Post: Advisor, Infection Prevention and Control
Organization:WHODuty Station: Washington, D.C., United States of America
Grade: P4
Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment
Duration of contract: Two years, first year probationary period
(24 day(s) until closing deadline)
Currently accepting applications
Organization unit: AM Americas (AM)
Communicable Diseases, and Health Analysis / Epidemic Alert and Response and Water Borne Diseases (CHA/IR)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :
The
Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis Department promotes,
coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities directed
toward the surveillance, prevention, control, and elimination of
communicable diseases and zoonosis 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, and fostering alliances that strengthen country
capacity, improve the effectiveness of inter-country collaboration, and
facilitate policy and decision making processes through improved health
information coverage, analysis and quality at all levels.
Description of duties:
Summary of Responsibilities
Under
the general supervision of the Director, Communicable Diseases and
Health Analysis (CHA), and the direct supervision of the Unit Chief,
IHR, Epidemic Alert and Response and Water Borne Diseases (CHA/IR), the
incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the
following:
a) Provide technical advice for the implementation of the
program of work on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), specifically
on surveillance of health-care associated infections; develop technical
cooperation activities to strengthen national infection programs to
facilitate implementation of the Organization's program of work;
b)
Provide technical collaboration and advice to Member States on effective
and feasible infection prevention and control interventions and
strategies to detect and respond to nosocomial outbreaks;
c) Provide
technical recommendations to establish and strengthen systems to
facilitate implementation of administrative, environmental and
individual-level infection control practices adapted to the current,
local context, and aimed at effectiveness and sustainability of
measures;
d) Provide technical support to reinforce surveillance
systems in hospitals and health care facilities including laboratory
strengthening to effect timely and accurate information reporting on
severe acute respiratory diseases;
e) Advise and collaborate with the
preparation and implementation of work plans on infection control
interventions, as a core capacity for the implementation of the
International Health Regulations (2005);
f) Advise in the improvement
of national and regional disease surveillance and response,
specifically the detection and reporting of multidrug resistant
pathogens at hospitals; and development of procedures and guidelines for
implementation, operation and evaluation of the hospital infection
prevention and control systems;
g) Liaise with WHO in the development
and implementation of guidelines for IPC, specifically in the context
of country capacity building;
h) Collaborate with other key internal
and external stakeholders, such as occupational health, health services
and systems, quality of care professionals for a comprehensive approach
to the implementation of the IPC recommendations;
i) Collaborate in
the implementation of voluntary funded projects aimed at decreasing
nosocomial mortality by strengthening the implementation of
evidence-based IPC measures at hospitals;
j) Participate in obtaining
extra budgetary resources by advising national authorities in the
preparation of project proposals for the appropriate national, bilateral
and international financial agencies;
k) Participate in team-based
project development and execution of the program of work and the
preparation of the biennial work plan (BWP), related budgets and work
plans, progress reports, periodic analytical reports to donors, and
briefing books;
l) Cooperate and collaborate with other projects to
achieve efficient coordination of activities, systematic utilization of
resources and comprehensive development of study, research and
analytical capacities required for IPC;
m) 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;
n) Perform other related duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Essential:
A university degree in a health-related profession and a master's
degree in public health or related field from a recognized institution.
Desirable: Specialization in infection prevention and control would be an asset.
Skills:
Key Behavioral Competencies
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.
Communication: Actively engages in
conversation with the key players in a multicultural environment both
within and outside the organization. Develops a network of appropriate
contacts inside and outside PAHO to gain information or to build an
alliance. Takes into consideration the multicultural differences within
the organization.
Information Management: Processes and analyzes the
data objectively, presenting it clearly and equitably. Leads the effort
to acquire relevant and selected information that facilitates the
achievement of organizational results. Evaluates/leads the evaluation of
information systems on the basis of its advantages/disadvantages for
processing information relevant to the area of work.
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 the PAHO's
strategic direction.
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.
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
- Theoretical knowledge and
technical expertise at the highest level in all aspects related to
infection prevention and control in outbreak settings; strengths and
limitations of infection prevention and control programs regarding
associated infections to health care at the national and regional
levels;
- Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical
cooperation interventions and in the development of criteria and
instruments for evaluating program interventions and performance;
-
Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of
technical cooperation program and activities, including budget
programming and control;
- Ability to analyze current surveillance
systems and possess the capability to develop and plan innovative and
appropriate solutions for improvement;
- Mature judgment, strong
technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal and communication
skills; demonstrate ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and
provide recommendation 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.
IT Skills
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
such as Visio, Project would be an asset.
Experience:
Essential:
Nine years of combined national and international experience in
infection prevention and control programs. Experience should include
providing guidance and training on infection prevention and control to
health-care centers, clinicians and healthcare workers.
Desirable:
Experience in surveillance of health-care associated infections and/or
experience in infection prevention and control measures in neonatal
units will be an asset.
Languages:
Very good knowledge of English
or Spanish with working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of
French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
Additional Information:
PAHO
offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net
salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and
health insurance), dependency benefits, pension plan, health insurance
scheme, and 30 days annual leave. Benefits for internationally recruited
staff may include travel and removal expenses on appointment and
separation, assignment grant, rental subsidy, and home leave.
ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN ON-LINE PERSONAL HISTORY FORM 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 ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES.
THIS
VACANCY MAY BE USED TO FILL OTHER POSITIONS IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT
MAY BECOME VACANT AT A LATER DATE, AND WHICH HAVE SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS
AND DUTIES AS THE ONES STATED IN THIS NOTICE.
Application Deadline: 13 September 2013
Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/13/FT343
How to Apply
https://erecruit.who.int/public/hrd-cl-vac-view.asp?o_c=1000&jobinfo_uid_c=27895&vaclng=en
.
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