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Advisor, Blood Transfusion and Organ Transplants Grade: P4

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :
Develop sound technical cooperation programs that develop and strengthen primary health care based health systems, health policies, health services and programs, technologies and medicines, health investment and financing, health research and development of human resources for health. Support country and territory capacities, facilitate inter-country networks and cooperation, and implement and evaluate inter-sectorial approaches.
Description of duties:
Under the general supervision of the Manager, Health Systems based on Primary Health Care (HSS) and the direct supervision of the Senior Advisor, Medicines and Technologies (HSS/MT), the incumbent is responsible for, but not limited to, the following assigned duties:
a) Provide technical advice and cooperation to Member States in all aspects of policy, quality and regulation, organization of services, quality and patient safety relating to blood and blood transfusion services and organ transplants.
b) Provide technical advice and support the development of national policies, plans and strategies to improve access, quality, safety and rational use of blood and blood products; strengthen national capacity in planning and organization of blood transfusion service networks within the national health systems to optimize availability and minimize waste.
c) Promote voluntary donation of blood as a means to increase access and improve quality; support the development of national and regional strategies promoting voluntary donation and to document and disseminate best practices; collaborate with Member States in the estimation of needs in blood transfusion services.
d) Strengthen national regulatory capacity for blood and blood products in the production and use of hemoderivatives, in accordance with international standards.
e) Promote the development of national and regional hemovigilance systems, universal testing of donated blood for infectious agents and biomarkers, strengthening of national surveillance capacity, and monitoring of blood quality through external evaluation programs.
f) Provide technical support for the incorporation of the principles of total quality management in blood transfusion and organ transplantation services, including the development of quality programs to minimize risk and optimize patient safety and quality of care.
g) Promote the development and adoption of safety and quality assurance standards for procurement, preservation, processing and distribution of organs, tissues and cells of human origin used for transplantation purposes; support the development of national and regional surveillance systems.
h) Contribute to the development of objectives, policies, norms, guidelines, procedures and evaluations processes for the Organization's technical cooperation programs in blood transfusion and organ transplantation; provide technical support for the development of strategic plans with Member States in accordance with the resolutions of the Organization's Governing Bodies, and monitoring advances in implementation through the preparation of evaluation reports and the use of process and outcome indicators.
i) Support the development of regional and national networks and facilitation of exchange and cooperation within the networks; strengthen the participation of collaborating centers and reference institutions to provide support in the implementation of the regional work program.
j) Promote research in blood transfusion and organ transplantation services, the analysis and publication of best practices based on current evidence.
k) Support inter-programmatic actions in aspects relating to blood transfusion and organ transplantation, specifically contributing to the development of health systems based on primary health care, strengthening of the regional strategies in Maternal and Child Health, Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases; collaborate within the Organization to achieve effective coordination of program activities and appropriate utilization of resources.
l) Develop forums and partnerships with stakeholders, international bilateral and multilateral agencies, and civil society groups to advance the objectives of the work program at the national and regional level.
m) Develop and present technical cooperation projects and mobilize funds for the implementation of projects in the areas of responsibility; monitor implementation of specific projects, manage budgets, and prepare reports against project indicators;
n) Prepare publications in the areas of responsibility, and develop information management strategies to maintain countries, as well as other stakeholders informed on current developments in blood transfusion and organ transplantation services at the regional level.
o) Contribute and collaborate in the preparation and revision to ensure compliance with the Entity's expected results; collaborate in the preparation of biennial programs and budgets, semiannual work plans and periodic evaluations for assigned projects; participate in the annual evaluation of the Entity.
p) 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.
q) Perform other related duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
A university degree in one of the health and/or biological sciences and a master's degree in biological sciences or laboratory sciences oriented to biological products from a recognized institution.
Skills:
Key Behavioral Competencies
Intrainstitutional Action: Operates in a fair, consistent and equitable manner, and displays such behavior by example. Ensures that the mission and the values of the Organization as well as the setting in which projects will be carried out are the drivers in one's technical work. Understands the results required and performs to that standard. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization.
Inter-institutional and Intersectoral Action: Demonstrates, through measurable results, effective participation in decision-making spheres where policy priorities are set. Oversees activities/interventions designed to meet the needs of users and inter-institutional and intersectoral partners, while promoting the consolidation of productive partnerships in terms of the Organization's mission.
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.
Information Management: Processes and analyzes the data objectively, presenting it clearly and equitably. Leads the effort to acquire relevant and selected information that facilitates the achievement of organizational results. Evaluates/leads the evaluation of information systems on the basis of its advantages/disadvantages for processing information relevant to the area of work.
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.
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 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 technical expertise at the highest level in all aspects related to policy and regulatory issues relating to blood transfusion and organ transplantation.
- Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation interventions and in the development of criteria and instruments for supporting policy development in blood transfusion and organ transplantation.
- 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,
- Ability to coordinate, establish and maintain identifiable results-oriented productive relationships with key actors within, monitoring activities, ensuring product delivery and reporting.
- Ability to integrate political, technical and managerial inputs into recommendations for decision-making.
- 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 software programs such as Visio and Project will be an asset.
Experience:
Nine years of combined national and international experience in policy, regulation, planning, organization, management of blood transfusion or organ transplantation programs. Of these, at least two years of experience in international technical cooperation in related programs and activities.
Languages:
Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with working knowledge of the other. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese 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.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
$67,395.00 at single rate
$72,373.00 with primary dependants
Post Adjustment: 44.6 % 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.

Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment 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.