Scientist (Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights)

The Scientist will serve as the lead and senior technical and scientific reference in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, overseeing research agendas, coordinating research activities, synthesizing evidence, and building partnerships to advance health and rights in this field. The role involves leadership in research management, policy development, and fundraising within the WHO Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent and Ageing Health.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead and senior technical and scientific reference in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights among the peer community, Member States, HRPUN cosponsors and other UN Agencies, WHO Regional and Country Offices, and other stakeholders and provide authoritative advice when requested.
• Oversee, develop and implement a research agenda and research priorities informed by global health challenges, scientific expertise, recommendations of HRP advisory bodies, input from Member States and cosponsoring agencies, colleagues, managers and other stakeholders.
• Ensure the development and establishment of strategic and operational plans for research and human capital development in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Lead and oversee research activities including conceptualization and development of research protocols, recruitment of national partner research institutions, production of research agreements, organization of scientific meetings, coordination of training workshops, conducting research site monitoring visits, collaborations with data management organizations, oversight of research networks, analysis, write-up and publication of results, and evaluation of processes and results.
• Coordinate the strengthening of the capacity of research centres to ensure high-quality research compliant with WHO scientific and ethical standards.
• Synthesize evidence, carry out and commission systematic reviews of the literature, and contribute to evidence-based clinical and managerial guidelines.
• Prepare technical progress reports to governing and advisory bodies, WHO reporting requirements, and donors.
• Ensure adequate publication and lead communications activities to strengthen dissemination, adaptation and use of WHO and HRP outputs by WHO Member States.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with governments, NGOs, private sector, researchers, and other stakeholders to generate and use evidence for increased access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Lead fundraising activities for increased financial support in this area of work.
• Carry out other tasks as required by the Unit Head and Director.

Requirements

• Advanced level university degree in public health, epidemiology, or another field that contributes to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Ph.D. in a field related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights is desirable.
• At least 10 years of direct experience in international research and research management relating to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, including experience in low- and middle-income countries.
• At least 5 years of direct experience in leading research projects in adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
• At least 7 years of direct experience in developing policies and/or implementing programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Working experience in a UN agency or an international nongovernmental organization in low- and middle-income countries is desirable.
• Expert knowledge of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights and its public health aspects.
• Strong research leadership, analytical and scientific writing skills, as evidenced by a track record of peer-review scientific publications in the area of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Fundraising knowledge and skills, as evidenced by previous success in mobilizing resources.
• Strong communication and diplomatic skills.
• Expert knowledge of English is essential.
• Expert knowledge of French is desirable.
• Intermediate knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.

Skills

• Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health
• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• International Research
• Research Management
• Research Leadership
• Scientific Writing
• Policy Development
• Programme Implementation
• Fundraising
• Resource Mobilization
• Health Policy
• Research Coordination
• Evidence Synthesis
• Partnership Building
• Peer-Review Publication
• UN Agency Experience
• Low- and Middle-Income Countries Experience

Languages

English, French