Advisor, Integrated Child Health

Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/14/FT255 Title: Advisor, Integrated Child Health Grade: P4 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract:  Two years, first year probationary period.	Date: 28 May 2014 Application Deadline: 25 June 2014 (18 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  Washington, D.C., United States of America   Organization unit: AM Americas (AM) Family, Gender and Life Course / Healthy Life Course (FGL/HL)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : The Family, Gender and Life Course (FGL) department of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) promotes, coordinates and implements technical cooperation at the regional, sub regional and country level, enabling countries to pursue evidence-based strategies to reduce health risks, morbidity and mortality along the life course and promotes health and development creating the mechanisms to measure the impact of the strategies. Emphasizes the central role of the family and community to foster a culture of health promotion and protection in which health is a social value and a human right. FGL focuses on the development and implementation of policies and programs for women's and men's health, sexual and reproductive health, maternal and neonatal health, the integrated health and development of children and adolescents, the health of aging populations, food and nutrition, and comprehensive family immunization using gender, equity and cultural diversity approaches.
Description of duties: Under the general supervision of the Director of Family, Gender and Life Course (FGL), the direct supervision of the Unit Chief of Healthy Life Course (FGL/HL), and in coordination with FGL Units Gender and Ethnicity, Immunization, Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women's Health, and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties: a) Provide technical cooperation to Member States in the development and implementation of national health policies, plans, programs and services in the area of integrated child health and development; b) Advise and support Member States to develop, revise, adapt and evaluate Public National Policies and legislation to enhance integrated child health and development, using human rights and an intersectoral approach; c) Advise and collaborate in the development of strategic actions to improve child health and early child development programs, ensuring equitable access to health care, taking into consideration multi-ethnic, diversity and inequities issues in the Region; d) Provide advice for the implementation of PAHO/WHO's Strategy and Plan of Action for Integrated Child Health to prevent and reduce the burden of disease in children, improve child nutrition, and build capacity among different health institutions and other sectors to improve child health development; e) Lead FGL/HL work to tailor health-service practices to accomplish the mandates of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), with emphasis on primary health care (PHC) settings; f) Advise and provide technical support to Member States in the development, implementation and evaluating of family and community involvement to promote child health, prioritizing early child development (ECD); g) Collaborate in the design, implementation and evaluation of integrated health care models based on primary health care (PHC) strategies, evidence-based technical information, within the life course approach and continuing of care, especially related to child health and development; h) Develop evidence-based technical and management guidelines and best practices standards for the strengthening of child health programs and services, at different levels of care, using new and appropriate technologies; i) Participate in the identification of human resources needs, promote training and development of national institutions for this purpose and comprehensive child health programs and development; j) Identify research needs and stimulate and develop research capacity and activities related with child health and development; k) Support strategic alliances and networks involving national and international organizations, governmental and non-governmental institutions, professional and scientific societies engaged in child health programs and projects; maintaining an up-to-date inventory and functional networks of international resources that can be made available to the Organization and its Member Governments for the promotion and support of research, training, and service activities in the field of adolescent health. Collaborate closely with key partners and other international organizations (especially UNFPA, UNICEF) with a view to strengthening coordination of joint activities and building consensus and strategic partnership with selected organizations; l) Promote and collaborate in mobilizing national and international resources to facilitate the implementation of the regional mandates and plans at the regional, sub-regional and local level, support the development of grant proposal to raise resources towards accelerating action in regions and countries on child health; m) Collaborate with experts within the Department as well as with other relevant PAHO departments and units to ensure that issues related to improving child health and health services provider practices are addressed in key areas to achieve effective coordination of program activities and appropriate utilization of resources; n) Responsible for coordinating with the Health Information and Analyses Unit (CHA/HA) within PAHO to strengthen countries' capacity to analyze and use information related to the overall health of children, especially in relation to the monitoring of indicators of regional and strategic plan, and other commitments; o) Provide strategic advice and follow up on the mandates of the Organization's Governing Bodies related to promoting and implementing integrated child health programs and initiatives; p) Represent the Organization in technical meetings, seminars, congresses and academic events in the area of child health and development; q) Collaborate in the preparation of the Unit's Biennial Work Plan (BWP), budget, semiannual work plans and periodic evaluations for assigned projects; r) 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; s) Perform other related duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Essential: A university degree in a health-related profession, with specialization in pediatrics and/or family medicine, and a master's degree in public health from a recognized institution. Desirable: A PhD degree in a discipline related to child health and development would be an asset.
Skills:  Key Behavioral Competencies Intra-institutional 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. 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: Promotes team work and leads one's area to finish tasks and accept responsibility. Creates a positive environment within the area of work. Makes everyone feel like they are part of the team as well as welcomes and appreciates everyone's ideas and suggestions. Able to see the positive aspects of working as a team, shares the team's enthusiasm for achieving mutual goals. 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 - Expert knowledge in the area of public health, child and development and health services organization with human rights, gender, ethnicity and life course approach. - In depth knowledge and understanding of the clinical aspects and essential interventions to support healthy and development of children. - Extensive knowledge in early child development, nutrition and the main problem that affects this age group. - Ability to understand and provide expertise on issues related to improve health services for children. - Knowledge and skills in policy and legislation development, advocacy and policy evaluation, epidemiology management, clinical, research and teaching abilities. - Technical expertise in formulating and developing tools for planning, monitoring and evaluating child health and early child development (ECD) strategies. - Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities, including budget programming and control. - Demonstrated fundraising skills, grant writing and mobilization of resources. - Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendation on key political and technical issues. - 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 would be an asset.
Experience: Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience in applying knowledge at the national, municipal or local level in formulating, conducting, implementing, and researching integrated child health and development programs. Of these at least five years of experience participating in technical cooperation projects and activities concerning child health; and early child development, including obtaining and managing externally funded projects. Desirable: Experience working in different cultural contexts, particularly related with indigenous, social determinants and mainstreaming for health settings and/or human resources training and working with multidisciplinary and inter-sectorial approach in child health would be an asset.
Languages: Very good knowledge of Spanish or English with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of Portuguese and French 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: 50.3 % 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.
This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.
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