PAHO/16/FT222 Title: Advisor, Neglected Infectious Diseases and

PAHO/16/FT222 Title: Advisor, Neglected Infectious Diseases and

Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/16/FT222
Date: 8 April 2016
Original published date: 8 April 2016
Title: Advisor, Neglected Infectious Diseases and Leprosy
Application Deadline: 10 September 2016
Grade: P4
Duty Station: Brasilia, Brazil
Contract type: Fixed-term Appointment
Duration of contract: Two years, first year probationary period.
Organization unit: AM Americas (AM) /
AMCO Countries (AM_ACO)
PAHO Representative (PWR/BRA)/Communicable Diseases
and Health Analysis/Tropical and Vector-born Diseases
(CHA/VT)
.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :
The Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis Department 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 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 direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR), and the general and technical supervision of the Unit
Chief, Neglected, Tropical and Vector-borne Diseases Unit (CHA/VT), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited
to the following assigned duties:
a) Advise, plan, develop, implement, coordinate and follow up and monitor the Organization's program of work on Neglected
Infectious Diseases (NIDs) elimination and control, with special attention to leprosy in the country;
b) Provide and develop technical recommendations on NIDs; identify and disseminate best practices; monitor and evaluate
progress on elimination and control of NIDs in the Region; interact to reconcile and negotiate issues of high political sensitivity, of
commercial nature or impacting civil society;
c) Advise and implement the World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolutions on elimination and control of Neglected Infectious
Diseases (NID's), WHA44.9 and WHA51.15 on Elimination of leprosy and WHA50.29 on elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis as a
public health problem; WHA51.19 on Elimination of Blinding Trachoma, WHAA54.19 on Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted
helminth infections; WHA65.21 on Elimination of schistosomiasis; WHA66.12 on prevention control, elimination and eradication of
neglected tropical diseases (NIDs); WHO´s NTD Roadmap 2012-2020; PAHO's Plan of Action for the Elimination of Neglected
Infectious Diseases and post-elimination actions; 2016-2022, WHO's Global Leprosy Strategy 2016-2020;
d) Provide technical advice to support Member States on the preparation of national and sub national integrated plans and
programs to implement strategies, standards, guidelines and procedures to achieve the goal of eliminating leprosy,
onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma and expanding control of soil-transmitted helminthiases as public
health problems, as well as consolidating the elimination of leprosy at sub-national levels;
e) Work within the management model of PWR to provide technical cooperation on NIDs;
f) Collaborate with Country Offices and national staff counterparts in promoting and mobilizing resources to facilitate the
elimination and control of all NIDs under the scope of WHA Resolutions on Neglected Tropical diseases and PAHO´s Directing
Council Resolutions on Control or Elimination of Neglected Infectious Diseases, at the national, sub-regional and local level of the
health services delivery systems;
g) Develop and disseminate strategies to facilitate the development and strengthening of laboratories to support diagnosis,
program monitoring and impact assessments for all NIDs under the scope of WHA Resolutions on Neglected Tropical Diseases
and PAHO´s Directing Council Resolutions on Control or Elimination of Neglected Infectious Diseases;
h) Collaborate in the preparation of the Office's Biennial Work Plan (BWP) and the execution of international cooperation projects,
including the analysis of political, technical and socioeconomic realities;
i) When called upon to directly supervise staff, establish clear work objectives, conduct timely and effective performance
appraisals, provide coaching and feedback, and support staff development opportunities;
j) 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, epidemiology, and infectious
diseases or a related field.
Desirable: Specialized training in communicable disease control with emphasis in neglected tropical diseases or infectious
diseases such as onchocerciasis, leprosy, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and helmintic infections will be an asset.
Skills:
-- Intra-institutional Action: Leads team efforts toward full understanding of the policies the organization must operate within as
well as the Standard of Conduct for the International Civil Service. Leads employees and co-workers toward operating in a fair,
consistent and equitable manner, and displays such behavior by example. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of
Ethics of the Organization.
-- Analysis, Synthesis, and Forecasting: After analyzing situations on the basis of the available evidence and knowledge, leads
one's area of responsibility toward individual and collective actions. Encourages the importance of continual analysis. Verifies and
promotes that action is taken in situations that will require future intervention, based on ongoing analysis. Leads others in
decisions needed to implement required actions. Is capable of anticipating the implications of analyzed situations between one
and two years ahead.
-- Teamwork: Embraces and leads consensual decision-making, that is, leading the fulfillment of team decisions, even when they
may not fully coincide with one's own opinions or proposals. Knows how to manage difficult team situations and promotes
consensus building. Takes responsibility for the team's successes and failures.
-- Devising the budget for interventions and cost optimization: Demonstrates initiative and managerial capacity in obtaining
alternative sources of financing and in mobilizing extrabudgetary resources for interventions. Acquires adequate funding, based
upon the resources allocated in intervention plans.
-- Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions: Selects priority ideas for executing the
interventions after anticipating their potential problems and solutions. Participates in the preparation of strategic plans, providing
input about their impact, quality, critical points, and risks.
-- Leadership: Uses complex strategies to promote team morale and productivity. Obtains needed personnel resources and
information for the team. Makes sure the practical needs of the team are met.
-- Knowledge Management: Supports and develops networked and community working. Identifies, develops and nurtures
networks and communities. Identifies and builds on working networks that enable knowledge and information flow. Designs and
implements knowledge and information services. Enables utilization of knowledge and information sources. Delivers relevant
knowledge and information in most appropriate form. Participates in and learns from networked and community approaches.
-- Resource Mobilization: Works in an objective manner to obtain and apportion resources (financial and non-financial) according
to need. Supports and advises technical areas to enable best use of resources are aligned with the mission and vision of the
Organization. Is able to work in a multicultural environment. Is flexible and has the ability to work well under pressure. Is able to
give feedback to partners within and outside the organization about the use of the resources and the results acquired.
Technical Expertise
- Theoretical knowledge and practical expertise at the highest level in all aspects related to prevention and control of
communicable diseases with emphasis in neglected infectious diseases; technical competence in the area of neglected infectious
disease elimination and control programs.
- Technical expertise in the development of programs, plans and projects, including training, strengthening of information systems
and increasing the participation of states and municipalities.
- Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation interventions and in the development of criteria and instruments
for evaluating program interventions and performance.
- Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation program and activities, including
budget programming and control.
- Ability to analyze current surveillance systems and possess the capability to develop and plan innovative and appropriate
solutions for improvement.
- Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrate ability to identify,
assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendation on key political, technical and administrative issues.
- 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.
IT Skills
Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel,
PowerPoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as SAS, SPSS, EpiInfo, Microsoft
SharePoint and Project will be an asset. Knowledge of software for mapping, GIS and/or statistical analysis will be an asset
Experience:
Nine years of combined national and international experience working in epidemiology and disease prevention and control
programs, including practical and managerial experience in the operational aspects of prevention and control of leprosy.
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.
Additional Information:
PAHO 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 PERSONAL HISTORY FORM 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
ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
US $69,032 at single rate
US $74,130 with primary dependants
Post Adjustment: 37.6 % 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.
This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's eRecruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline
stated in the vacancy announcement.
WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under
serious consideration will be contacted.
Off-line applications should be sent to:
ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY ON-LINE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS POSITION.
PAHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.