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Advisor, Neglected Infectious Diseases and Leprosy Grade: P4

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :
Promote, coordinate, and implement technical cooperation activities to reduce health, social and economical burden of communicable diseases, focusing in the surveillance, prevention and control, in ways that are technically sound and appropriate for the culture and society; strive to achieve sustainable impact through strengthened country capacity and effective inter-country collaboration; and to strengthen the coverage and quality of the health and vital statistics in the Region as well as the national capacity to monitor their health situation.
Description of duties:
Under the direct administrative supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR), and the general and technical supervision of the Senior Advisor, Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases (HSD/CD), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to the following assigned duties:
a) Advise, plan, develop, implement, coordinate and follow up and monitor the Organization's program of work on Neglected Infectious Diseases (NIDs) elimination and control, with special attention to leprosy in Brazil;
b) Provide and develop technical recommendations on NIDs, identify and disseminate best practices; monitor and evaluate progress on elimination and control of NIDs in the Region; interact to reconcile and negotiate issues of high political sensitivity, of commercial nature or impacting civil society;
c) Advise and implement the Organization's Resolution CD49.R19 on Elimination and Control of NID's, WHA 44.9 on Elimination of leprosy and other infectious diseases related to poverty; provide technical advice to support Member States on the preparation of national and sub national plans and programs to implement strategies, standards, guidelines and procedures to achieve the goal of eliminating leprosy, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma and expanding control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis as public health problems, as well as consolidating the elimination of leprosy at sub-national levels;
d) Work within the management model of PWR to provide technical cooperation on NIDs;
e) Collaborate with Country Offices and national staff counterparts in promoting and mobilizing resources to facilitate the elimination and control of all NIDs under the scope of Resolution CD49.R19 at the national, sub-regional and local level of the health services delivery systems;
f) Develop and disseminate strategies to facilitate the development and strengthening of laboratories to support diagnosis, program monitoring and impact assessments for all NIDs under the scope of Resolution CD49.R19;
g) Collaborate in the preparation of the Office's Biennial Work Plan (BWP) and the execution of international cooperation projects, including the analysis of political, technical and socioeconomic realities;
h) 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.
i) Perform other related duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Essential: A university degree in a health related profession and a master's degree in public health, epidemiology, infectious diseases or in a related field.
Desirable: Specialized training in communicable disease control with emphasis in neglected tropical diseases or infectious diseases such as onchocerciasis, leprosy, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and helmintic infections will be an asset.
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.
-- Accountability: Accepts responsibility for the results, for the work of subordinates, for the tasks delegated, the deadlines, and any deviations from them. Requires and oversees the adherence according to the budget. Monitors the progress made upon reaching the objectives and deadlines. For any deviations on the work plan, looks for corrective actions.
-- 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.
-- 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.
-- 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.
-- 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 knowledge and practical expertise at the highest level in all aspects related to prevention and control of communicable diseases with emphasis in neglected infectious diseases; technical competence in the area of neglected infectious disease elimination and control programs.
- Technical expertise in the development of programs, plans and projects, including training, strengthening of information systems and increasing the participation of states and municipalities.
- Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation interventions and in the development of criteria and instruments for evaluating program interventions and performance.
- Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation program and activities, including budget programming and control.
- Ability to analyze current surveillance systems and possess the capability to develop and plan innovative and appropriate solutions for improvement.
- Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrate ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendation on key political, technical and administrative 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 SAS, SPSS, EpiInfo, Microsoft SharePoint and Project will be an asset. Familiarity with software for mapping, GIS and/or statistical analysis will be an asset.
Experience:
Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience working in epidemiology and disease prevention and control programs, including practical and managerial experience in the operational aspects of prevention and control of leprosy.
Languages:
Very good knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese with a good working knowledge of English. Knowledge of French would be an asset.
Additional Information:
A WRITTEN TEST AND/OR INTERVIEW MAY BE HELD FOR THIS POST. CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED ONLY IF THEY ARE UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN ON-LINE PERSONAL HISTORY FORM. THE POST DESCRIPTION IS THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
US $67,483 at single rate
US $72,467 with primary dependants
Post Adjustment: 86.7 % 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.

INTERVIEWS MAY BE USED AS A FORM OF SCREENING

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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.

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