Chief, Strategic Fund for Public Health Supplies

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

The primary objective of the Department of Health Systems and Services (HSS) is to strengthen health systems based on Primary Health Care, supporting universal health coverage. Its work encompasses the following areas\: strengthening of health systems governance for social protection in health; strengthening of regulatory frameworks and financial protection for progressive realization of the right to health; organizing people-centered, integrated health service delivery; promoting access to and rational use of quality, safe, and effective health technologies; strengthening national health research systems, and promoting the integration of scientific knowledge into health care, health policies, and technical cooperation; and developing human resources for health.

Under the general supervision of the Assistant Director (AD), and the direct supervision of the Director, Health Systems and Services (HSS) the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties\:

1. Lead and coordinate the continued development and operations of the PAHO Regional Revolving Fund for Strategic Public Health Supplies (the Strategic Fund (SF), to facilitate access to quality public health supplies by Member States at reduced cost through the mechanism; provide technical, policy, strategic and programmatic support to enhance and position the Strategic Fund (SF) and strengthen Member States’ priority public health programs;
2. Oversee and coordinate implementation of the Development Strategy for the PAHO SF with all relevant Organizational entities, to increase uptake by Member States, to respond to new market dynamics, and to address current and future Member State needs, ensuring that the SF remains aligned with Governing Body’s mandates and the Organization’s mission, business needs and priorities;
3. Conduct political and environmental analyses with all relevant Organizational entities on an ongoing basis that contribute to decision making and strategic planning for the Strategic Fund;
4. Lead the development of internal management practices and procedures that will result in an improved offer of high-quality public health supplies at the lowest price to participating Member States; enhance and ensure the continuous and timely availability of supplies to Member States, especially single, or limited source products;
5. Negotiate effectively with manufacturers of medical and public health supplies, as well as with international financing mechanisms in the context of the increasingly complex and dynamic global medical supplies market; develop and implement a strategy to continuously improve the SF business model in strategic negotiations;
6. Coordinate with PRO and HSS/MT as well as any other relevant Organizational entities to ensure the efficient and effective management, and the continued development of the PAHO SF. Develop a performance monitoring and evaluation framework and report on performance to Organizational Entities, Executive Management and Member States on a periodic basis;
7. Build consensus among Member States to address issues common to all countries in terms of suppliers, prices and product delivery;
8. Expand and develop new partnerships with bilateral and multilateral agencies, non-governmental organizations, sub-regional integration mechanisms and other partners to advance the interests and objectives of the SF;
9. Advise and support the development and roll out of a communication strategy and tools to promote the SF among Member States and other stakeholders;    
10. Mobilize resources in order to increase the technical support function of the SF, and to increase the Fund’s Capitalization Account with a view to extending lines of credit to Member States in support of procurement through the SF;
11. Coordinate and lead, as delegated, organizational relations with the different stakeholders involved in the medical supplies procurement cycle;
12. Represent the Organization in high level events, meetings, negotiations, policy discussions with partners and stakeholders and/or industries related to procurement of public health supplies through the SF, as delegated;
13. Identify, in consultation with all relevant Organizational entities, the opportunities and special areas of interest and promote, establish, and maintain liaisons with a broad spectrum of entities such as WHO, foundations, international financial institutions, global funds, political integration arrangements and partnerships related to the procurement and technical support activities of the SF;
14. Provide high level technical, managerial and policy advice to managers and actively support technical staff development in the area of procurement of public health supplies and the SF;
15. Formulate and recommend policies, plans, strategies, and budgets, in support of the Governing Bodies’ mandates related to the work of the Strategic Fund; report to Governing Bodies, through executives presentations and reports, on the status or results of the program of work;
16. Develop, define and establish the objectives, strategy, Biennial Work plan (BWP) and budget of the Strategic Fund; determine the viability of, and recommend projects and activities for the Strategic Fund, as well as determine strategies for implementation, including suitable financing, financial resources mobilization, and executing arrangements; ensure the timely monitoring, reporting and evaluation of results and accomplishments for the benefit of the Member States and the Organization;
17. Administer, allocate and monitor the Strategic Fund’s financial, logistical and staff resources; prepare, and justify the program and budget proposals;
18. Provide leadership, guidance and mentoring of supervised staff; define the Strategic Fund’s personnel component including the organizational structure, competencies and terms of reference. Initiate and recommend approval of personnel actions for all staff assigned to the Strategic Fund staff; ensure guidance and monitoring of staff through setting of clear work objectives, use of performance reviews and feedback mechanisms, regular communications, and solving interpersonal or technical conflicts. Monitor the competencies of the staff to ensure optimal performance and staff development; monitor workloads to ensure equitable distribution of work and to maintain job satisfaction, efficiency and output; and follow up on any deviation of work results from objectives;
19. Promote a culture of ethical behavior and integrity in accordance with the Organization’s Code of Ethical Principles and Conduct in order to ensure a culture of respect, responsibility, accountability, and compliance;
20. Provide a stable managerial framework that demonstrates credibility, trust and value to Member States, clients and humanitarian and other donors, while optimizing staff performance; provide advice, when called upon, to institutions of Member States in the area of expertise;
21. Direct and participate in the development of policies and their implementation and provide authoritative advice in relation to policy and procedures under the areas of responsibility;
22. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Essential\: A bachelor’s and a master’s degree in a health or social science, business administration, management, public administration, economics, or other 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.

