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Advisor, Health Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Grade: P4

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :
Promote, coordinate and implement technical cooperation activities to reduce health, social and economic burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, focusing in the surveillance, prevention and control, in ways that are technically sound and appropriate for the culture and society and strives to achieve sustainable impact through strengthened country capacity and effective inter-country collaboration, and to strengthen the coverage and quality of the health and vital statistics in the Region as the national capacity to monitor their health situation.
Description of duties:
Under the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR), and the technical guidance and support of the Manager, Health Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control (HSD), the incumbent will be 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 for the diagnosis of health problems, as well as the identification of risk factors, methods, and technologies for their control; technical cooperation activities related to non-communicable diseases and health analysis and statistics; collaborate in the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR);
b) Strength national epidemiological capability by:
i) Providing technical assistance and support to improve the organization and functioning of health and vital statistics on public health surveillance activities at all levels;
ii) Collaborate in the surveillance of established health problems and evaluation of new ones, identification of risk factors influencing the distribution of those problems and evaluation of control methods and technologies;
iii) Collaborate in applying epidemiological concepts, principles and methods to planning, administration and evaluation of programs and health care services;
iv) Developing and strengthening national epidemiological training for all levels of health care personnel involved in disease control, health care services delivery, health care planning and health situation analysis by helping countries to identify training needs in epidemiology and formulate training activities to meet those needs;
v) Disseminating technical information on health trends in the Region and the country, new advances in health research, epidemiology of diseases/conditions of public health importance and epidemiology training opportunities;
c) Provide technical assistance and analytical skills to the country and the PWR's Office for the process of analyzing the health situation, estimate the magnitude of health problems, evaluating and selecting appropriate technologies for specific interventions and ongoing assessment of health trends;
d) Collaborate in the development and implementation of promotion actions, prevention programs and health services for the control of non communicable diseases with emphasis in the strengthening of local health services to carry out program activities;
e) Develop standards, guidelines, and procedures for the organization, operation, and evaluation of program activities; optimizing the use of the country's health systems and related socioeconomic infrastructure; implementing the strategy of primary health care;
f) Collaborate in the application of epidemiological concepts, principles, and methods to the planning, programming, administration, and evaluation of disease surveillance, prevention, and control programs;
g) Cooperate in the development and strengthening of human resources in non-communicable diseases at all levels of the health services, and cooperating in their continuing education;
h) Disseminate appropriate and relevant scientific and technical information;
i) Promote and coordinate research on communicable and non-communicable diseases at all levels of the health system and in teaching institutions;
j) Assist in the development and strengthening of laboratory activities in support of non-communicable disease control;
k) Collaborate in resource mobilization activities to obtain extra-budgetary funds by preparing relevant project proposals to the appropriate national, bilateral, and international financial agencies;
l) Assist the PWR in the preparation of biennial programs and budgets, semiannual workplans and periodic evaluations for assigned projects;
m) Responsible for providing technical cooperation in health surveillance, information systems, vital statistic, analysis of the health situation, non-communicable diseases; act as focal point for all activities related to this area of work;
n) 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 non-communicable diseases;
o) 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;
p) Perform other related duties, as assigned
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Essential: 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:
Key Behavioral Competencies
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.
Performance Management: Plans and takes concrete steps on one's own initiative to improve job performance and required competencies. Learns from one's mistakes, adjusts goals and courses of action to meet changing needs. Conducts evaluation meetings with subordinates at the times stipulated, using the Organization's instruments and others specific to the area. Consistently motivates the staff members to improve their abilities, gives them tasks and activities that represent a challenge to them.
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.
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 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 and practical knowledge of epidemiological methods and biostatistics and their relation to communicable and non-communicable diseases.
- Demonstrated ability in the application of epidemiological techniques and procedures for analyzing the magnitude of diseases or conditions affecting the health of the population, determining factors which influence the magnitude of these diseases or conditions and applying and evaluating selected interventions designed to reduce the magnitude of these diseases and conditions.
- Managerial skills for the development, implementation, and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities, including budget programming and control.
- Professional expertise in promotion of the health, preventive public health, non-communicable diseases, health services, and administrative development.
- 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 would be an asset.
Experience:
Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience in activities related to the application of epidemiological principles and methods to disease surveillance, health care planning, training and/or research.
Languages:
Very good knowledge of Spanish or English, with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese will be an asset.
Additional Information:
A WRITTEN TEST AND/OR INTERVIEW MAY BE HELD FOR THIS POST. APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED ONLY IF THEY ARE UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN ON-LINE PERSONAL HISTORY FORM. THE POST DESCRIPTION IS THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
US$ 66,482.00 at single rate
US$ 71,393.00 with primary dependants
Post Adjustment: 26.3 % 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.

A written test and interviews may be used as a form of screening

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.