Advisor, Healthcare Facilities Planning

Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/13/FT19 Title: Advisor, Healthcare Facilities Planning Grade: P4 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract:  Two years, first year probationary period	Date: 15 January 2013 Application Deadline: 14 February 2013 (15 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  Washington, D.C., United States of America   Organization unit: AM Americas (AM) Health Systems based on Primary Health / Health Systems Strengthening ((HSS/HS)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : Develop sound technical cooperation programs that promote 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-sectoral approaches to improving health.
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) Develop comprehensive technical cooperation strategies and plans to support Member States on healthcare facilities planning in accordance with the Integrated Health Services Delivery Networks (IHSDNs) framework and the Safe Hospital Initiative, provide leadership and expert advice in identifying strategies for technical cooperation in the area of planning investments for hospital building acquisitions, operation and maintenance of healthcare facilities; b) Advise and develop policies, legal frameworks, standards and protocols for healthcare facilities planning, construction (new, remodeling or repairing), operations and maintenance of hospitals in Member States; c) Collaborate with National Health Authorities in the decision-making processes for investments and planning of healthcare facilities and establishing priorities for upgrading, mitigation and remodeling projects; provide high level technical advice and relevant information; d) Promote and advise on the development of master plans for investments in new buildings for healthcare facilities, repair or upgrading of existing buildings and the establishment of legal and institutional frameworks for planning of physical resources to respond efficiently to the needs in accordance with the IHSDNs framework; e) Provide technical cooperation to Member States in translating health needs (demand) and supply information for decisions on healthcare facilities and expertise in the calculation of associated cost (construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance) throughout the life cycle of projected healthcare facilities; f) Provide technical support to Member States in the development of architectural and functional plans for the design of healthcare facilities projects; participate in the development of plans and ensure the structural, functional and non-functional safety of healthcare facilities are included in the design, construction, remodeling or repair process in accordance with the framework for Safe Hospitals Initiative; g) Provide technical advice and support in planning, installation, operation and maintenance of industrial and medical equipment for healthcare facilities, in coordination with relevant technical entities and other experts; h) Provide advice to Member States regarding mechanisms and options for the procurement of new healthcare facilities, standards to regulate donations, concessions and other contractual modalities, while strengthening technical and negotiation capacities of the departments of planning and development of healthcare infrastructure; i) Facilitate and coordinate, with academic institutions, collaborating centers and experts in the field, the preparation and dissemination of methodological guidelines, normative documents, and tools for planning of healthcare facilities in Member States; j) Promote and collaborate in the establishment of processes and criteria for ex ante and ex post evaluation of healthcare facilities in the countries of the Region; k) Support the preparation of capital and operations cost analysis of healthcare facilities for decision-making on health services infrastructure; l) Design and coordinate training processes for building and strengthening technical capacity, and promote the development of permanent training programs for professional and technical personnel to enhance long-term sustainability of the departments or directions of infrastructure; m) Promote the conformation of networks of collaborating centers and expert groups, and coordinate support for the Organization's technical cooperation; n) Develop alliances and collaborating relationships with recognized professional organizations in fields related to healthcare facility planning, acquisition, commissioning, and maintenance; o) Develop, update and disseminate the Organization's guidelines for planning and development of healthcare facilities; p) Develop programs for the dissemination of knowledge and information on healthcare facilities with the intention that all relevant stakeholders can have access to technical information that is up-to-date, wide ranging and of good quality; q) Identify and promote the mobilization of national and international technical and financial resources to support the development of projects, initiatives and programs in the areas of responsibility; r) Participate in the preparation of the Project's Biennial Work Plan (BWP), budget and technical evaluation reports; s) Perform other related duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Essential: A university degree in one of the health sciences, architecture or engineering and a master's degree in public health, health services administration, health services management, or related field to hospital design 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. 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. 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. 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 - Expert knowledge in healthcare facilities planning, management and delivery of health care services, including knowledge of health care services operations and developing investments plans for healthcare facilities repair or upgrading. - Managerial skills for the development, implementation, and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities, including budget programming and control. - Expertise in strategic thinking, planning of human resources for health, information systems, political and stakeholder analysis, communication, negotiation methods, leadership development and health care performance evaluation. - Ability to identify and recommend best approaches in matters related to healthcare facilities construction/design, proposals and identification of resources that meet the specific needs of countries. - Strong public health and strategic thinking background showing resourcefulness, initiative, leadership qualities, skills to deals with difficult situations and sensitive areas. - 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: Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience in health services planning and/or management or in the design and planning of healthcare facilities in the public sector.
Languages: Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with 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: % 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.