Advisor, Antimicrobial Resistance Response

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 154,831 USD and 199,622 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This requisition is for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

The Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health Department (CDE) promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities directed toward the surveillance, prevention, control, elimination and/or reduction of communicable diseases, zoonosis and environmental threats to health that are technically sound and appropriate for the political and sociocultural context in which they are implemented. It strives to achieve a sustainable impact on health by providing normative guidance, furthering the implementation of evidence-based interventions, fostering alliances that strengthen country capacity, improving the effectiveness of inter-country collaboration, and facilitating policy and decision-making processes.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the Director, Communicable Diseases & Environmental Determinants of Health (CDE), and the direct supervision of the Advisor, Antimicrobial Resistance (CDE/AR), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

1. Advise and contribute to the implementation of the Organization’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Program, specifically on the formulation and recommendation of policies and strategies; surveillance and containment of AMR to facilitate the implementation of the Organization’s program of work;
2. Provide technical, managerial and policy advice to Member States to strengthen their capacities towards the development and implementation of antimicrobial resistance national action plans, in particular on surveillance and containment of antimicrobial resistance, including the risk evaluation for resistant pathogens;
3. Review, analyze and disseminate scientific and evidence-based technical reports, policy documents and position papers based on the results of epidemiological and socioeconomic studies, including the Annual Surveillance Report on antimicrobial resistance;
4. Provide advice and collaborate with the Early Alert and Response team in all laboratory aspects related to outbreak investigations;
5. Provide technical support in the preparation and implementation of work plans with donors and partners on antimicrobial surveillance and containment, development of procedures and guidelines for implementation, operation and evaluation of national and local AMR surveillance;
6. Provide advice regarding the inter-programmatic coordination with other technical units in the development and implementation of surveillance, prevention, and control activities for antimicrobial resistance;
7. Advise and follow-up on the activities defined by the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Antimicrobial Resistance;
8. Coordinate and consolidate information of technical documents and reports concerning laboratory networks;
9. Contribute to the efforts of the Organization in resource mobilization through the development and submission of innovative technical proposals to funding agencies;
10. Coordinate the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of projects financed by voluntary contributions, ensuring timely implementation of activities, communication and coordination among different implementing organizations and partners;
11. Contribute in the development, review and update of biennial programs and budgets (BWP), semiannual work plans (PTS) and periodic evaluations for assigned projects;
12. 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;
13. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education****:

Essential: A university degree in a health-related profession and a master's degree in epidemiology, public health, microbiology, or in any other field related to the functions of the post, from a recognized institution.

Desirable: A PhD in epidemiology or public health or related field would be an asset.

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO, only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process.

Experience****:

Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience in activities related to the application of laboratory technologies, training and research related to human infectious diseases, and implementation of laboratory quality systems in academic or public health laboratories.

Desirable: Experience in developing national antimicrobial resistance surveillance networks would be an asset.

SKILLS****:

PAHO Competencies:

• Overall attitude at work: Maintains integrity and takes a clear ethical approach and stance; demonstrates commitment to the Organization’s mandate and promotes the values of the Organization in daily work and behavior; is accountable for work carried out in line with own role and responsibilities; is respectful towards, and trusted by, colleagues and counterparts.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: Relates well to diversity in others and capitalizes on such diversity. Treats all people with dignity and respect. Relates well to people with different cultures, gender, orientations, backgrounds and/or positions; examines own behavior to avoid stereotypical responses; considers issues from the perspective of others and values their diversity.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with team members and counterparts to achieve and build rapport; helps others when asked; accepts joint responsibility for the team’s successes and shortcomings.
• Communication: Foresees communication needs of audience and targets message accordingly. Facilitates open communication; encourages others to share their views openly and takes time to understand and consider their views. Writes down ideas in a clear, structured, logical and credible way; drafts and supports the development of guidelines, policies and procedures. Shares relevant information openly and ensures that the shared information is understood; considers knowledge sharing as a constructive working method and demonstrates awareness of the Organization.
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment: Manages individual and group projects and ensures that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clearly defined, understood and accepted; delegates work appropriately to achieve best results.
• Producing Results: Monitors own and others’ work in a systematic and effective way, ensuring required resources and outputs. Aligns projects with Organization’s mission and objectives. Consistently solves own and team’s problems effectively as needed. Proactively engages in projects and initiatives, accepting demanding goals, in line with Organizational Strategies and Program of Work. Demonstrates accountability for work of team and sets an example, while explicitly articulating lessons learnt for own and team’s benefit.
• Moving forward in a changing environment: Actively supports Organizational change initiatives and demonstrates personal commitment to them, including when faced with new demands; proposes workable solutions to challenging situations. Engages in positive responses to a changing environment and promotes workable solutions to achieve own and team’s results. Welcomes, and actively seeks to apply, new ideas, approaches and working methods and technologies in order to improve own and/or team’s work processes and results; demonstrates commitment to Organizational change initiatives.
• Setting an example: Works ethically to achieve individual work objectives under 'PAHO Regulations and Rules and the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service. Maintains confidentiality and treats sensitive information with discretion; ensures that policies and procedures are followed in accordance with the Organization's professional, ethical and legal standards. When others behave in an unprofessional or unethical way, promotes appropriate standards and provides feedback in order to remedy the situation; escalates as necessary. Stands by own decisions and actions and accepts responsibility for them. Acts in an open and transparent manner when dealing with others; stands by own and/ team’s decisions or actions and accepts responsibility for them. Acts to promote the Organization’s success.
• Ensuring effective use of resources: Sets specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely objectives for own team and/or the Organization; systematically analyses and anticipates priority projects for own team and allocates necessary resources to achieve them; identifies the cross-Organizational resources needed for large- scale projects in line with key Organizational objectives. Anticipates foreseeable changes and adapts own and team’s projects in the face of unforeseen circumstances and/ or challenges; creates measures and criteria to monitor progress of overall projects against key Organizational objectives; creates cost-effective solutions for the Organization.

Technical Expertise:

• Theoretical and practical expertise at the highest level in antimicrobial resistance detection, issues and trends, epidemiological theory, principles and practices and surveillance techniques, systems and procedures;
• Technical expertise and skills on the principles and application of standard and innovative practices, methods and techniques in the field of antimicrobial resistance;
• Ability to transfer technology to national counterparts and to promote the adoption and/or application of appropriate technology that would be responsive to the different social, cultural, and economic realities in the countries;
• Strong public health and strategic thinking background showing resourcefulness, initiative, leadership qualities, skills to deals with difficult situations and sensitive areas; demonstrated ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendation on key political and technical issues;
• Knowledge and skills in project planning, management and evaluation, including resource mobilization and grant management.
• 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.

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.

IT Skills:

Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and SharePoint. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs, including data management programs such as SPSS Epidat, Epinfo, Stata, and Tableau, would be an asset.

REMUNERATION

Annual Salary****: (Net of taxes)

US$ 73,516.00 post adjustment

Post Adjustment****: 50.4% 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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level****.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

A written test may be used as a form of screening.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and e-Manual.

For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org

PAHO/WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

PAHO/WHO offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary and post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station and exchange rates (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance). Other benefits include: 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension plan and health insurance scheme. Benefits for internationally recruited staff may include home leave, travel and removal expenses on appointment and separation, education grant for dependent children, assignment grant and rental subsidy.

Candidates appointed to an international post with PAHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile 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 organization purposes.