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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 and Environmental Determinants of Heath Department (CDE) promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities directed toward the surveillance, prevention, control, and elimination of communicable diseases, zoonosis considering the environmental determinants of health, with efforts technically sound and appropriate for the political and sociocultural 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 and Environmental Determinants of Health (CDE), and the direct supervision of the Unit Chief (CDE/VT), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

1. Advise and provide technical support for the development, planning and implementation of Chagas, Skin-NIDs and neglected tropical mycoses activities, with emphasis on surveillance, prevention, control, elimination, and clinical management of cases;
2. Support Member States in implementing/expanding vector control interventions for Chagas, in coordination with PAHO’s Advisor on Public Health Entomology;
3. As technical secretariat, coordinate and support implementation of all recommendations of the Subregional Chagas Initiatives: INCOSUR, IPCAM, IPA, AMCHA;
4. Provide technical support to Chagas program activities, particularly implementing efforts towrds disease elimination and interruption of transmission;
5. Advise and support resource mobilization efforts for Chagas, skin-NIDs and NTD-mycoses prevention, control and elimination efforts, including project proposals for these diseases;
6. Advise efforts to reinforce Chagas, skin-NIDs and neglected tropical mycoses surveillance within existing systems in Member States and territories, including management, updating, and enhancement of regional databases for these diseases;
7. Provide technical support in prevention of blood borne, congenital, transfusional, and food-borne Chagas infections, including methods for quality-assured screening, diagnosis and treatment;
8. Participate in capacity building of human resources for Chagas disease, skin-NIDs and NTD-mycoses prevention, control and management, including training in close collaboration with health-related technical and professional educational entities;
9. Collaborate with other CDE Programs, specifically VT/NID, on implementation of integrated activities in alignment with PAHO resolutions on the control and elimination of NIDs and other poverty-related diseases;
10. Support the strengthening of country capacities for the prevention and integrated management of chronic morbidity, disability and mental health disorders caused by neglected infectious diseases;
11. Contribute to the development of technical documents, reports, presentations and publications and collaborate on the planning and organization of meetings, conferences and strategic events;
12. Participate in the preparation of work plans, technical and financial reports;
13. Collaborate, support, and strengthen coordination among donors, partners, WHO Collaborating Centers and PAHO to advance technical cooperation to Member States committed to the elimination of NIDs;
14. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential: A university degree in a health-related profession and a master’s degree in public health with specialized training in infectious diseases, tropical diseases, and/or vector borne diseases, or in any other area related to the functions of the post from a recognized university.

Desirable: A medical degree, or graduate training in clinical/patient management, or a doctorate degree in communicable, tropical, or infectious diseases’ epidemiology would be an asset.

In the event that 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) required for this position.  WHO, only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  The list can be accessed through the link:  http://www.whed.net/.  PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process.

Experience:

Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience in public health and program management for the prevention, control and elimination of infectious or tropical diseases (with emphasis on vector borne diseases). This should include public health and risk assessment; application of epidemiological principles and methods to disease surveillance, health care planning, training and research. Must have experience collaborating with academia and research-based institutions, and other relevant sectors in the international public health arena. Experience should also include development of human resources and provision of technical cooperation to governments and agencies working in the prevention, management, control, and elimination of Chagas disease in the Americas.

Desirable: Experience working with bilateral/multilateral agencies, UN system agencies, banks, national and international philanthropic institutions, and the private sector, as well as community-based and faith-based non-government organizations, 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 Organization’s 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.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences:  Relate well to diversity in others and capitalize on such diversity – Relates well to diversity in others and capitalizes 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.
• Teamwork: Collaborate and cooperate with others – Works collaboratively with team members and counterparts to achieve and build rapport; helps others when asked; accepts joint responsibility for the team’s successes and shortcomings.
• Communication: Write effectively/Share knowledge – 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 – Monitors own and others’ work in a systematic and effective way, ensuring required resources and outputs. Aligns projects with Organization’s mission and objectives. Consistently solves own and team’s problems effectively as needed. Proactively engages in projects and initiatives, accepting demanding goals, in line with Organizational Strategies and Program of Work. Demonstrates accountability for work of team and sets an example, while explicitly articulating lessons learnt for own and team’s benefit.
• Ensuring effective use of resources:   Strategize and set clear objectives/Monitor progress and use resources well – Sets specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely objectives for own team and/or the Organization; systematically analyses and anticipates priority projects for own team and allocates necessary resources to achieve them; identifies the cross-Organizational resources needed for large- scale projects in line with key Organizational objectives.  Anticipates foreseeable changes and adapts own and team’s projects in the face of unforeseen circumstances and/ or challenges; creates measures and criteria to monitor progress of overall projects against key Organizational objectives; creates cost-effective solutions for the Organization.
• Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond:  Develop networks and partnerships and encourage collaboration – Builds and negotiates strategic partnerships and alliances with a wide range of key stakeholders to ensure Organizational results and success.  Creates innovative opportunities for promoting synergies inside and outside the Organization to improve Organizational success.

Technical Expertise:

• Theoretical and practical expertise at the highest level in relevant aspects of prevention, clinical management, control and elimination of communicable diseases with an emphasis on vector borne diseases, mainly American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease).
• Thorough knowledge of scientific principles and methods, and of modern and effective tools and administrative procedures for the prevention, management, control, and elimination of Chagas disease.
• Technical competence and leadership qualities on the principles and application of public policy, standard practices, methods, and techniques in the field of communicable diseases, mainly vector borne diseases.
• Technical and managerial competence in public health programs and resource mobilization, including grant writing.
• Strong analytical and technical skills to critically write and /or interpret reports and scientific publications, and lead program monitoring,  evaluation and implementation.
• Strong interpersonal skills; diplomacy, tact and ability to effectively communicate with senior level officials, multiple stakeholders government officials, community-based, faith-based and civil society non-for profit organizations; and professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the ability to develop reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for     consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.
• Strong public health knowledge of the situation in countries of the Americas, particularly Chagas endemic countries.

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, as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and management information systems. Other IT skills and knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Office, OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint, etc., are considered essential.

REMUNERATION

Monthly Salary: (Net of taxes)

US$6,443.83 (Salary non-negotiable)

Post Adjustment:

US$4,091.83  This amount 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 identify candidates to fill other similar short-term professional positions, at the same grade level.
• Candidates will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.  A written test and/or interview will be held for this position as a form of screening.
• The post description is the official documentation for organization purposes.
• 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 committed to workforce diversity.
• PAHO 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 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 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 has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are encouraged.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this post.