Advisor, Health Legislation

Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/13/FT30 Title: Advisor, Health Legislation Grade: P4 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract:  Two years, first year probationary period	Date: 23 January 2013 Application Deadline: 22 February 2013 (23 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  Washington, D.C., United States of America   Organization unit: AM Americas (AM) HHealth Systems based on Primary Health Care/ Health Systems Strengthening (HSS/HS)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : Develop sound technical cooperation programs that strengthen health systems based on primary health care, health policies, health services and programs, technologies and medicines, health investment and financing, health research and the 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, Health Governance, Policy and Planning, Health Systems Strengthening (HSS/HS), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties: a) Provide technical advice on health legislation; analyze the relationship between legislation, health situation and health policies of the countries of the Region from a macro-economic perspective; b) Design, adapt and promote the application of theoretical and conceptual plans, policies and methodologies to influence Member States in the adoption of health legislation that addresses all important health care issues, including blood products, organ donations, bio-ethics, reproductive rights, economic impact, etc., identifying the appropriate legal instrument by which this can most effectively be accomplished by each Member State; c) Promote, implement and support the analysis and formulation of health legislation alternatives for the health sector; d) Oversee the updating and improvement of the Organization's databases on national health legislation; e) Provide technical advice for the development of a legislation framework to facilitate the development of health legislation at national, supra-national and infra-national levels; f) Monitor and assess the development of health legislation at the national, supra-national and infra-national levels in Latin America and the Caribbean, ensuring that the continuous updates of the Organization's LEYES database; develop the classification structure and provide guidelines for its effective functioning; g) Promote, coordinate and supervise training, research and documentation activities in the development and implementation of health legislation initiatives; h) Provide interpretation of legal instruments, such as constitutions, statutes, treaties, agreements, resolutions or other legal materials relevant to the development of health legislation of Member States; i) Cooperate with other staff in the formulation and implementation of comprehensive, multidisciplinary approaches to health policy analysis and development by providing advice and recommendations from the legal and juridical sciences perspective; j) Provide advice and consult with counterparts in Member States on matters related to contractual negotiation processes between Member States; k) Collaborate with WHO Headquarters and other Regional Offices in aspects related to health legislation; l) Promote and develop collaborative activities with professional and academic organizations aimed at disseminating and advancing the development of comprehensive and integrated health legislations; m) Promote the mobilization of national and international resources in support of the Project's programs and/or projects. n) Participate in the preparation of the Project's Biennial Work Plan (BWP), budget and technical evaluation reports; 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: A bachelor's degree in law or juridical sciences and a master's degree in public health, health administration, social policies or a related field from a recognized university.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Interinstitutional and Intersectoral Action: Persuades others, fostering consensus inside and outside the Organization, targeting the establishment of identifiable priorities so as to create policies consistent with the Organization's mission. Generates intervention proposals focused on the needs of users and interinstitutional and intersectoral partners. Resource Mobilization: Establishes partnerships and alliances with a variety of institutions and organizations as well as internal partnerships to obtain financial and non-financial resources. Is able to relate with all types of people and at all levels in order to obtain resources that are needed. Is able to present and disseminate information in a clear manner. Executes resources according to the agreements previously established with partnerships. Technical Expertise - Expert knowledge of the basic principles of constitutional law and regulations concerning public health and health care management and financing. - Sound knowledge of most relevant aspects of current issues in health and health care which could form the basis for policy making and legislation. - Familiarity with modern databases related to legislation, including interaction with such databases. - Ability to interact with legislative counterparts at the national, supra-national and infra-national levels. - Ability to develop model legislation alternatives in support of or as part of policies dealing with specific health problems. Ability to adapt health legislation approaches/models to the specific national context and analyses and proposes measures to strengthen the legislative process related to health issues and policies. - Knowledge and skills to assess the effectiveness of the enforcement of specific legislation and able to negotiate with high-ranking political and civil authorities to harmonize national health legislation within the context of globalization and regional integration. - Knowledge of the technical, political and administrative aspects of health systems, primary health care and integrated networks of health services. - Theoretical and practical familiarity of concepts and methods in health research and teaching the foundations and methods of health legislation. - Sound knowledge and understanding of global/international health policy, organizations and actors and technical and financial cooperation in health as applied to health legislation processes. - 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 would be an asset.
Experience: Nine years of combined national and international experience in conducting research, teaching and/or advisory work in the area of health legislation analysis and development. Experience in advising the executive or legislative branches of government on the development of legislation applied to health issues.
Languages: Very good knowledge of Spanish or English 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 (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: 48.4 % 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.