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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 Department of Health Systems and Services (HSS) is responsible for promoting, coordinating, and implementing the Organization’s technical cooperation in health systems and services development to achieve Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage (Universal Health), based on the Primary Health Care approach. HSS promotes evidence-based policies, strategies and plans to transform national health systems to improve equity and resilience, as health systems move towards the achievement of Universal Health, strengthening governance and stewardship, increasing and improving health financing and social protection, and supporting the development of integrated networks of health services based on a highly resolutive first level of care. HSS strengthens national capacity in the organization of people-centered health services, integrating the healthy life course approach, ensuring quality of care and patient safety, and the effective deployment and management of human resources.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the Director, Health Systems and Services (HSS) and the direct supervision of the Unit Chief, Life Course (HSS/HL), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

1.    Provide technical advice and support for the development of technical knowledge, evidence and best practices that contribute to the strengthening, advancement and integration of programs based on the life course approach at the primary health care (PHC) and community levels;

2.    Provide technical guidance for the development of integrated strategic actions for the improvement of health within the continuum of care by addressing the needs of the individual and their interactions with primary health, levels of care, programs, and interventions, while taking into account the multiethnic diversity and inequities in the health of populations throughout the life course;

3.    Cooperate and actively contribute to the development of technical guidelines and best practice approaches based on the life course approach for optimizing health trajectories, disease management, promoting human agency, and enabling favorable environments and interventions, including those related to social determinants of health and risk management;

4.    Provide technical support for the integration of sensory health (visual and eye care; hearing and ear care; oral health and men’s health) across the continuum of care and based on life course; identify opportunities for collaboration internally and externally for optimizing health trajectory, promoting health and prevention, as well as operationalizing the life course approach primary healthcare and at the community level;

5.    Develop and implement policies and programs for comprehensive sensory health and oral health programs and prevention of conditions causing impairment in hearing, vision and oral conditions in countries in the region; assist countries in collecting, monitoring, evaluating health risks and interventions at primary health and community level to address health care disparities across the life course;

6.    Develop manuals and handbooks to prepare primary and community health workers for the use of tools and cost-effective interventions to promote effective and efficient sensory and oral health care services and to minimize the risk of people with eye and hearing impairment and oral conditions in their own context. Facilitate communities’ participation in the prevention and disease management of sensory and oral conditions;

7.    Provide support for the development of innovative mechanisms and obtain suitable technology resources for analyzing and visualizing data in the technical areas such as sensory health, oral health, and men’s health to identify opportunities more effectively for product development, program integration and implementation in Member States;

8.    Establish a technical network to build connections with academia, professionals in technical fields, multilaterals, and UN agencies for knowledge exchange, product development, and to increase opportunities that benefit the work in countries in the region;

9.    Write scientific articles, technical reports, and other publications for dissemination at meetings, events, and via social networks;

10. Develop narrative reports detailing the progress and challenges encountered in the integration of programs, operationalizing the life course approach, and presenting progress reports to the Unit;

11. Participate in HL-efforts to enhance knowledge and competencies in the implementation of life course approaches to achieve planned outcomes;

12. Engage in resource mobilization activities, including identification of funding sources, writing grant proposals, and incorporating cost-effective mechanisms to support projects across the life course;

13. Organize technical meetings with key stakeholders to disseminate information regarding the unit’s programs and areas of responsibility;

14. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential: A bachelor’s degree in a health science and a master’s degree in public health, or any other field related to the functions of the post, from a recognized university.

Desirable: A Doctoral degree in public health 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 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 managing inter-sectoral health or social projects and programs in health across the life course.

Desirable: Experience working in different cultural contexts.

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:

·       Expert knowledge of public health, strategic and operational framework for integrating health programs using the life course approach.

·       Theoretical and practical knowledge of international technical cooperation, with emphasis on negotiation and management of international cooperation programs and projects.

·       Theoretical and practical experience in the development and management of programs and projects focusing on the health of women, men, children, adolescents, and older persons.

·       Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical and conceptual skills; demonstrated ability to assess, analyze, synthesize information and data.

·       Skill in integrating managerial and technical inputs into recommendations for decision-making processes; ability to manage multiple issues and tasks in a complex organizational environment.

·       Excellent organizational and analytic skills combined with strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

Languages:

Very good knowledge of Spanish or English with working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of Portuguese and French would be an asset.

IT Skills:

Demonstrated ability to effectively use current technology and software, as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Other IT skills and knowledge of software programs such as Tableau, Stata, Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Word are considered essential.

REMUNERATION

Annual Salary: (Net of taxes)

USD $77,326.00 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).  Other benefits include: 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension plan 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 are required to 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 post description is the official documentation for organization purposes.