Technical Officer, Surveillance and Monitoring for Vaccines

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 121,529 USD and 159,132 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 Special Program for Comprehensive Immunizations (CIM) is responsible for promoting and coordinating technical cooperation and alliances to support, as part of the guarantee of healthcare as a right to all, the efforts from the Member States to achieve the sustainable and equitable reduction of morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) through control and elimination strategies to improve the quality and life expectancy of populations in the Americas. It seeks to revitalize immunization programs in Member States through the application of innovative approaches and best practices.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general guidance of the PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR) and the direct supervision of the Advisor, Immunization, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Provide technical support to achieve measles, Rubella and CRS elimination/control targets:

• Provide technical assistance in surveillance for measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in accordance with national and PAHO/WHO standards and targets.
• Update technical/operational guidelines for measles, rubella and CRS surveillance and elimination and outbreak investigation and response, as needed.
• Coordinate with designated subnational measles laboratories to ensure adequate lab supplies and support for surveillance.

2. Provide technical support and guidance for data collection and analytic aspects to maintain polio-free status:

• Technical assistance in expansion and review of polio environmental surveillance sites.
• Update polio related guidelines/SOPs related to strategic information in line with global polio eradication initiatives.
• Periodic review of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases and feedback to departmental health management teams.
• Coordinate with UCNPV and DELR to share update on polio risk assessment findings and under-performing departments.
• Support triangulation of AFP surveillance data and enhance AFP surveillance activities.

3. Collaborate and provide technical support to ensure the effective use of surveillance and laboratory data for action at national, departmental and local levels;
4. Analyze surveillance data to provide feedback to immunization and rapid response teams to identify high risk areas for appropriate response;
5. Support UCNPV in strengthening their own capacities in the collection, analysis and the use of surveillance and laboratory data to drive programmatic actions;
6. Analyze surveillance data and other information to identify data and surveillance quality issues and take steps to correct them; provide technical cooperation to strengthen program monitoring, data quality and use of strategic information for risk analysis, monitoring of programmatic performance, and operational planning;
7. Analyze program data to identify program weaknesses and risks;
8. Provide technical support to strengthen the use of programmatic information at national, departmental and local levels for programmatic monitoring and corrective actions;
9. Provide technical support and guidance for the implementation of immunization coverage surveys, data quality assessments and other programmatic evaluation activities;
10. Oversee technical cooperation on vaccine safety monitoring including pharmacovigilance related to vaccines as well as the detection and investigation of Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccines or Immunization (ESAVI);
11. Provide technical guidance aligned with WHO/PAHO norms on the appropriate collection of information on immunization safety and investigation of safety signals or events;
12. Provide analytical and timely production of information on vaccine safety for key audiences such as regulatory authorities, program focal points, and communicators;
13. Identify training needs for epidemiologic/laboratory surveillance, immunization program monitoring and immunization safety monitoring;
14. Plan, implement and evaluate relevant training and capacity building activities for government staff and other stakeholders at national, departmental and local levels to improve the collection, data quality and strategic use of information at all levels;
15. Support VPD expert committees’ meeting by providing strategic and timely information for their deliberations;
16. Participate and actively engage in VPD and laboratory meetings with partners and stakeholders to provide quality technical input for strengthening strategic information for the control, elimination and eradication of VPDs;
17. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education****:

A university degree in a health science related to the functions of the post from an accredited institution.

If your candidacy is retained for an interview, you will need 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 accredited/recognized institution 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 following link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and the College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process.

Experience****:

Seven years of combined national and international experience in disease control programs, with emphasis on Vaccine Preventable Diseases surveillance. Experience should include participation in technical cooperation programs and activities in immunization data management.

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.
• Teamwork: Collaborate and cooperate with others/Deal effectively with conflict - Creates team spirit; promotes collaboration and open communication in the team; proactively supports others; welcomes team responsibilities and drives team results; promotes knowledge sharing in the team. Proactively identifies conflicts and facilitates their resolution in a respectful manner; tactfully resolves conflicts between or with others and takes action to reduce any possible tension; effectively builds a rapport with individuals and teams, establishing good personal and professional relationships, as well as minimizing risk of potential conflict.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: Relate well to diversity in others and capitalize 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.
• Communication: Express oneself clearly when speaking/Listen/Write effectively/Share knowledge - 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.
• Producing Results: Work efficiently and independently/Deliver quality results/Take responsibility - Prioritizes work, monitors own progress against objectives and adapts plans as required; communicates adjustments as necessary. Acts proactively and stimulates action as needed; handles problems effectively and constructively. Produces high-quality results and workable solutions that meet clients’ needs. Works independently to produce new results and sets own time lines effectively and efficiently. Shows awareness of own role and clarifies roles of team members in relation to project’s expected results. Makes proposals for improving processes as required and takes responsibility for own work and/or actions, as necessary. Demonstrates positive attitude in working on new projects and initiatives. Demonstrates accountability for own success, as well as for errors; learns from experience.
• Moving forward in a changing environment: Propose change/Adapt to change - 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.

Technical Expertise:

• Extensive knowledge and expertise in the epidemiology of communicable diseases, especially vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Expertise in the use of epidemiological principles and methods to solve problems related to vaccine-preventable diseases combined with the ability to respond objectively to unforeseen problems and exercise sound judgment in finding technical solutions within the framework of organizational policy.
• Excellent knowledge of the principles and recent developments in epidemiology, surveillance and biostatistics.
• Broad knowledge of organization and implementation of public health programs and public health administration.
• Broad knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation interventions and in the development of criteria and instruments for evaluating programs intervention.
• Knowledge and skills in project planning and management, including resource mobilization and grant management.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and coordinate activities with all relevant sectors of government, international agencies, the private sector and organized community groups.
• 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 French with a working knowledge of English. Knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese would be an asset.

IT Skills:

Demonstrated ability to effectively use current technology and software, spreadsheets and presentations, as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and management information systems. Other IT skills and knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Word are considered essential.

REMUNERATION

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

US$5,343.42 (Salary is non-negotiable)

Post Adjustment****:

US$3,254.14 This amount 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 identify candidates to fill other similar short-term professional positions, at the same grade level.
• Candidates will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. A written test and/or interview will be held for this position as a form of screening.
• The post description is the official documentation for organization purposes.
• 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 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 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 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 has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are encouraged.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this post.