Chief, Revolving Fund Special Program for Access to Vaccines

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 Revolving Fund Special Program for Access to Vaccines (RFV) is a component of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)’s technical cooperation with its Member States and a key contributor to the success in eliminating vaccine preventable diseases. It provides leadership, direction, support and assistance to Member States for the continuous supply of quality vaccines and promotes rapid introduction of new life-saving vaccines. It also provides strategic direction on vaccine procurement to Executive Management, PAHO/WHO Representatives (PWRs), Department Directors and the Comprehensive Family Immunization Unit, and develops strategies and leads negotiations with suppliers to ensure best pricing for countries.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the Director (D), and the direct supervision of the Assistant Director (AD), 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 Special Program for Access to Vaccines (RFV), to facilitate access to quality vaccines and related supplies by Member States at reduced cost through the mechanism; provide technical, policy, strategic and programmatic support to enhance and position the RFV and strengthen Member States’ immunization programs;
2. Oversee and coordinate implementation of the Development Strategy for the RFV 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 RFV 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 RFV;
4. Lead the development of internal management practices and procedures that will result in an improved offer of high-quality vaccines and related 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; negotiate effectively with vaccine manufacturers, as well as international vaccine financing mechanisms in the context of the increasingly complex and dynamic global vaccine market including increased efficiencies and digitalization of the RFV;
5. Provide technical, policy, strategic and programmatic advice to enhance and position the Revolving Fund for Access to Vaccines as a key contributor to the success in eliminating vaccine preventable diseases; ensure the achievement of its main goal of facilitating timely access to high-quality vaccines at the lowest price for national immunization programs of participating Member States;
6. Coordinate with all relevant Organizational entities the efficient and effective management of the PAHO Revolving Fund including monitoring and evaluation of its performance, especially with FPL/IM, HSS, PRO and LEG;
7. Build consensus among Member States for continued solidarity to address vaccine needs in the evolving vaccine marketplace;
8. Conduct political and environmental analyses with all relevant Organizational entities, on an ongoing basis, that contribute to decision making and the elaboration of strategic planning for the Revolving Fund;
9. Coordinate the implementation of the PAHO Revolving Fund strategy with all relevant Organizational entities, ensuring that the Revolving Fund remains aligned with the Governing Body mandates and the Organization’s mission, business needs and priorities;
10. Coordinate and lead, as delegated, the Organizational relations with the different stakeholders involved in the vaccine procurement cycle;
11. Represent the Organization in high level events, meetings, negotiations, policy discussions with partners and stakeholders and/or industries related to vaccines and vaccine procurement, as delegated;
12. 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 including WHO, UNICEF, the Gavi Alliance, foundations, international financial institution’s, global funds, political integration arrangements, partnerships related to vaccine procurement, and the private sector;
13. Provide technical and policy advice for the Fund’s practices and procedures in order to ensure alignment with the Organization’s mission, vision, values, policies, strategies, mandates, business needs and priorities in order to ensure continuing operations and best results;
14. Provide high level technical, managerial and policy advice to managers and actively support technical staff development in the area of vaccine procurement;
15. Identify and mobilize financial resources to support program implementation, in collaboration with other Departments of the Organization and external partners;
16. Formulate and recommend policies, plans, strategies, and budgets, in support of the Governing Bodies’ mandates related to the work of RFV; report to Governing Bodies, through executive presentations and reports, on the status or results of the program of work;
17. Develop, define and establish the objectives, strategy, plan and budget of the RFV; ensure that the strategies and objectives are aligned with the Organization’s mission, vision, values, policies, strategies, business needs and priorities in order to ensure continuing operations and maximize results; ensure that results and products delivered are aligned with the Organizational Strategy and make significant contributions for the achievement of the expected results and strategic objectives;
18. Determine the viability of, and recommend projects and activities for the RFV 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;
19. Administer, allocate and monitor the Special Program’s financial, logistical and staff resources; prepare, and justify the program and budget proposals;
20. Provide leadership, guidance and mentoring of supervised staff; define the RFV’s personnel component including the organizational structure, competencies and terms of reference. Initiate and recommend approval of personnel actions for all of the Special Program’s 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 maintain job satisfaction, efficiency and output; and follow up on any deviation of work results from objectives;
21. 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;
22. 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;
23. 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;
24. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential: A bachelor’s and a master’s degree in a health or social science, business administration, management, public administration, economics, or other field related to the functions of the post, from a recognized institution.

If your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide a copy of the degree(s)required. 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/. Will use databases of CHEA 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: Fifteen years of combined national and international experience in leading and managing vaccine procurement, finance and vaccine supply chain management. Experience in managing negotiations with large institutions and resource mobilization and partnership programs, ideally in the field of international public health. Experience should include progressively responsible demonstrated skills in management, diplomacy, and negotiations at high level.

Desirable: Experience in a United Nations organization or any other international organization 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: Share knowledge - 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.
• 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.
• Driving the Organization to a successful future: Constructive leadership style/ Set the vision and build commitment - Leads and develops a road map for successfully achieving real progress in the Organization’s mandate, including consultation with key stakeholders; demonstrates respectful, trustworthy, transparent and accountable behavior in order to develop a reliable and coherent identity for the Organization. Creates a coherent Organizational vision of shared and successful goals; fosters a culture of vision and long- term goals, recognizing and rewarding efforts to maximize the Organization’s value.

Technical Expertise:

• Technical: Extensive expertise at a decision-making level in vaccine supply, international public health, and resource mobilization for health; wide and varied knowledge of public health problems and vaccine procurement processes, including monitoring and performance assessment in the health or social sector.
• Managerial: Extensive expertise in progressively responsible positions in the management of a large public or private institution, and in administrative and technical matters requiring sensitive negotiation with pharmaceutical industry and other international bodies. Demonstrated ability to provide professional leadership to strategic, organizational, managerial and analytic work; courtesy, tact, sensitivity to manage confidential information, and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different professional levels, discipline, nationalities, and cultural backgrounds; resourcefulness, initiative, highly developed judgment and interpersonal skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive issues.
• Administrative: Skills in resource mobilization (including fundraising and partner collaboration) and financial management for the delivery of expected results.

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.

IT Skills:

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.

REMUNERATION

Annual Salary: (Net of taxes)

US $102,715.00 post adjustment

Post Adjustment: 49.6% 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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and e-Manual.

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 contacted only if 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.