Special Services Agreement (SSA) - Health Programme Officer, Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

## Special Services Agreement (SSA) - Health Programme Officer, Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - Organization:WHO - World Health Organization - Country:Papua New Guinea - Office:WHO Port Moresby Special Services Agreement (SSA) Health Programme Officer, Papua New Guinea Contractual Arrangement : Special Services Agreement (SSA) Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 12 months Job Posting: Aug 26, 2026, 5:57:37 AM Objective of the Position The objective of the position is to provide technical assistance, operational coordination and field-level support to the Provincial Health Authorities. The SSA's work will focus on strengthening primary health care through two equally important and complementary pillars: (1) immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance; and (2) integrated primary health care. Papua New Guinea faces a persistent burden of communicable diseases, alongside low routine immunization coverage that increases the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. Sub-national health systems require consistent, hands-on operational support to improve Primary health care/MCH service delivery, particularly given the challenges of managing drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), which accounts for nearly 87% of the burden in the WHO Western Pacific Region. The country also continues to face a high burden of HIV/AIDS and malaria, and NTDs, which remain in major public health challenges. Furthermore, reaching rural and remote populations with primary health care services (MCH, nutrition) through integrated outreach and mobile service delivery outlets require close coordination at the district and facility levels. Summary of Assigned Duties The incumbent will work closely with the WHO Country Office, National Department of Health, provincial and district health authorities, and other relevant partners to support effective delivery of health interventions at sub-national and facility levels, particularly in rural and remote settings. Pillar 1: Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance Support the designated PHA officers to improve vaccination coverage, surveillance and response by: Turning evidence into provincial action: Help PHA immunization and surveillance officers analyze coverage including zero-dose and dropout, surveillance indicators and supply data; identify priority districts and facilities; and agree practical corrective actions. Applying national and WHO standards: Help teams use approved guidance for microplanning (including for routine immunization, PIRI, and other campaigns), surveillance, specimen handling, supervision, AEFI, cold-chain and vaccine management. Convening action around bottlenecks: Ensure relevant PHA, districts, and facility staff, communities and partners are brought together regularly to identify and resolve gaps affecting outreach, reporting, referrals, vaccine availability and surveillance performance. Mobilizing technical support and building capacity: Identify technical competency gaps among PHA officers and facilitate strategic linkage with relevant NDOH and WHO teams, and strengthen operational capabilities through supportive supervision, coaching and practical on-the-job learning. Tracking agreed improvements: Maintain a simple action tracker with responsible PHA officers, monitor provincial milestones, document effective local practices, and escalate unresolved constraints through established channels. Pillar 2: Integrated Primary Health Care Support designated PHA programme, district and facility officers to improve access to coordinated essential services by: Using evidence to identify PHC gaps: Help PHA teams analyse service availability, utilization, referral, workforce, outreach and commodity information to identify underserved populations and priority operational gaps. Supporting integrated provincial planning and implementation: Help existing programme officers translate identified gaps into practical district, facility and outreach plans for the essential PHC package, without taking over programme management. Convening programmes and partners around agreed results: Facilitate joint planning and problem-solving among PHA programmes, districts, facilities, communities, government authorities, partners and WHO teams, with clear actions, identified responsible officers and review dates. Promoting consistent standards and integrated delivery: Help teams apply national and WHO guidance to organize coordinated facility, outreach, referral and follow-up services for maternal and child health, nutrition, TB, HIV, malaria, NTDs and health promotion. Catalyzing solutions to implement bottlenecks: Help responsible PHA officers analyze and address problems involving missed services, weak referrals, incomplete reporting, medicine and commodity shortages, and other delivery constraints; mobilize specialist support and escalate issues that cannot be resolved locally. Monitoring results and sharing local learning: Track agreed service improvements with PHA officers, document workable provincial solutions, and share lessons with NDOH, WHO and other PHAs. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages Educational Qualifications Essential:A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree or equivalent) or a diploma in Public Health, Nursing, Medicine, Health Management, Social Sciences, or a related discipline from a recognized institution. Candidates with strong academic standing (e.g. upper second class/top quintile GPA) are strongly encouraged to apply. Desirable:A postgraduate qualification (Master's degree or equivalent) in Public Health, Health Management, Epidemiology, Health Systems, Development Studies, or a related health discipline. Essential:Candidates may qualify through either of the following pathways: Pathway A (Emerging Leaders): A recently completed bachelor's degree (within the last 3 years) with strong academic standing, demonstrated leadership in student, community, or volunteer health activities, and a clear motivation to serve rural and provincial communities in Papua New Guinea. Pathway B (Experienced Practitioners): At least three years of relevant work experience in public health, community health, or development programme implementation, preferably at the provincial level, including exposure to programme coordination, field logistics, or facility-level support. For both pathways, candidates should demonstrate the ability to work with PHAs, health facilities, or partners, and familiarity with basic data or reporting tools. Desirable:For recent graduates: internships, attachments, or volunteer engagements with PHAs, NDOH, UN agencies, INGOs, or community health programmes will be considered equivalent to formal work experience. - Strong organizational, coordination and time management skills - Ability to monitor implementation progress and follow up on multiple actions simultaneously. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail. - Good written and verbal communication skills - Ability to maintain excellent interpersonal working relations and work collaboratively with government, WHO teams, and other stakeholders - Data and technical literacy (proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) - Demonstrated motivation, energy, and commitment to contributing to health system improvement in Papua New Guinea. - Willingness to be mentored and to work in a twinned arrangement with a Technical Staff or International Affiliate of WHO - Familiarity with the structure, workflows, and reporting lines of the PNG National Department of Health (NDOH) and PHAs. - Basic understanding of, or exposure to, routine health information and logistics tools used in PNG, such as eNHIS - Foundational knowledge of routine immunization guidelines, vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) surveillance markers, or primary health care priorities (TB, HIV, malaria). Essential: Expert knowledge of spoken and written English (written and spoken). Duty Station