Advisor, Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health

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. More about P-4 contracts and their salaries.

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 Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH) Department promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities, directed at the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and related risk factors, mental, neurological and substance abuse disorders and disabilities, and promotion of optimal nutrition and road safety, that are evidence-based and appropriate for the political and sociocultural context in which they are implemented. It raises political and public awareness and understanding of the burden of the most common noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental disorders, related risk factors and conditions and leads multi-sector and multi-stakeholder strategic and collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening Member States capacity to promote and protect health through public policies, programs, and services. This will reduce risks and disease burden and contribute to improving the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of the population. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES Under the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative, and the general supervision of the Director Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health(NMH) the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to the following assigned duties: Advise and promote the implementation of the technical cooperation program of work for the promotion of mental health and the surveillance, assessment, prevention and control of noncommunicable(NCDs) and communicable diseases(CDs) and interrelated risk factors, determinants of health, as well as health promotion and life course to strengthen national capacities to adequately respond to the burden of mental health disorders and NCDs/CDs Provide technical advice to implement an integrated approach to the promotion of mental health and the prevention and control of NCDs, risk factors and determinants of health, following a multi-disciplinary team approach, linking the regional/global levels of the Organization Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and other institutions of the national and sub-regional health and political integration system for the promotion of health, diagnosis of health problems, as well as the identification of risk factors, methods, and technologies for their control; collaborate in technical cooperation activities particularly related but not restricted to NCDs as mentioned above Collaborate in the development, implementation, and the evaluation of prevention programs and health services for the control of NCDs and mental health, with emphasis on the strengthening of the integration, continuity and quality of the health services from different providers Provide technical cooperation expertise in the strengthening of institutions and organizations involved in tobacco control, and supervise the planning, development and monitoring of plans, programs and projects related to effective tobacco control policies in general and the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control(FCTC) in particular Provide technical cooperation in Nutrition to prevent obesity in children and adolescents in line with the Plan of Action for the Prevention of Obesity in Children and Adolescents, as well as reduce stunting and undernutrition in infants and young children, and maternal anemia in coordination with the NMH Department nutrition advisors Provide technical cooperation in Mental Health and Substance Use disorders, including alcohol use, to reduce related morbidity and mortality, promote the integration of MH into primary health care settings and support the development of interventions to reduce the treatment gap, as well the public health approach to substance use as outlined in the Plan of Action on Psychoactive Substance Use and Public Health Provide technical cooperation in the program areas of road safety, and prevention of violence and injuries, in line with the Strategy and Plan of Action on Strengthening the Health System to Address Violence against Women, the Plan of Action on Road Safety and the mandates set out in the Sustainable Development Goals Promote and support the development of relevant networks, alliances, and multi-stakeholder partnerships needed to successfully address the problem of mental health, NCDs and interrelated risk factors, determinants and health problems Promote and facilitate collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health, academic institutions other sectors of government civil society and private sector organizations to strengthen national and sub-regional capacities to implement and evaluate non-communicable diseases prevention and control programs Develop standards guidelines and procedures for the organization, operation and evaluation of program activities optimize the use of national and sub-regional health systems and related socioeconomic infrastructure implement the strategy of primary health care Collaborate in the application of concepts, principles and methods to the planning, programming, administration and evaluation of disease surveillance prevention and control programs, including functions related the community level integrated programs local health systems, and health promotion Cooperate in the development and strengthening of human resources relating to disease prevention and control, especially in epidemiology research methodologies prevention and control programs for noncommunicable diseases and cooperating in continuing education Disseminate appropriate and relevant scientific,technical,and policy information, sharing experiences of successful practices from other countries in integrated prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases Promote and strengthen public health research by assisting in identifying research priorities and institutions in the field of public health and promoting multi-disciplinary studies Collaborate in the development of national systems of information and public health surveillance for noncommunicable diseases,using as appropriate standard regional and global tools provide models and support to countries in the use of data for decisionmaking regarding policies and programs for the prevention and control of chronic diseases Participate in obtaining extrabudgetary resources, financial and non-financial by assisting national and sub-regional authorities in the preparation of project proposals and plans for appropriate national, bilateral and international agencies Cooperate and collaborate with other projects to achieve efficient coordination of activities, systematic utilization of resources and comprehensive development of study research and analytical capacities required for the control and prevention of NCDs Collaborate in the preparation of the Representations Biennial Work Plan(BWP) and the execution of international cooperation, including the analysis of political, technical and socioeconomic realities 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 Perform other related duties as assigned. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Education: Essential: A university degree in a health-related profession or related to the functions of the post, and a master’s degree in in public health or related field from a recognized institution. 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 professional experience in the development and evaluation of public health programs for disease prevention and control, including disease surveillance and health care planning; managing of health services, including primary and secondary health care as well as experience in intersectoral approaches to address the underlying determinants essential for mental health. SKILLS: PAHO Competencies: Overall attitude at work: Maintains integrity and takes a clear ethical approach and stance; demonstrates commitment to the Organizations 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: Relate well to diversity in others and capitalize on such diversity 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: Collaborate and cooperate with others Works collaboratively with team members and counterparts to achieve and build rapport; helps others when asked; accepts joint responsibility for the teams successes and shortcomings. Communication: Share knowledge 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. Producing Results: Work efficiently and independently/Deliver quality 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 teams 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 learn for own and teams benefit. Ensuring effective use of resources: Strategize and set clear objectives/Monitor progress and use resources well 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 crossOrganizational resources needed for large- scale projects in line with key Organizational objectives. Anticipates foreseeable changes and adapts own and teams 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 costeffective solutions for the Organization. Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond: Develop networks and partnerships and encourage collaboration Builds and negotiates strategic partnerships and alliances with a wide range of key stakeholders to ensure Organizational results and success. Creates innovative opportunities for promoting synergies inside and outside the Organization to improve Organizational success. Technical Expertise: Theoretical and practical expertise at the highest level in all aspects related to surveillance of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of health, as well as a thorough knowledge of epidemiology,prevention, and control methods. Familiar with health services policies and administration within the framework of local health systems. Knowledge and skills in project planning, management and evaluation, including resource mobilization and grant management. Ability to analyze current surveillance systems and possess the capability to develop and plan innovative and appropriate solutions for their improvement. Strong public health and strategic thinking background showing resourcefulness, initiative, leadership qualities and skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive areas; 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. Languages: Very good knowledge of Spanish is essential and English with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset. IT Skills: Demonstrated ability to effectively use current technology and software, in particular spreadsheets and presentations, as well as Enterprise Resource planning(ERP) and management information systems. Other IT skills and knowledge of software programs such as Visio and Project would be an asset. REMUNERATION Annual Salary: (Net of taxes) US $75,602.00 post adjustment Post Adjustment: 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. 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 an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities. PAHO/WHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct. PAHO/WHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoing will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution. 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.