Vacancy: Project Support Specialist, Tobacco Control (Grade: P2)

Vacancy: Project Support Specialist, Tobacco Control (Grade: P2)

The Unit of Risk Factors and Nutrition at the  Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health has opened a vacancy for a Project Support Specialist, Tobacco Control (Grade: P2)

• Type and duration of contract: Short term professional – Limited duration: 2 years.
• Duty station: Washington, DC (availability to report to duty station within 4 weeks of being selected)
• Application deadline: February 28 at 12.00 pm (US Eastern time)
• How to apply: Submit your CV and short bio to Ms. Rosa Sandoval at sandovar [at] paho [dot] org (sandovar[at]paho[dot]org) cc Mr. Luis Galicia at galicialui [at] paho [dot] org (galicialui[at]paho[dot]org)

The Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH) Department promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities, directed at the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, mental, neurological and substance abuse disorders, related risk factors and disabilities, and 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 noncommunicable diseases (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.

1.    DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Under the general supervision of the Unit Chief (NMH/RF) and the direct supervision of the Advisor, Tobacco Control, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

1. Support  and  assist  the Tobacco  Control  Team  in the   production  of  the  WHO  Report  on the Global  Tobacco   Epidemic  in the Americas,  in close collaboration  with WHO/Department  for Prevention  of Noncommunicable   Diseases;
2. Support the production of the biennial PAHO Regional Report on Tobacco Control;
3. Support  and  collaborate   with  the  Tobacco   Team   in  the  implementation   of  the  program   of  work   for  provision   of  technical cooperation  to Member  States on the FCTC reporting  commitments,   in close  collaboration  with the FCTC Secretariat  and Country offices in the Region of the Americas;
4. Collaborate  with the Tobacco  Team  for the  implementation  of  capacity  building  activities  such  as training  workshops, aimed  at developing  and implementing  legislation  in compliance  with the WHO FCTC, its guidelines  and related protocols;
5. Provide technical support in knowledge management activities and production   of technical   documents,    factsheets,   presentation materials,  guides,   tools  and  reports  on tobacco control;  as well as assist  in disseminating  information;
6. Provide technical  support  in coordination   with  the  Communications   officer   for the  review  and  update  of  the  tobacco  control webpage and other online resources;
7. Perform other related duties as assigned.

2.    REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

Education:

Essential:   A university  degree in a health-related  science,  social sciences,  economics,  law, international  affairs,  public health,  or related field, from a recognized  institution.

Experience:

Essential: Five years of combined   national and international   experience   working   in public   health, public policy or socio-economic development.

Desirable: Practical  experience   working   in  public  health  projects  at  the  international   level  in  Latin  America   and  the  Caribbean. Experience working in tobacco control would be an asset.

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.  

Technical Expertise

• Technical expertise in public policies, global diplomacy, international affairs, global health, public health.
• Organizational and analytical skills to manage knowledge and information on public policies and/or tobacco control.
• Strong project management, monitoring and project execution skills.
• Ability to maintain partnerships for coordinated execution of projects. Ability to prepare funding proposals.
• Mature judgment,   strong technical,   analytical   and conceptual   skills; demonstrated   ability to assess,   analyze,   synthesize   and provide recommendation on key technical issues.
• Excellent  organizational  and  analytic  skills  combined  with  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.

Skills:

• 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.
• 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.
• Service Orientation:   Follows through on the client inquiries, requests and complaints.   Keeps client up-to-date about progress of projects.  Monitors client satisfaction.
• Administrative  Support to Technical  Cooperation  Interventions:   Searches  for and furnishes  relevant  information  about  resource allocation  and deadlines,  potential  critical  points, risks and benefits,  and other related aspects of  available  options to provide support  for the technical cooperation  teams.
• External Action:  Establishes and maintains identifiable, results-oriented mutually beneficial productive relations and partnerships with counterparts in other institutions and sectors.   Able to sustain working relationships with people in other institutions.
• Communication: Establishes and proactively engages in productive dialogues in one's work inside and outside the Organization, and assists in the building of consensus.  Seeks to share  information  with others  within the organization,  both  face to  face and  through communication  and information  technology  systems as appropriate.

IT Skills:

Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook. IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as software for desktop layout, or Tableau, or Project would be an asset.