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Advisor, Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Rio de Janeiro

  • Organization: WHO - World Health Organization
  • Location: Rio de Janeiro
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
    • Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center
  • Closing Date: Closed

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 Pan American Center for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA) is a specialized Center, part of the Department of Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health (CDE) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). PANAFTOSA promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation aimed at strengthening animal health and public health activities and programs, and food safety systems of Member States. PANAFTOSA’s technical cooperation includes the implementation of the Hemispheric Program for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PHEFA); the prevention, surveillance and elimination of zoonotic diseases which negatively impact human and animal health, including envenomation and the improvement of food safety systems for the prevention and consequent risk reduction of foodborne diseases as well as antimicrobial resistance.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the Director, Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health (CDE), and the direct supervision of the Center Director, PANAFTOSA, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

  1. Advise, coordinate and execute the Center’s work plan for FootandMouth Disease (FMD) in support and in accordance with the Hemispheric Program for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PHEFA), including subregional and national plans and projects for the surveillance, prevention and eradication of FMD;
  2. Provide technical cooperation to support countries’ FMD prevention and eradication programs and veterinary public health activities, including planning, organizing, staffing, managing and making effective use of resources;
  3. Provide technical cooperation to support countries’ activities for FMD prevention and eradication, including the development, implementation and coordination of field studies, and drafting of reports for the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) official recognition of disease status;
  4. Coordinate an expert network on biosafety/biosecurity with scientific and technical contribution of the public and private sector;
  5. Collaborate in the implementation of national, subregional and regional initiatives to prevent, control and eradicate FMD, including evaluation of vaccines or antigens banks;
  6. Collaborate in the harmonization of norms and regulations according to international standards on animals and animal products; ensure smooth communication and collaboration with stakeholders’ such as International Organizations, livestock producers, others;
  7. Advise and collaborate in the development and implementation of innovative training programs for national institutions to build capacities, transfer knowledge and technology to national personnel on methods and techniques in veterinary public health, including epidemiology and animals and public health administration;
  8. Provide support to national institutions and universities in designing, conducting and evaluating research projects;
  9. Advise and participate in field emergency animal disease preparedness and response activities; support the development of emergency plans;
  10. Promote and develop technical cooperation projects for the mobilization of resources as well as technical cooperation between countries (TCC), particularly in border areas;
  11. Represent the Organization in national and international fora;
  12. Provide editorial support in the technical area of specialty for the publications of the Center;
  13. Identify and mobilize human, information and financial resources for the implementation of areas of work under responsibility;
  14. Establish and maintain collaborative networks involving national and international organizations, governmental and non-governmental institutions, private sector, professional and scientific societies engaged in of animal and zoonotic diseases and veterinary public health;
  15. Collaborate in the preparation of the Biennial Work Plan (BWP) and the execution of the international cooperation projects, including the analysis of political, technical and socioeconomics issues and performance assessment;
  16. 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;
  17. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential: A university degree in a veterinary science and a master's degree in veterinary public health, public health or in any other field related to the functions of the post, from recognized institutions.

Desirable: Further specialization in veterinary epidemiology, management of animal health or public health programs 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 FMD, including surveillance, prevention, and control and eradication programs in countries and in the area of veterinary public health. Experience must also include management of emergency response field operations and resource mobilization for animal health programs and activities.

Desirable: Experience working in international organizations and programs and/or Inter-American Systems 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: 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 team’s successes and shortcomings.
  • 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.
  • Creating an empowering and motivating environment: Provide direction - 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: 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 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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 in overall management of FMD surveillance, prevention and eradication programs, including coordination, planning, implementation and evaluation of veterinary public health activities, such as organization of courses and seminars and resources projects
  • Expertise in the coordination and implementation of technical cooperation projects, involving public and private sectors.
  • Knowledge and skills in the development and coordination of emergency response field operations, including development and evaluation in preparedness plans.
  • Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities, including budget programming and control.
  • Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendations 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.

Languages:

Very good knowledge of Spanish or English, with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of Portuguese and/or French would be an asset.

IT Skills:

Demonstrated ability to effectively use software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio, Microsoft SharePoint and Project would be an asset.

REMUNERATION

Annual Salary: (Net of taxes)

US $74,913.00 post adjustment

Post Adjustment: 27.5% 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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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