Advisor, Chronic Diseases Grade: P4

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : Promote, coordinate, and implement technical cooperation activities to reduce health, social and economical 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 general supervision of the Senior Advisor, Prevention & Control of Chronic Diseases (HSD/NC), and the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties: a) Provide technical advice to implement an integrated approach to the prevention and control of chronic diseases, risk factors and determinants, following a multi-disciplinary team approach, linking the regional/global levels of the Organization; b) Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and other institutions of the national and sub-regional health and political integration system for the diagnosis of health problems, as well as the identification of risk factors, methods, and technologies for their control; collaborate in technical cooperation activities particularly related to prevalent diseases in the countries, with emphasis on chronic non-communicable diseases; c) Collaborate in the development, implementation, and the evaluation of prevention programs and health services for the control of non-communicable diseases with emphasis on the strengthening of the integration continuity and quality of the health services from different providers; d) Promote and support the development of relevant networks, alliances, and multi-stakeholder partnerships needed to successfully address the problem of chronic diseases, risk factors and determinants; e) Promote and facilitate collaboration between the Ministries of Health, academic institutions, other sectors of government, civil society and private sector organizations to strengthen national and sub-regional capacities to implement and evaluate non-communicable diseases prevention and control programs; f) Develop standards, guidelines, and procedures for the organization, operation and evaluation of program activities; optimize the use of national and sub-regional health systems and related socioeconomic infrastructure; implement the strategy of primary health care; g) Collaborate in the application of concepts, principles and methods to the planning, programming, administration and evaluation of disease surveillance, prevention and control programs, including functions related the community level, integrated programs, local health systems, and health promotion; h) Cooperate in the development and strengthening of human resources, relating to disease prevention and control, especially in epidemiology, research methodologies, prevention and control programs for non-communicable diseases, and cooperating in continuing education; i) Disseminate appropriate and relevant scientific, technical, and policy information, sharing experiences of successful practices from other countries in integrated prevention and control of non-communicable diseases; j) Promote and strengthen public health research by assisting in identifying research priorities and institutions in the field of public health and promoting multi-disciplinary studies; k) Collaborate in the development of national systems of information and public health surveillance for non-communicable diseases, using as appropriate standard regional and global tools; provide models and support to countries in the use of data for decision-making regarding policies and programs for the prevention and control of chronic diseases; l) Participate in obtaining extra-budgetary resources, financial and non-financial by assisting national and sub-regional authorities in the preparation of project proposals and plans for appropriate national, bilateral and international agencies; m) 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 and prevention of chronic diseases; n) Contribute to the coordination of delivery of the Organization's technical cooperation and financial assistance, working as part of the team of consultants assigned to the Country Office; o) 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; 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 a health-related profession and a master's degree in 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. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization. -- Communication: Actively engages in conversation with the key players in a multicultural environment both within and outside the organization. Develops a network of appropriate contacts inside and outside PAHO to gain information or to build an alliance. Takes into consideration the multicultural differences within 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. -- 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. -- Evaluation of technical cooperation interventions: Proposes criteria for evaluating interventions at the process, management, and outcome level, in addition to plans for evaluating technical cooperation, in keeping with the PAHO's strategic direction. -- 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. -- 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 expertise at the highest level in all aspects related to surveillance of non-communicable diseases, as well as a thorough knowledge of epidemiology, prevention, and control methods. -- Familiar with health services policies and administration within the framework of local health systems. -- Knowledge and skills in project planning, management and evaluation, including resource mobilization and grant management. -- Ability to analyze current surveillance systems and possess the capability to develop and plan innovative and appropriate solutions for their improvement. -- Strong public health and strategic thinking background showing resourcefulness, initiative, leadership qualities and skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive areas; demonstrated ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendation on key political and technical issues. -- Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy and tact to effectively communicate with senior level officials, multiple stakeholders and professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. -- 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 Visio, Microsoft SharePoint and Project will be an asset.
Experience: Nine years of combined national and international experience in the development and evaluation of programs for prevention and control of chronic diseases, including disease surveillance and health care planning and managing of health services, including primary and secondary health care.
Languages: Very good knowledge of Spanish or English with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French/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. THIS VACANCY MAY BE USED TO FILL OTHER POSITIONS IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT MAY BECOME VACANT AT A LATER DATE, AND WHICH HAVE SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES AS THE ONES STATED IN THIS NOTICE.
Annual salary: (Net of tax) US $67,483.00 at single rate US $72,467.00 with primary dependants	Post Adjustment: 47.7 % 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.