Advisor, Nutrition and Social Determinants of Health

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

The Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Department (NMH) promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities, directed at the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related risk factors, mental, neurological and substance abuse disorders and disabilities, promotion of optimal nutrition and road safety, that are evidence-based and appropriate for the political and sociocultural context in which they are implemented.  It raises political and public awareness and understanding of the burden of the most common NCDs and mental disorders, related risk factors and conditions and leads multi-sector and multi-stakeholder strategic and collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening Member States' capacity to promote and protect health through public policies, programs, and services. This will reduce risks and disease burden and contribute to improving the physical, mental, and social well-being of the population.

Under the general supervision of the Director, Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH), and the direct supervision of the Unit Chief, Risk Factors and Nutrition (NMH/RF), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties\:

1. Provide strategic, technical and programmatic advice to Member States for the prevention, elimination and control of all forms of malnutrition;
2. Provide technical cooperation to implement and monitor the 2004 Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health; the Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition (2012-2025); the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and related WHO resolutions; the  Framework for Action of the Second International Conference on Nutrition; the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025); the nutrition-related recommendations of the Global and Regional Action Plans for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and any other related global and/or regional mandates (including the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative);
3. Provide technical cooperation to build country capacity to develop and implement national intersectoral and interprogrammatic policies, plans and programs to address the social determinants of health and nutrition;
4. Build country capacity to assess, design, implement, enforce and monitor nutritional programs, regulations and guidelines to respond to the major forms of malnutrition;
5. Provide technical cooperation to develop and implement programs and actions to improve and monitor women, children and adolescent nutrition, growth and development in accordance with the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, 2016-2030; the Nurturing care for early childhood development framework and other global and regional mandates in coordination with other departments working in these areas;
6. Support Ministries of Health’s understanding of the Codex Alimentarius discussions in areas relevant to nutrition;
7. Provide technical cooperation to strengthen, preserve and recover health promoting sustainable food systems;
8. Promote and guide the incorporation of nutritional indicators in the national health surveillance systems to obtain data, disaggregated by sex, age and ethnicity; promote the use of data to orient policy decision making;
9. Promote research and gather, analyze, organize and disseminate evidence-based information;
10. Collaborate in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Organization’s Strategic Plan, and other planning tools of the Organization and collaborate in the elaboration and monitoring of the budget for those workplans;
11. Build alliances and networks and strengthen coordination mechanisms among technical entities, United Nations agencies, NGOs and other internal/external partners;
12. Mobilize international and national resources and extra-budgetary funds in support of national and regional programs;
13. Represent the Organization at national and regional technical meetings and in inter-agency consultations on areas of responsibility;
14. Provide technical support to counteract undue interference in public policies from industries with vested interests in nutrition;
15. Contribute to organization-wide policies, plans, strategies, and budgets, in support of the mandates related to Nutrition; report to Governing Bodies, through executive presentations and reports, on the status or results of the activities;
16. Participate in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the Unit’s Biennial Work Plan (BWP), budget and technical evaluation reports;
17. 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;
18. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Essential\: A university degree in nutrition or other health science, and a master’s degree in nutrition, public health, a social science or related field from a recognized university.

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\: Nine years of combined national and international experience in the design, development, implementation, and monitoring of nutrition policies and regulations.

• Intrainstitutional 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.
• 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 PAHO's strategic direction.
• Devising the budget for interventions and cost optimization\: Demonstrates initiative and managerial capacity in obtaining alternative sources of financing and in mobilization extra-budgetary resources for interventions.  Acquires adequate funding, based upon the resources allocated in intervention plans.
• 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.
• Leadership\: Uses complex strategies to promote team morale and productivity. Obtains needed personnel resources and information for the team. Makes sure the practical needs of the team are met.
• 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 in the areas of nutrition with an emphasis on nutrition and public health, including, food and nutrition policies to address all forms of malnutrition with a focus on the social determinants of health.
• Technical expertise in the design, implementation and monitoring of policies, and the ability to negotiate and coordinate with all relevant sectors of government, private sector, international agencies, social movements, and organized community groups.
• Technical expertise in formulating and developing tools for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of nutrition policies.
• 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 and technical 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.

Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with 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, SharePoint and Outlook. Knowledge of software programs for qualitative, statistical and econometric analyses would be an asset.

Post Adjustment\: 47.6% 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.

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.