Advisor, Disease Prevention and Control

Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/14/FT10 Title: Advisor, Disease Prevention and Control Grade: P4 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract:  Two years, first year probationary period	Date: 10 January 2014 Application Deadline: 7 February 2014 (13 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  San Jose, Costa Rica   Organization unit: AM Americas (AM) PAHO/WHO Representative Office in Costa Rica (PWR-COR)/Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis (CHA)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : The Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis (CHA) Department promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities directed toward the surveillance, prevention, control, and elimination of communicable diseases and zoonosis that are technically sound and appropriate for the political and sociocultural context in which they are implemented. The Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH) Department promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities, directed to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, mental, neurological and substance abuse disorders, related risk factors and disabilities that are sound and appropriate for the culture and society.
Description of duties: Under the general supervision of the Directors of the Departments of Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis (CHA) and Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH), and the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following: a) Provide technical cooperation to the Ministry of Health and other institutions of the health sector on treatment schemes, diagnosis, patient management, identification of risk factors, Social Determinants of Health, methods and technologies for the control and prevention communicable and non communicable diseases; lead the implementation of activities related particularly to communicable diseases prevalent in the assigned country; b) Provide technical cooperation to national health authorities on all technical matters related to neglected diseases control in the sub region, especially those that have a high incidence in the country; c) Advise in the development and implementation of prevention programs and health services for the control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases and its social determinants of health with emphasis in the strengthening of local health services in the context of primary health care to carry out program activities; d) Collaborate in obtaining extra budgetary funds by assisting national authorities in the preparation of communicable and noncommunicable diseases control project proposals for the appropriate national, bilateral and international financial agencies for research and for health services capacity building; e) Cooperate in the development and strengthening of human resources in communicable and non communicable diseases, risk factors (including environmental risk factors), emerging and reemerging diseases at all levels of the health services; f) Promote collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the academic sector to strengthen the its capacity to address the social determinants of health and monitor programmatic progress and impact of public health interventions; g) Promote and coordinate operational research on communicable and noncommunicable diseases and its social determinants of health, including emerging and reemerging diseases, at all levels of the health system and in academic institutions; h) Advise and collaborate in the development and strengthening of laboratory activities in support of communicable and noncommunicable diseases prevention and control; i) Develop activities for improving national and regional disease surveillance and response, including the application of new techniques and the detection and reporting of antibiotic resistance; j) Collaborate in the application of epidemiological concepts, principles and methods for the planning, programming, administration and evaluation of disease surveillance, prevention and control programs, including functions related to the community level, and local health systems. k) Participate in the elaboration of pandemic influenza preparedness plans and in the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR); l) Provide technical support for the development of national information systems, epidemiological surveillance of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, the application of epidemiology to the management of health system and services; m) Strengthen the capacity of national institution in the analysis of information for the identification of inequities in health access care and its underlying causes; n) Strengthen the capacity of national institutions in the use of evidence for policy making oriented to address the inequities in health. o) Mobilize national and international resources to support the implementation of the program of work; p) Collaborate with the PAHO/WHO Representative in preparing the biannual work program and budget; ensure compliance with all administrative procedures in the execution of technical cooperation activities; q) Perform other related duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: 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. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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 and control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, risk factor, specifically those related with social determinants of health, as well as a thorough knowledge of epidemiology, prevention and control methods. -- Knowledge and practical expertise in health information and analysis; -- Knowledge and practical expertise in the application of the International Health Regulations, outbreak control at national and international level. -- Professional expertise in preventive public health, epidemiological research, diseases control and health services. -- Knowledge and practical expertise in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, related risk factors, disabilities, and mental, neurological and substance abuse disorders; -- Ability to analyze current surveillance systems and possess the capability to develop and plan innovative and appropriate solutions for their improvement. -- Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation interventions and in the development of criteria and instruments for evaluating program interventions. -- Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities, including budget programming and control. -- 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, EPI-Info and SPSS. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio, Microsoft SharePoint and Project would be an asset.
Experience: Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience working in epidemiology and disease prevention and control programs and in the administration of health services related to communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Desirable: Practical experience in the operational aspects of prevention and control programs and managerial experience would be an asset.
Languages: Very good knowledge of English or Spanish 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$ 67,611.00 at single rate US$ 72,605.00 with primary dependants	Post Adjustment: 37.7% % 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.
WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.