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Qualifications
OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT
This requisition is for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)
The Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control, and Elimination Department (CDE) promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities directed toward the surveillance, prevention, control, and elimination of communicable diseases and zoonosis that are technically sound and appropriate for the political and socio-cultural context in which they are implemented. It strives to achieve a sustainable impact on health by providing normative guidance, furthering the implementation of evidence-based interventions, and fostering alliances that strengthen country capacity, improve the effectiveness of inter-country collaboration, and facilitate policy and decision-making processes through improved health information coverage, analysis, and quality at all levels.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Under the general supervision of the Director, Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control, and Elimination (CDE), and the direct supervision of the Unit Chief, Neglected, Tropical and Vector Vector-borne Diseases (CDE/VT), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:
Provide technical support to strengthen the capacity of Member States to implement the WHO and PAHO policies, plans, and technical recommendations to eliminate neglected infectious diseases (NIDs); provide support for the implementation of WHOยดs Neglected Tropical Diseases Roadmap 2021โ2030 and PAHOยดs โDisease Elimination Initiative: a policy for an integrated sustainable approach to communicable diseases in the Americasโ
Provide technical support and actively contribute to the development and implementation of plans, guidelines, protocols, and documents to reinforce countriesโ capacities for the elimination of NIDs in Latin American and Caribbean countries
Provide technical support for the development and follow-up of integrated, inter-sectoral, inter-programmatic, and multi-disease approaches to NID control and elimination, and their use as an entry point to combat poverty, promote sustainable development, and address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and other international and regional mandates
Provide technical support to Member States on the reporting, dissemination, and use of data using PAHO and WHO forms and procedures, including WHO Joint Form Packages for the reporting of data and Drug Donation Applications for the Member States, and support the development
Provide technical support to develop, adjust, improve, and use the Virtual Collaboration Spaces created for the regional team of NID to reinforce countriesโ capacities for analysis and use of information to support evidence-based decision-making on the elimination of NID
Conduct the collection, analysis, and dissemination of technical and scientific knowledge in the region on the elimination of NID. Provide technical support to Member States to strengthen health information systems to allow collection, analysis, and utilization of disaggregated data by age, sex, place of residence, and ethnicity to monitor changes and support decision-making on the elimination of NID
Collaborate in the organization of surveillance databases for Latin American Countries for the monitoring control and elimination of NID; analyze and develop trend analysis and recommendations of the information for decision-making purposes, dissemination of scientific knowledge to promote public health advocacy in Latin American Countries
Coordinate within the Team, the Department, and the Organization in the areas of epidemiological information systems development, developing country epidemiological profiles, databases, and maps of NID, populations affected, and social and environmental determinants of NID
Promote and support the use of innovative epidemiological surveillance tools and methods for mapping, impact assessment, and monitoring and evaluation of NID including modeling methods
Provide technical support to Member States for the implementation of NID surveillance actions (sentinel surveillance, rapid assessments, and baseline, impact, surveillance/validation surveys) that are key to documenting the elimination of NID
Provide technical support to Member States to implement integrated packages of actions to eliminate NID including One Health, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), preventive chemotherapy, and MMDP (Morbidity Management and Disabilities Prevention)
Coordinate within PAHO to provide technical cooperation on intercultural, human rights and gender equality approaches to eliminate NIDs according to PAHOโs policies and plans in these areas
Lead annual planning, implementation, and evaluation of grants supporting PAHO elimination of NID, actively involving PAHO country offices and Member States. This includes preparing annual implementation plans by country, follow-up and monitoring the implementation of activities and funding, preparing and completing reports
Coordinate with the Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control, and Elimination Department (CDE) communications team the activities to produce communication materials (country profiles, website content, social media content, fact sheets, videos, audio messages, and documents, among others) on the actions implemented in the Region for the elimination of NID
Provide technical support to Member States to compile the necessary information on the elimination of NID (compilation of dossiers) based on the established procedures of PAHO and WHO for the elimination of these diseases (e.g., validation, certification, etc.)
Plan, organize, and assist in the implementation of training workshops, and seminars, among others, held in-person or through virtual platforms. Includes collaborating for planning, implementation, and evaluation of regional forums (meetings) for NID as debate spaces with counterparts, partners, and experts to generate knowledge and information for making decisions according to the regional epidemiological profile. Includes participating in international and regional meetings and forums on NID as needed representing the Organization
Work with WHOโs Collaborating Centers, US CDC, USAID, DFATD, and other bilateral agencies, foundations, NGOs, and other partners and collaborators to support regional efforts on the elimination of NID
Perform other related duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Essential: A university degree in health science from a recognized institution.
Desirable: A masterโs degree in communicable diseases, public health, epidemiology or related field, would be an asset.
If 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). WHO, only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the IAU / UNESCO. The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator.
