Senior Programme Manager WOAH Observatory – Data Integration Department – WOAH HQ Paris, France
World Organisation for Animal Health
Paris
Context
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health, veterinary public health and animal welfare worldwide, as well as for ensuring transparency of the global animal disease situation. More information can be found on WOAH’s website: www.woah.org
WOAH sets international standards to support Members in their efforts to prevent and control animal diseases, strengthen Veterinary Services and Aquatic Animal Health Services, and facilitate safe international trade.
WOAH has established a dedicated programme to monitor the implementation of WOAH standards: the Observatory. Monitoring, identifying and analysing challenges faced by Members enables WOAH to improve the standard setting process, ensure that standards remain relevant and fit for purpose, and to develop a more strategic focus to its capacity building activities. Two categories of deliverables are expected from the Observatory: Monitoring reports and thematic studies.
The first monitoring report, providing a broad overview of how WOAH Members have implemented WOAH standards, was released in early 2023. Meanwhile, the first thematic study is currently in progress, focusing on a more in-depth examination of standards pertaining specifically to zoning.
Positioning and reporting
Under the authority of the WOAH’s Deputy Director General (International Standards and Science), and the direct supervision of the Head of the Data Integration Department (DID).
Job purpose
The Programme Manager will lead and coordinate the work of the WOAH Observatory team within DID. He/she will be responsible for ensuring the coherence of the programme evolution and for coordinating activities of the various working lines of the programme. He/she will directly contribute to the development, application, and continuous enhancement of monitoring frameworks aimed at gauging the implementation of WOAH international standards. For example, he/she will contribute to the preparation of the Observatory analytical reports.
To do so, he/she will foster strong collaboration with various teams within WOAH to compile evidence of how well WOAH Members adhere to WOAH standards. In close collaboration with other relevant Departments, he/she will be responsible for the preparation of advocacy documents related to the Observatory programme and to the benefits of implementing WOAH standards.
The successful candidate will also have the responsibility of actively collaborating with WOAH Members and key external stakeholders, such as the World Trade Organization, OECD, IPPC, Codex, and donors.
The primary objective of this engagement is to leverage synergies arising from activities related to the WOAH Observatory. This will involve effective communication, consultation, and the coordination of collaborative projects.
Missions and activities
Programme Management:
• Oversee and coordinate the different activities within the Observatory programme and maintain the coherence and effectiveness of the programme’s development.
• Visualise the global picture and implications of the programme and foster collaborative teamwork to ensure the timely achievement of milestones.
• Generate reporting materials to provide regular updates to WOAH management and other stakeholders.
• Oversee the management of data associated with standards implementation (including data mapping, confidentiality and access rights, management rules).
Lead and Contribute to the Workplan of the Observatory
• Refinement and evolution of monitoring frameworks to gain deeper insights into the adoption of WOAH international standards. Apply the monitoring framework by identifying and collecting data from relevant data sources and calculating indicators.
• Data collection, visualisation and analysis, with the assistance of other WOAH Departments.
• Analytical reports on the implementation of WOAH standards
• Identification of challenges to the implementation of WOAH standards and ways of tackling these findings.
• Support to colleagues responsible for the development of the Observatory Portal.
Stakeholder Engagement:
• Identify, initiate and maintain engagement with key stakeholders
• Create effective mechanisms for engaging with Members and key internal and external stakeholders. The goal is to ensure that project outputs are delivered timely by facilitating thorough consultation and information gathering.
• Document the structure, methods and tools of the engagement process
• Carry out consultations when required
Support Advocacy and Representation
• Contribute to the preparation of documents, presentations and briefing materials to promote the work of the Observatory and the benefits of implementing WOAH standards.
• Assist in the preparation of events or expert meetings.
Contribute to other activities of the WOAH Observatory as required
Qualifications and Experience
Required qualifications and experience
• Advanced graduate degree (Master’ degree, DVM or equivalent) in veterinary sciences, international affairs, public health, agriculture, or related disciplines or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 10 years of proven professional experience, including 5 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in managing important projects or programmes, including experience with management of budgets, timelines and reporting requirements.
• Senior-level assignments within international organisations, national veterinary, public health authority, environment or equivalent.
• Proven experience in quantifying the level of implementation of national and/or international policies and/or regulation.
• Proven experience in the production of transversal analytical reports.
• Comprehensive experience in building a strong network with key collaborators/decision makers, implementing solutions in partnership with governments, NGOs, national veterinary institutions and/or other partner.
Additional experience (asset)
• Experience in the implementation of WOAH international standards, including knowledge of and experience in international trade.
• Experience working with multilateral frameworks and intergovernmental institutions relevant to animal health, animal welfare, and/or veterinary public health.
• Professional experience gained in multicultural working environments, preferably in multiple geographies across the world, working with government, civil society, international organisation or relevant private sector entity.
Requirements:
Technical skills:
• Seeing the global picture as well as highly detail orientated.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and business needs, and proactive in identifying areas of need and generating action plans.
• Proactive problem-solver skilled in leading partners toward creative and flexible solutions.
• Excellent coordination skills – Commitment to fostering a positive and supportive work environment amongst all team members with demonstrated ability to act as liaison across matrixed teams and organizations
• Demonstrates commanding knowledge of, and ability to work across multiple project management systems, accompanied by knowledge in PowerPoint, Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerBI (or equivalent) and other web-based software applications.
• Strong skills for the preparation and presentation of executive-level information.
• Proficiency in data-driven decision-making and fluency in measurement and evaluation.
• A strategic practitioner with a proven ability in working effectively with senior stakeholders and as part of a senior management team.
• Ability to work in a very diverse environment, with people from a wide range of different cultures and backgrounds (public and/or private sector).
• Excellent spoken and written command of English.
• Knowledge of other official languages of WOAH (Spanish or French) would an asset.
Interpersonal skills:
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in positions requiring communication with a broad audience representing diverse cultures.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multinational and multicultural environment.
• Deep organizational and analytical skills and ability to manage dozens of live requests and processes at any time to ensure progress, tracking and success
• Capacity to propose innovative ideas.
• Self-motivated worker and keen on learning and development.
• Excellent organisation skills and ability to meet deadlines.
Team player who can integrate well into the department and is willing to commit to supporting the development of all Observatory outputs.
Working conditions
– Type of contract: Fixed-term contract.
– Duration: 2 years renewable.
– Location: WOAH Headquarters 12 rue de prony 75017 Paris, France.
– Salary: From 4200 to 4500€ net per month commensurate with qualifications and experience), exempt of French income tax + annual performance bonus + plus allowances based on eligibility.
The post is a full-time position based at the WOAH Headquarters in Paris and requires long hours in a seated position at a computer. It can entail missions abroad.
General Information
WOAH places high value on a multicultural and positive work environment.
WOAH is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates, irrespective of their ethnic origin, gender, opinions or beliefs.
This is a full-time position as an international civil servant based at the WOAH Headquarters in Paris (France) that is available immediately.
If you are interested in the position, please complete your application online at the latest by 10 November 2023 clicking on the link below.