Advisor, Family and Community Health

Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/14/FT166 Title: Advisor, Family and Community Health Grade: P4 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract:  Two years, first year probationary period	Date: 2 April 2014 Application Deadline: 1 May 2014 (25 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic   Organization unit: AM Americas (AM) PAHO/WHO Representative / Family, Gender and Life Course (FGL)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : The Family, Gender and Life Course (FGL) department of the Pan American Health Organization promotes, coordinates and implements technical cooperation at the regional, sub regional and country levels, emphasizing the central role of the family and community to foster a culture of health promotion and protection in which health is a social value and a human right. FGL focuses on the development and implementation of programs for women and men's health; sexual and reproductive health; maternal and neonatal health; the integrated health and development of children and adolescents; the health of aging populations; food and nutrition; comprehensive family immunization; and gender, equity and cultural diversity approaches.
Description of duties: Under the general supervision of the Director, Family, Gender and Life Course (FGL), in coordination with FGL Unit Chiefs, CHA/HT Unit Chief, and the Center Director, Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women's Health, and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR), and the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties: a) Provide technical advice to national authorities in the development of strategic actions to improve women, maternal, perinatal, neonatal, infant, child, adolescent, youth, men and elderly health, and their access to health care taking into consideration gender and ethnic equality commitments, inequities in health, and the level of development of the countries; b) Advise in the preparation and revision of national and local level plans of actions; provide technical assistance to promote integrated child, adolescent, mother (maternal health and mortality reduction) and women's health strategies and activities within national programs and with gender sensitive and intercultural adaptation of the care services; advise Ministries of Health, public, private and university sector organizations to introduce and strengthen child, adolescent and women's health policies for preventive care to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); c) Promote the development of technical and management guidelines and best practice standards for the strengthening of neonatal, perinatal, child health programs, and services delivery, including the incorporation of risk approach and appropriate technology for improving program efficiency and effectiveness; d) Provide technical cooperation for the development of HIV/STI policies, programs and interventions, including elimination of MTCT of HIV and congenital syphilis, expansion of prevention and treatment actions for key populations, universal access to care within the framework of treatment 2.0, and strategic information. e) Support inter-programmatic actions in aspects related to HIV and woman, child and adolescent health, contributing to the strengthening of health system based on primary health care, and in line with Regional Strategies for HIV, elimination of Pediatric HIV and congenital syphilis and optimization of treatment and care, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health; promote effective coordination of programs and activities, harmonization and utilization of resources within the Organization; f) Advise in the development of technical and management guidelines and best practice standards for maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health, prioritizing elimination of pediatric HIV and congenital syphilis, care and treatment of HIV, including HIV testing and counseling and antiretroviral (ART): g) Promote and support research in the areas of HIV prevention, treatment and care, and health issues related with women, mothers, newborns, children, and adolescents health; h) Participate in the identification and mobilization of financial and human resources, including the development of appropriate project proposals; promote training and development of national institutions for this purpose; coordinate and strengthen activities with other United Nations (UN) organizations, non-governmental organizations, civil society, universities, other international organizations and private sector; i) Coordinate and support the implementation of activities promoted both by the Organization's specialized centers, mainly the Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women's Health, and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR), to strengthen training in the areas of perinatology, reproductive health, maternal, neonatal, child health, nutrition, and elderly health; j) Promote and undertake key actions that favor the implementation of community family health policies, taking into consideration existing legislation; k) Promote and support the implementation of PAHO's Gender Equality Policy and cultural diversity incorporation in health documents and programs of work; l) Promote and support research including the compilation of various questionnaires/surveys that will contribute to addressing prevailing diseases affecting mothers, newborns, children, adolescents, women, men, and elderly people, such as mental health, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV, among others; develop inter-sectoral actions and promote institutional and community alliances; m) Cooperate with the Country Office staff in supporting and developing health policies, action plans and projects aimed at increasing equitable access to health care for mothers, newborns, children, adolescent, women, and elderly people; identify inequities in care and causes of exclusion in health care services in order to identify best options for the achievement of the objectives and goals of the Strategic Plan of the Organization; n) Promote and provide support for resource mobilization through the development of projects for internal or external funding; o) Support the development and adaptation of tools and modules for maternal, neonatal, and child health care during emergency situations and disasters; p) Collaborate with the Country Office in the preparation of biennial work plan, programs and budgets, semiannual work plans, and periodic evaluations for assigned projects; q) 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; r) 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, family health or related field from a recognized institution. Desirable: A specialization in pediatrics, gynecology and obstetrics or family medicine would be an asset
Skills:  Key Behavioral Competencies Intra-institutional 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 - Expert knowledge in public health, family health programs, and the organization of country health systems with focus on primary/sexual/reproductive health, gender, ethnicity, and life course approach. - Sound knowledge of the technical, political and administrative aspects of health systems and primary health care. - In-depth knowledge and understanding of the clinical aspects and essential interventions to support the health growth and development of all members of a family with a life course approach, as well as basic knowledge of health settings and strategies conducive to improvement of social determinants related to family well-being. - Theoretical and practical familiarity with concepts and methods applicable to development and management of the intercultural aspects of child and maternal health. - Expertise in formulating and developing tools for monitoring and evaluating family and reproductive health strategies. - Expertise in strategic thinking, planning of human resources for health, information and information systems, political and stakeholder analysis, communication, negotiation methods, leadership development, and health system performance. - 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 software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio and Project will be an asset.
Experience: Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience in managing inter-sectoral health or social projects and programs in the area of family health with emphasis in sexual and reproductive health. Of these, at least five years should include development of policies. Desirable: Experience working in different cultural contexts, particularly related with social determinants and mainstreaming for health settings would be an asset.
Languages: Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
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. THIS VACANCY MAY BE USED TO FILL OTHER POSITIONS IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT MAY BECOME VACANT AT A LATER DATE, AND WHICH HAVE SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES AS THE ONES STATED IN THIS NOTICE.
Annual salary: (Net of tax) US$ 67,611.00 at single rate US$ 72,605.00 with primary dependants	Post Adjustment: 42.9 % 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.
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
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.
WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.