Experience:
Essential: Seven years of combined national and international experience working in epidemiology and public health for the control and elimination of neglected infectious diseases, including at least four years of practical experience in epidemiology, data compiling, data analysis, and monitoring and evaluation for prevention, control, and elimination of neglected infectious diseases programmatic actions.
Desirable: Technical experience in neglected infectious diseases epidemiology, at the national level, and participation in international NID control or elimination programs with a focus on epidemiology would be an asset.
SKILLS:
PAHO Competencies:
Overall attitude at work: Maintains integrity and takes a clear ethical approach and stance; demonstrates commitment to the Organizationโs mandate and promotes the values of the Organization in daily work and behavior; is accountable for work carried out in line with own role and responsibilities; is respectful towards, and trusted by, colleagues and counterparts.
Teamwork: Collaborate and cooperate with others/Deal effectively with conflict - Creates team spirit; promotes collaboration and open communication in the team; proactively supports others; welcomes team responsibilities and drives team results; promotes knowledge sharing in the team. Proactively identifies conflicts and facilitates their resolution in a respectful manner; tactfully resolves conflicts between or with others and takes action to reduce any possible tension; effectively builds a rapport with individuals and teams, establishing good personal and professional relationships, as well as minimizing risk of potential conflict.
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: Relate well to diversity in others and capitalize on such diversity - Treats all people with dignity and respect. Relates well to people with different cultures, gender, orientations, backgrounds and/or positions; examines own behavior to avoid stereotypical responses; considers issues from the perspective of others and values their diversity.
Communication: Express oneself clearly when speaking/Listen/Write effectively/Share knowledge - Foresees communication needs of audience and targets message accordingly. Facilitates open communication; encourages others to share their views openly and takes time to understand and consider their views. Writes down ideas in a clear, structured, logical and credible way; drafts and supports the development of guidelines, policies and procedures. Shares relevant information openly and ensures that the shared information is understood; considers knowledge sharing as a constructive working method and demonstrates awareness of the Organization.
Producing Results: Work efficiently and independently/Deliver quality results/Take responsibility -Prioritizes work, monitors own progress against objectives and adapts plans as required; communicates adjustments as necessary. Acts proactively and stimulates action as needed; handles problems effectively and constructively. Produces high-quality results and workable solutions that meet clientsโ needs. Works independently to produce new results and sets own time lines effectively and efficiently. Shows awareness of own role and clarifies roles of team members in relation to projectโs expected results. Makes proposals for improving processes as required and takes responsibility for own work and/or actions, as necessary. Demonstrates positive attitude in working on new projects and initiatives. Demonstrates accountability for own success, as well as for errors; learns from experience.
Moving forward in a changing environment: Propose change/Adapt to change - Actively supports Organizational change initiatives and demonstrates personal commitment to them, including when faced with new demands; proposes workable solutions to challenging situations. Engages in positive responses to a changing environment and promotes workable solutions to achieve own and teamโs results. Welcomes, and actively seeks to apply, new ideas, approaches and working methods and technologies in order to improve own and/or teamโs work processes and results; demonstrates commitment to Organizational change initiatives.
Technical Expertise:
Theoretical knowledge and technical expertise in epidemiology for control and elimination of neglected infectious diseases from the programmatic perspectives.
Strong knowledge of epidemiology methods, data gathering, compilation, and analysis for neglected infectious diseases. Includes technical expertise in monitoring and evaluation methods for the elimination of neglected infectious diseases.
Strong knowledge and understanding of public health approaches to control and eliminate neglected infectious diseases.
Proven project management skills and experience in preparing funding proposals, implementing projects, monitoring project activities and products, preparing project reports, managing projects with tight timelines, and adapting to changing and challenging project implementation conditions.
Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and tact to effectively communicate with senior-level officials, multiple stakeholders, and professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
Strong professional oral and writing skills; ability to prepare reports, presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.
Languages:
Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
IT Skills:
Demonstrated ability to effectively use current technology and software, spreadsheets, and presentations. IT skills and knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint are considered essential. IT skills and knowledge of software programs to analyze quantitative data such as SAS, SPSS, R, PowerBI, Epidat, Epinfo, Stata, or Tableau are essential. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and computational tools and software for the analysis of qualitative data would be an asset.
REMUNERATION
Annual Salary: (Net of taxes)
USD $64,121.00 post adjustment
Post Adjustment: 70.2% of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and e-Manual. For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org PAHO/WHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities. PAHO/WHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct. PAHO/WHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoing will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution. PAHO/WHO is committed to workforce diversity. PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. PAHO/WHO offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary and post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station and exchange rates (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance). ย Other benefits: 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension and health insurance scheme. Benefits for internationally recruited staff may include home leave, travel and removal expenses on appointment and separation, education grant for dependent children, assignment grant and rental subsidy. Candidates appointed to an international post with PAHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world. All applicants should complete an on-line profile to be considered for this post. Candidates will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. A written test and/or interview will be held for this post. The PD is the official documentation for organization purposes.