Department head, public health in emergencies

Background

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), established in 1986, is a regional non-profit foundation with headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand supporting the advancement of safer communities and sustainable development, through implementing programs that reduce the impact of disasters upon countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific. The primary geographical focus of ADPC’s activities is Asia with the South, South East and East Asia being the primary sub-regions. In 2005, nine countries, namely Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Sri Lanka signed a Charter establishing ADPC as an inter-governmental organization.

ADPC has vast experience of 26 years of working in Asia Pacific region along with the national and local Government of its charter member countries as well as countries of the Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management (RCC); a regional mechanism established by ADPC in 2000 and comprising of head of national disaster management offices of 26 countries in Asia Pacific. ADPC also shares a close partnership with sub-regional inter-government agencies, such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Secretariat for Pacific Community (previously known as SOPAC) on various DRR related themes including capacity building, strengthening institutions and systems, knowledge management and mainstreaming DRR into development. It works closely with a range of UN Agencies including UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCAP, WHO, WMO, UNISDR, UNOCHA, UN-Habitat, etc. on DRR related projects and consulting services. ADPC works with international and local NGOs, national technical and training institutions, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Further details on ADPC and Programs can be found at www.adpc.net

The primary focus of ADPC is to assist national and sub-national Governments in Asia to build capacity to respond to, prepare for and mitigate the natural disaster risk and adaptation to climate change. Accordingly ADPC is comprised of several thematically organized operational departments such as Department on Safer Development Planning and Implementation, Department on Climate Change and Climate Change Adaptation, Department on Resilient Cities and Urban Risk Management, Department on Disaster Risk Management Systems, Department of Public Health in Emergencies, Department of Disaster Risk Assessment and Monitoring, Training Services Unit. With around 100 staff from 19 countries and with professionals with expertise in development planning, engineering, architecture, agriculture, social sciences, health science climate sciences and disaster risk reduction. ADPC has developed expertise in the management of public health emergencies in disasters through the implementation of projects, and developing and delivering training courses and workshops. The Public Health in Emergencies (PHE) Team has implemented projects and developed specific training activities to cover the whole spectrum of the potential hazards that can be anticipated in Asia and the Pacific: natural hazards, complex emergencies, technological disasters. The PHE Team has begun to expand its activities outside Asia to now cover also Middle-East region. Risk management is the reference conceptual framework for developing projects of management of health in crisis situations.

Departmental responsibilities in relation to respective department

- Responsible for managing Department activities as per the agreed set of strategic objectives of the Department in line with ADPC strategic goals, core values, vision and mission statements.
- Manage and develop the PHE work program/project portfolio. Responsible for providing technical resource inputs to the projects/programs under the department , submission of program/project reports and financial reports to donors and partners
- Management assistance to Director; and contributions for the futuristic growth of the Department including resource mobilization, design of new program areas capturing the demand in the region, marketing new program ideas
- Develop dynamic working relationships with donor, government and partner agencies, and NGOs agencies
- Develop capacity building and training workshops and courses that address current needs in the field of public health in emergencies; and review, strengthen and refresh current curriculum
- Build, manage and sustain partnerships with global, regional, and national parties including donors, government agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders to promote ADPC’s work in the respective thematic area/s in relation with program/project implementation under the Department.
- Responsible for progress reporting to ADPC Executive Committee, Donors and clients, submission of annual work plans for the department, inputs to internal financial statements, etc.
- Responsible for overall management and development of subordinate staff, management of consultants, assets, etc. including programmatic and financial management of programs/projects under the respective department
- Keep up to date on developments within the field of public health in emergencies

Institutional Responsibilities
- Provide technical resource inputs under key specialized technical areas to all other departments
- Attendance in routine meetings of Senior Managers, Ex-Com and provide resource inputs to corporate functions of the organization
- Participate in ADPC Governance functions such as RCC meeting, BoT meeting , Development partner meetings etc and contribute to ADPC resource generation strategy and institutional development
- Work with support units, i.e. Office of the Executive Director, Human Resources and Administration, Finance, Training Services Unit , and Information Technology and Communication Unit for the improvement of the ADPC systems, and ensure efficient cooperation and administrative systems and guidelines are implemented effectively
- Initiate various document to support implementation of activities of the department such as contract agreements, Statement of work for consultants , MOU/ Agreement, with donors, I/NGOs, and Country program partners, in accordance with the approved procedures and policies of ADPC
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director in charge of the Department

Supervisor(s): Director, ADPC

Required Qualifications / Selection Criteria:

- A Master’s Degree in Public Health or related field.
- A minimum of ten year’s experience in public health practices and health response in emergencies, preferably in Asia. Preference will be given to candidate having experience in project portfolio/program management.
- Proven experience in identifying, developing and implementing projects related to Public Health in emergencies
- Practical experience of developing and managing capacity building and training programs and courses, preferably courses related to Public Health in emergencies
- Experience and capacity to network, develop and establish effective relationships with donors, national governments and partner agencies, and NGOs.
- Proven ability to strategize, plan and organize work, monitor and evaluate activities
- Ability to make public presentations in a teaching environment, and to facilitate courses and meetings
- Good communications skills, written and spoken, in the English language

Personal Qualities

- Self-motivated, pro-active and takes initiative
- Demonstrated ability and plan and organize work and time independently
- Excellent interpersonal skills, team-oriented work style, and experience in working in a multi-cultural environment
- Strong desire to learn, undertake new challenges, must a creative problem-solver, must have self confidence, willingness to work hard, good sense of humor but with seriousness about the quality and excellence of work.