Project Support Specialist (GFP)

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

The Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health Department (CDE) promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities directed toward the surveillance, prevention, control, elimination and/or reduction of communicable diseases, zoonosis and environmental threats to health that are technically sound and appropriate for the political and sociocultural context in which they are implemented.  It strives to achieve a sustainable impact on health by providing normative guidance, furthering the implementation of evidence-based interventions, fostering alliances that strengthen country capacity, improving the effectiveness of inter-country collaboration, and facilitating policy and decision-making processes.

Under the general supervision of the Unit Chief, HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (CDE/HT), and the direct supervision of the Advisor, Strategic Information for HIV/STI, TB and Viral Hepatitis, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties\:

1. Contribute to the implementation and activities of the Project “Strategic information to consolidate and guide comprehensive HIV services for key populations in Latin America and the Caribbean,” including coordination and management, and elaboration of technical reports;
2. Monitor and follow up with Country Offices the implementation of the project’s collaborative activities;
3. Analyze data from countries related to key populations and summarize situation analyses with regards to epidemiological and service provision data on key populations;
4. Support the analysis and evaluation of quality of health services and models of care for key populations in Member States, mainly those focused on the project;
5. Prepare progress reports and final project reports for the donors, summarizing country results in a tangible and compelling manner;
6. Support exchanges and communications with the donor on a regular basis;
7. Prepare and participate in the country missions for the preparation and implementation of country work plans related to strengthening information systems for services for key populations;
8. Assist with the preparation of capacity building plans and terms of reference related to the project’s training activities;
9. Assist with the design and conduct evaluations of the project’s activities;
10. Liaise with the administrative team and support the organization of regional and country project activities as needed;
11. Collaborate with the Unit team members to integrate the project activities in the Unit’s regular program of work; 
12. Collaborate with the preparation and implementation of country work plans related to strengthening information systems for services for key populations;
13. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Essential\:  A bachelor’s degree in a health science 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/search/default.asp 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\: Five years of combined national and international experience working in project management, research, data analysis, monitoring and evaluation.

Desirable\: Experience in surveillance and monitoring of communicable diseases would be an asset.

• Intrainstitutional Action\:  Displays, through behavior, understanding of PAHO's values and mission. Seeks information on and acts with understanding of the Organization's expectations while advancing further the understanding and application of its policies. Shows interest and concern for the activities related to his/her work in conjunction with the mission, values, vision and policies of the organization. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization.
• Analysis, Synthesis, and Forecasting\:  Objectively analyzes situations and, based on evidence and knowledge, suggests actions to improve implementation. Bases one's actions on available information, applies knowledge acquired from experience. Prioritizes the information according to one's needs or the Organization's. Is capable of anticipating the implications of analyzed situations between one to six months ahead.
• Teamwork\:  Encourages team members, adds significant contribution when participating in internal and external work teams, and leads through personal example the virtues of team success--collaboration, trust, transparency and joint responsibilities. Builds and maintains mutually beneficial productive interpersonal relations based on trust, inside and outside the Organization. Keeps every team member informed as well as shares relevant and useful information.
• Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions\:  Proposes priority ideas for executing interventions after anticipating their critical points, eventual risks and solutions. Evaluates proposals for interventions before making decisions to execute them. Lays the technical foundations for executing technical cooperation interventions following the Organization’s strategy in order to generate the expected results.
• Evaluation of technical cooperation interventions\: Processes the results of the intervention evaluations, turning them into systematized information that can support decisions on current and future interventions.
• Performance Management\: Keeps focused toward completing objectives. Identifies and takes concrete steps on one’s own initiative to improve job performance and required competencies.  
• Resource Mobilization\: Is capable of ordering and presenting the information for resource mobilization appropriately. Is able to adapt information in an objective manner and can analyze data. Is able to interpret and cover all the main aspects of the data.

• Theoretical knowledge on sexually transmitted infections prevention and control.
• Excellent skills in assessment and analysis of data; demonstrated ability in the design of methods and strategies to produce, use and share information with a variety of actors in different environments.
• Practical knowledge and skills in planning, implementation, and monitoring of program activities;
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of public health policy, program planning and evaluation.
• Strong research and problem-solving skills; able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and to work collaboratively on multi-disciplinary teams with tight schedules.
• Ability to integrate managerial and technical inputs into recommendations and action of the decision-making process; ability to manage multiple issues and tasks in a complex organizational environment.
• Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of epidemiological situation reports, funding proposals, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

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.

Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and SharePoint.  Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs, including data management programs such Epinfo, Stata, and Tableau, would be an asset.

US$1,754.86  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.

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.

Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this post.