Essential\: Thirteen years of combined national and international experience in the administration of large-scale programs and projects including pharmaceutical and other health technologies, policy and procurement/supply management of health commodities.

Desirable\: Experience working in a multi-national or UN organization would be an asset.

• Intrainstitutional Action\:  Displays, through leadership and decisions, understanding of the political systems and underlying drivers. Plans and evaluates both unit and individual results to achieve the PAHO's mission. Requires that projects be grounded in scientific evidence and that they be consistent with PAHO's vision, mission and values, and appropriate for the setting in which they will be carried out.  Demonstrates a full commitment to the mission and values of the Organization by aligning the area of work with the strategic direction of the Organization. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization.
• Accountability\:  Develops a culture that utilizes accountability strategies at all levels and activities, processes, and functions in one’s area. Oversees the development and required dissemination of appropriate reports on the monitoring of interventions in terms of partial and final results, as well as all the activities of one’s area.
• Analysis, Synthesis and Forecasting\: Leads one’s area toward a culture of decision-making that is based upon objective analysis of situational evidence and application of previously acquired knowledge. Provides oversight in the verification process that targets how area of work takes action in situations that will require future intervention, based on ongoing analysis. Presents solutions evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Is capable of anticipating the implications of an analyzed situation for two years or more.
• Devising the budget for interventions and cost optimization – (L05)\:  Achieves valuable results from the organizational strategies. Makes optimal use of the available resources.  Advocates ethical behavior and follows organizational guidelines when managing resources, helping to prevent and eventually resolving conflicts of interest.
• Leadership\: Ensures that others buy into leader's mission, goals, agenda, climate, tone and policy. Sets a good example by modeling behaviors that align with the Organization's vision, mission and values. Ensures that their team tasks are completed. Is able to communicate easily within the unit and across the organization, is enthusiastic and committed to the team. Provides feedback and coaching.
• External Action\: Develops and maintains mutually beneficial working productive partnerships. In the area under one’s charge, monitors all activities, using transparency in the execution of all processes.  Verifies that the conditions and deadlines set for turning in the product are met, and can objectively report on the results.  Leverages external actors to actors to accomplish strategic goals. 
• Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions\: Evaluates the ideas for interventions in terms of their potential for change and transformation before deciding to execute them. Follows the Organization’s strategy in executing technical cooperation interventions in order to generate expected results.
• Resource Mobilization\:  Establishment of an internal Culture that supports the Organization's strategic direction program of work and the organizational results to enable effective resource mobilization. Supports and makes all efforts to increase the level of resources that are considered necessary for operations. Is capable of negotiating with different types of organizations.  Uses the financial and non-financial resources with objectivity. Is able to achieve the goals and results with the resources they have.

• Technical\: Extensive progressive expertise at a senior level in managing complex health programs/projects involving policy development, procurement and supply management of medicines and other health technologies at both national and international levels.  Ability to provide authoritative technical advice and leadership in areas of technical responsibility.
• Managerial\: Extensive expertise in senior, progressively responsible positions in the management of a large public or private administration of administrative and technical matters requiring sensitive negotiations and high level interventions and in organizational development.  Demonstrated ability to provide professional leadership to strategic, organizational, managerial and analytic work in health; resourcefulness, initiative, highly developed judgment and interpersonal skills to deal with difficult situations, sensitive issues, establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different professional levels, discipline, nationalities, and cultural background.
• Administrative\: Skills in resource mobilization (including fundraising and partnership collaboration) and financial management for the delivery of expected results.

Very good knowledge of English, Spanish or Portuguese.  Knowledge of French would be an asset.

Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize 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.

Post Adjustment\: 47.1% 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.

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

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

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 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.