JPO - Health Emergency Officer; Medical Evacuations

Job Description

This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to nationals of the Netherlands. For the minimum qualification requirements see the website of Nedworc Foundation. Maximal age limit is 32 years as of 31 December of the year of application. Please read the criteria and FAQ section carefully before applying.

The Junior Professional Officer will contribute to providing technical support in the implementation of WHO programmes in emergency preparedness and response, assisting health authorities and other relevant stakeholders in strengthening national preparedness, response and core capacities. This contributes to the overall mission of the WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) programme – to help countries prevent, prepare for, detect, respond to and recover from outbreaks and emergencies, while coordinating international action in these domains.

Upon completion of the assignment the JPO will have/ will be able to:

• Gain a comprehensive knowledge of health emergency response in humanitarian settings, within the framework of WHO’s Health Emergencies (WHE) Programme – including the Organization’s mandate, functioning at the three levels (country, regional, headquarters), and engagement with state and non‑state actors.
• Develop technical, operational and tactical proficiency in planning, coordinating and implementing WHO‑supported medical evacuation (medevac) operations for critically ill and injured patients, ensuring safe, timely and equitable access to care.
• Strengthen interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills, and develop the ability to collaborate effectively with national counterparts, UN partners and diverse stakeholders, while exercising sound judgment and problem‑solving in complex and high‑pressure environments.
• Acquire expertise in data analysis, monitoring and reporting for health emergency operations, including the ability to track access constraints, assess outcomes and contribute to evidence‑based decision‑making, advocacy and resource mobilization.

• WHO induction on WHE structure, Incident Management System (IMS) and emergency response cycle; orientation on WHO’s coordination role within the Inter‑Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and Health Cluster system; participation in briefings with WHO’s technical units, ministries of health and humanitarian partners.
• On‑the‑job training in WHO medevac workflows, including patient identification, triage, referral documentation and liaison with host countries and authorities; direct involvement in logistics coordination, clearance processes and cross‑border movements; learning from field mentors and simulations on emergency coordination, patient safety and continuity of care.
• Participation in inter‑agency and Health Cluster coordination meetings and bilateral negotiations; mentoring and coaching in leadership, communication and conflict‑resolution techniques; hands‑on experience representing WHO in partner discussions and operational coordination.
• Training in WHO data systems and analytical tools (HeRAMS, Power BI, WHE dashboards); guided preparation of situation reports, donor updates and analytical briefs; coaching in operational data visualisation, performance monitoring and impact evaluation.

The work objectives and the expected outcome are discussed and agreed upon by the JPO and supervisor within the first four weeks of assignment. They are evaluated every six months by the supervisor against WHO’s Performance Management and Development System (ePMDS+). There will be regular meetings with the supervisor throughout the assignment. In addition, team meetings will be held on different aspects of the work.

Learning activities and developmental opportunities form part of the ePMDS+.

The Junior Professional Officer will support the coordination, management and technical leadership of WHO’s medical evacuation operations for…