PAHO/15/FT291 Title: Advisor, Health Surveillance, Disease

PAHO/15/FT291 Title: Advisor, Health Surveillance, Disease

Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/15/FT291
Date: 5 June 2015
Title: Advisor, Health Surveillance, Disease Prevention and
Control
Application Deadline: 6 July 2015
Duty Station: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Grade: P4
Contract type: Fixed-term Appointment
Organization unit: AM Americas (AM)
PAHO/WHO Representation, Haiti/Communicable Diseases
and Health Analysis (CHA)
Duration of contract: Two years, first year probationary period
.
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 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 direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative, and the technical guidance of the Director, Communicable
Diseases and Health Analysis (CHA), in collaboration with the Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and
Mental Health (NMH), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:
a) Provide technical cooperation to the Ministry of Health and other institutions of the national health system on treatment
schemes, diagnosis, patient management, identification of risk factors, methods and technologies of control of communicable
diseases; advise in the development of laboratory activities in support of communicable and non communicable diseases control;
b) Provide technical cooperation to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(IHR) including participation in the process of verification and risk assessment on reported public health events including
outbreaks;
c) Provide technical advice to improve the organization and functioning of health and vital statistics on public health surveillance
activities at all levels;
d) Advise and collaborate in the development and strengthen national epidemiological trainings for all level of health care
including competencies in field epidemiology;
e) Collaborate with and promote the surveillance, prevention and control of communicable and non communicable diseases,
including epidemic and neglected diseases, zoonosis and food safety;
f) Collaborate in the development and implementation of prevention programs and health services for the control of communicable
and non communicable diseases, with emphasis in the strengthening of local health services to carry out program activities;
g) Develop standards, guidelines, and procedures for the organization, operation, and evaluation of program activities; optimize
the use of the country's health systems and related socioeconomic infrastructure;
h) Collaborate in the application of epidemiological concepts, principles, and methods to the planning, programming,
administration, and evaluation of disease surveillance, prevention, and control programs;
i) Provide technical advice for the management of a unified information system to ensure availability of core data country files and
other information on health services; collaborate in the development of national information systems for monitoring and reporting
epidemiological surveillance of communicable and non communicable diseases;
j) Analyze, systematize, and disseminate scientific and evidence-based technical information and knowledge to support the
development of public policies and regulations for disease prevention and control;
k) Promote and coordinate research on communicable and non communicable diseases at all levels of the health system and in
academic institutions;
l) Participate in obtaining extra budgetary funds by assisting national authorities in the preparation of communicable and non
communicable diseases control project proposals for the appropriate national, bilateral and international financial agencies for
response to outbreaks, research and for health services capacity building; collaborate in the implementation, monitoring and
reporting of those projects;
m) Promote the collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the academic sector to strengthen the capacity to monitor
programmatic progress and impact of public health interventions;
n) Collaborate in the preparation of the Representation´s Biennial Work Plan (BWP) and the execution of international
cooperation, including the analysis of political, technical and socioeconomic realities.
o) Responsible for providing technical cooperation in health surveillance, information systems, vital statistic, analysis of the health
situation;
p) Cooperate and collaborate with other projects to achieve efficient coordination of activities, systematic utilization of resources
and comprehensive development of study, research and analytical capacities required for the control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases;
q) Supervise communicable and noncommunicable diseases Team within the PWR Office; establish clear work objectives,
conduct timely and effective performance appraisals, provide coaching and feedback, support staff development opportunities
and operate with a strong interprogramatic approach with emergency response, mother and child, health services and other
programs;
r) Perform other related duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
A university degree in a health-related profession and a master's degree in epidemiology, public health or related field from a
recognized university.
Skills:
-- Intrainstitutional 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.
-- 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.
-- 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.
-- Evaluation of technical cooperation interventions - Evaluates criteria for the interventions at the process, management, and
outcome level, in addition to technical cooperation evaluation plans, in keeping with the PAHO's strategic direction.
-- Resource Mobilization - Works in an objective manner to obtain an 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 and practical expertise at the highest level in all aspects related to surveillance of communicable and
noncommunicable diseases, as well as a thorough knowledge of epidemiology, prevention and control methods.
- Knowledge and practical expertise in the application of the International Health Regulations, outbreak control at national and
international level.
- Professional expertise in preventive public health, epidemiological research, diseases control and health services.
- Ability to analyze current surveillance systems and possess the capability to develop and plan innovative and appropriate
solutions for their improvement.
- Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation interventions and in the development of criteria and instruments
for evaluating program interventions.
- Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities, including
budget programming and control.
- 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, SharePoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other epidemiological software programs will be an asset.
Experience:
Nine years of combined national and international experience working in epidemiology and control programs or in the
administration of health services related to control of diseases, health analysis and statistics. Practical managerial experience in
the operational aspects of prevention and control programs including outbreak or alert and response team management.
Languages:
Very good knowledge of French with a working knowledge of English or Spanish. Knowledge of additional languages, such as
French Creole, as well as any additional official language of the Organization would be an asset.
Additional Information:
PAHO OFFERS AN ATTRACTIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGE INCLUDING AN ANNUAL NET SALARY (SUBJECT TO
MANDATORY DEDUCTIONS FOR PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS AND HEALTH INSURANCE), DEPENDENCY BENEFITS,
PENSION PLAN, HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME, AND 30 DAYS ANNUAL LEAVE. BENEFITS FOR INTERNATIONALLY
RECRUITED STAFF MAY INCLUDE TRAVEL AND REMOVAL EXPENSES ON APPOINTMENT AND SEPARATION,
ASSIGNMENT GRANT, RENTAL SUBSIDY, AND HOME LEAVE.
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. HAITI IS CURRENTLY UNDER PHASE 3 AND IS A NON-FAMILY DUTY STATION.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
US $68,294 at single rate
US $73,338 with primary dependants
Post Adjustment: 49.3 % 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.
PAHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.