Advisor, Integrated Health Services Delivery

Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/13/FT18 Title: Advisor, Integrated Health Services Delivery Grade: P4 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract:  Two years, first year probationary period	Date: 15 January 2013 Application Deadline: 13 February 2013 (14 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 Care /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, Integrated Health Services (HSS/IS), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties: a) Develop comprehensive technical cooperation strategies and plans to assist Member States in the re-orientation of healthcare services to more comprehensive and integrated models of care with emphasis on people-centred care, life course approach, health promotion and prevention and gender and culturally sensitive services, in the context of Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks (IHSDN). b) Provide technical advice to Member States in the development and/or adaptation of their national health policies, strategies, plans and/or programs in support of the implementation of IHSDN. c) Develop norms, standards, guidelines, tools, indicators and information for the advancement of the IHSDN initiative and its economic and financial aspects, with special emphasis on gender, age, and ethnic considerations. d) Collaborate in inter-programmatic activities, emphasizing collaboration with priority programs through joint planning and missions in countries, particularly those related to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with emphasis in PAHO's priority countries. e) Develop knowledge management and operations research initiatives related to health systems and services with emphasis on IHSDN. f) Collaborate in the development and implementation of alliances and networks in support of IHSDN, including the exchange of best practices and experiences among countries. g) Support countries in building partnerships for strengthening health care services, engaging politicians, other sectors, NGOs, community based and other civil society organizations, and other relevant regional stakeholders. h) Advise and collaborate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of technical cooperation programs in the areas of health financing geared to the strengthening of national health care systems, in alignment with the efficiency and equity goals under IHSDN. i) Support and provide technical cooperation to member states for improving countries' institutional capabilities in the design, implementation and monitoring of health financing policies; to increase financial risk protection, reduction of out-of-pocket expenditures in health, and efficiency gains in the use of resources and in purchasing and service delivery. j) Advise and provide support for the development of economic, financial, macroeconomic and fiscal implications of public health policies and cost-effective public health interventions toward the expansion of coverage of national health care systems. k) Coordinate and support cooperation initiatives between international organizations and countries to facilitate the construction of economically and fiscally sustainable national health systems of universal coverage that incorporate an IHSDN approach; and the provision of efficient, equitable and quality health care services. l) Collaborate with country offices, other UN specialized agencies, multilateral and bilateral agencies and international financial institutions in the development of joint programs for strengthening national capabilities in the areas of health economics and financing, economic evaluation and costing of health strategies and plans and cost-effectiveness of public policy interventions, and national health accounts within the System of National Accounts (SNA) and/or National Statistical Development Strategies (NSDS) frameworks in countries. m) Perform other related duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Essential: A university degree in one of the health sciences and a master's degree in public health, health systems/services administration, applied economics, management or other field related to public health from an accredited institution. Desirable: Post-graduate training in a medical or nursing specialty would be an asset.
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. 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 the organization, management and delivery of health care services, including integrated models of health care, integration of disease-specific programs into healthcare systems, clinical governance, person-centered care, life course approach, gender and culturally sensitive services, and the development of guidelines of clinical practice. - In-depth knowledge in health care and clinical services operations research. - Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation interventions and in the development of criteria for evaluating program interventions and evaluations with emphasis on health care services. - 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 clinical care performance evaluation. - 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 areas related to health services organization management, and delivery of integrated health care services. Experience should include direct provision of health services at hospital and ambulatory settings, as well provision of both elective and emergency care services.
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: 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.