the HRP communications team and the WHO Department of Communications to ensure accurate and effective communication of scientific findings and recommendations. 

• Prepare high-quality scientific, technical and programme reports and inputs for WHO and HRP governing and advisory bodies, donors and other stakeholders, in accordance with WHO and HRP requirements. 

• Contribute technical inputs to resource mobilization and partnership development, including the preparation of scientific and programmatic components of funding proposals and engagement with existing and prospective funding partners. 

• Perform other related duties as required by the Unit Head and Director.
   

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education
Essential:
Advanced university degree in medicine, with specialization in obstetrics and gynecology, or reproductive health

Experience
Essential:

• At least 7 years of experience in research and research management relating to sexual and reproductive health, including exposure at the international level.

• At least 5 years of direct experience of coordinating research projects.

Desirable:
Working experience in a UN agency or an international non-governmental organization in low- and middle-income countries.
 

Skills

• Expert knowledge of contraception and fertility care and its public health aspects.

• Strong research, analytical and scientific writing skills, as evidenced by a strong track record of peer-review scientific publication in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

• Strong skills in development and dissemination of authoritative scientific guidance Fundraising knowledge and skills.

• Strong communication and diplomatic skills.
   

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

• Communication

• Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond 

• Ensuring the effective use of resources
   

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

 

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 86,027 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 6000 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Staff members separated due to the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will receive special consideration according to the applicable regulatory framework.

• 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 eManual.

• The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. 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.

• 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 may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.

• 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.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to a fixed-term position in the International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical Mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• 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 shws@who.int.

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

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