Advisor, Medicines, Health Technologies and Research

Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/14/FT242 Title: Advisor, Medicines, Health Technologies and Research Grade: P4 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment	Date: 15 May 2014 Application Deadline: 12 June 2014 (5 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  Brasilia, Brazil   Organization unit: AM Americas (AM) PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR/BRA)/Health Systems and Services (HSS)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : The primary objective of the Department of Health Systems and Services is to strengthen health systems based on Primary Health Care, supporting universal health coverage. Its work encompasses the following areas: strengthening of health systems governance for social protection in health; strengthening of regulatory frameworks and financial protection for progressive realization of the right to health; organizing people-centered, integrated health service delivery; promoting access to and rational use of quality, safe, and effective health technologies; strengthening national health research systems, and promoting the integration of scientific knowledge into health care, health policies, and technical cooperation; and developing human resources for health.
Description of duties: Under the technical guidance of the Director, Director, Health Systems and Services (HSS) and the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties: a) Advise, adapt and integrate global and regional strategic objectives in Medicines, Health Technologies and Research into the national program of work; provide technical cooperation to National Authorities (Ministry of Health, ANVISA, FIOCRUZ, Hemobras), States and Municipalities, in the development of policies favoring access, innovation, production, pricing and rational use of health technologies focusing on the development of policy, norms, and regulatory capacity, supporting the strengthening and decentralization of pharmaceutical services; b) Advise and support the implementation of National Policy in Health Technology Management, the establishment of national and regional networks in health technology assessment and processes determining the selection, incorporation and management of health technologies within the Unified Health System (SUS); c) Provide technical support for the implementation of the National Blood Policy, of the National Program of Transplantation and of the National Program of Patient Safety; d) Develop technical cooperation strategies to strengthen national capacity in science, technology and innovation, evaluation of national capacity, the definition of priorities, the development of policy and the regulatory framework guiding technological innovation, and the development of the health industrial complex at the national level, taking into consideration the global context; e) Link the national program of work with the sub-regional, regional and global work program in Medicines and Health Technologies; support national authorities in bilateral and multi-lateral technical cooperation initiatives and promoting networking; f) Manage and coordinate activities of the Health Technologies and Research unit within the Country Office; guide the technical work program ensuring that it is coherent with the Organization's Governing Bodies mandates, the Country Cooperation Strategy 2014-2017, and orientations of the cooperation agreements (TC) with the Ministry of Health Brazil; g) Plan, program, implement, monitor and evaluate the development of the technical cooperation programs of work in medicines, health technologies and research, coherent with the programmatic orientations within the Biennial Work Plan; h) Mobilize political, technical and financial resources to support and expand regional, sub-regional and national programs and activities related to areas of responsibility; i) Participate in team-based project development and execution of the program of work and the preparation of the biennial work plan (BWP), related budgets and work plans, progress reports, periodic analytical reports to donors, publications, briefing books, etc.; j) Promote the collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the academic sector to strengthen the MOH's capacity to monitor programmatic progress and impact of public health interventions; k) Provide leadership, guidance and monitoring of supervised staff by setting clear work objectives, ensuring timely and effective use of performance reviews and feedback mechanisms, engaging in regular communications, and solving interpersonal or technical conflicts; establish and support a learning environment; administer, allocate and monitor the financial, logistical and staff resources assigned to the team; prepare, and justify the program or work and budget proposals, etc.; l) Perform other related duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A bachelor's degree in a health-related science, and a master's degree in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacoeconomics, or public health from a recognized university.
Skills:  -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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 - Theoretical and practical expertise medicines and health technologies; technical and social determinants of access and use of health technologies, covering areas of policy development and regulation. - Broad knowledge of management principles and practices with specific emphasis in financing, innovation and public health production and quality evaluation, and service delivery. - Technical expertise in providing technical assistance to countries in the development, management, operation, or evaluation of programs or projects in health technologies and research. - Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities, including budget programming and control. - Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation projects, interventions and in the development of criteria for evaluating program interventions, budget programming and control. - 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 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 the administration of programs and projects related to medicines, health technology, policy and regulation, pharmacoeconomics, procurement and supply management, production and quality control, or service delivery.
Languages: Very good knowledge of Portuguese, English or Spanish with a working knowledge of the other language.
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.
Annual salary: (Net of tax) US $67,611.00 at single rate US $72,605.00 with primary dependants	Post Adjustment: 75.6 % 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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