Director, emergency preparedness and disaster relief - P5

PAHO/13/FT575

Objectives of the programme:

The objective of the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Department (PED) of the Pan American Health Organization is to increase health sector resilience to disasters. As a public health priority, increasing resilience of the health sector to disasters involves disaster risk reduction, preparedness, management, response and recovery. PED, funded largely by extra budgetary resources, assists Member States to increase the national and intersectoral capacity to prepare for, and respond to disasters related to any hazards (natural, man-made, biological, chemical, radio nuclear and others), and to mobilize human and financial resources to respond to the health effects in disaster-affected countries in the Region. PED is responsible for ensuring the implementation and updating of the PAHO/WHO Institutional Emergency and Disaster Response policy.

Description of duties:

Under the general supervision of the Director and the direct supervision of the Deputy Director, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

• Provide technical, policy, strategic and programmatic advice on emergency preparedness and disaster relief; plan and guide the implementation of regional plans, projects and initiatives to increase health sector resilience to disasters in the Region;


• Liaise directly with humanitarian donors and agencies in all matters related to disaster management (prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery), including the mobilization of resources for the Organization's technical cooperation in disaster management, including humanitarian response, in close coordination with technical departments and country offices;


• Coordinate the Organization's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the emergency preparedness and disaster relief activities as part of the Inter American and UN Systems and in partnership with major NGO's, Red Cross movement and other key disaster related institutions at all level;


• Promote and provide support for the development of disaster resilience capacity of the health sector in the Region; and advocate to ensure that the health sector is represented in all disaster related matters including complex emergencies in order to improve the effectiveness of the national and international response;


• Provide technical advice to Member States on health disaster management and resource mobilization for humanitarian operations;


• Ensure the coherence, coordination and integration of the different technical cooperation areas for the effective achievement of the disaster management objectives;


• Identify and obtain financial resources to support the implementation of the Department's work plan, in collaboration with other departments of the Organization;


• Identify, promote, establish, maintain, and coordinate partnerships with other United Nations organizations, the Inter-American System and with other partners in order to maximize programmatic integration, efficiency and effectiveness in matters related to disaster management;


• Formulate and recommend policies, plans, and strategies, in support of the Governing Bodies' mandates related to the work of the Department; develop and establish guidelines, norms, practices and procedures to improve the Organization institutional emergency and disaster response policy; report to Governing Bodies on the status or results of the program of work;


• Develop, define and establish the objectives, strategy, plan and budget of the Department; ensure that the strategy and objectives are aligned with the Organization's mission, vision, values, policies, strategies, and priorities; monitor the implementation of activities, implement corrections of any deviations and to incorporate feedback to redefine the objectives and/or strategies; ensure that results and products delivered by the Department are aligned with the Organizational Strategy and make significant contributions to outputs and outcomes as defined in the Strategic Plan and in accordance with the Humanitarian reform principals and WHO Emergency Response Framework;


• Develop and establish guidelines, norms, practices and procedures in the area of expertise to improve the Department's effectiveness and efficiency;


• Serve as communication link between the Deputy Director and the project teams of the Department on matters of policies, strategies and program implementation and evaluation;


• Administer, allocate and monitor the implementation of the Department's financial, and human resources; prepare, and justify the program and budget proposals; define the Department's Human Resources Plan including the organizational structure, competencies and terms of reference; initiate and recommend approval of personnel actions for all staff and other personnel;


• Provide authoritative technical, managerial and policy advice to staff assigned to the Department, Sub-regional and Regional Advisors located in the countries; review reports submitted by staff and provide constructive feedback;


• Provide leadership to guide staff and motivate teams in a multicultural environment, and ensure continuous training and development of staff; including 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;


• 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;


• Provide a stable managerial framework that demonstrates credibility, trust and value to Member States, partners and humanitarian and other donors, while optimizing staff performance; provide advice, when called upon, to institutions of Member States in the area of expertise;


• 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;


• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

The successful candidate will have:

Education: A university degree in a health, social or environmental science and a master's degree in public health, public administration or related field from a recognized institution.

Skills:

• Intrainstitutional Action: Displays, through leadership and decisions, understanding of the political systems and underlying drivers. Plans and evaluates both unit and individual results to achieve the PAHO's mission. Requires that projects be grounded in scientific evidence and that they be consistent with PAHO's vision, mission and values, and appropriate for the setting in which they will be carried out. Demonstrates a full commitment to the mission and values of the Organization by aligning the area of work with the strategic direction of the Organization. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization.

• Analysis, Synthesis, and Forecasting: Leads one's area toward a culture of decision-making that is based upon objective analysis of situational evidence and application of previously acquired knowledge. Provides oversight in the verification process that targets how area of work takes action in situations that will require future intervention, based on ongoing analysis. Presents solutions evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Is capable of anticipating the implications of an analyzed situation for two years or more.

• Communication: Instills a culture that encourages effective communication in multicultural environments. Models effective dialogue that seeks all opportunities of conversation with key players by displaying or underlying drivers. Seeks to align the area of work with a strategic direction of the organization by displaying underlying values.

• Performance Management: Evaluates the performance of subordinates in terms of the organizational strategy, provides feedback offering measurable suggestions and promotes their professional development. Develops and implements realistic and achievable work plans--including tasks, priorities, resources and schedules. Adjusts goals and courses of action to meet changing needs. In a systematic way develops people through demanding and challenging projects utilizing each employee's competencies. Effectively uses the Organization's official performance evaluation processes and systems. Provides constant and positive feedback to focus development efforts.

• Teamwork: Develops a high performing team in one's operational area and also encourages teamwork across the Organization. Establishes and models the standard for teams and teamwork. Provides significant contributions when participating in internal and external work teams. Initiates and leads mutually beneficial productive interpersonal relationships based on trust, both inside and outside the Organization. Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions: Evaluates the ideas for interventions in terms of their potential for change and transformation before deciding to execute them. Follows the Organization's strategy in executing technical cooperation interventions in order to generate expected results.

• External Action: Develops and maintains mutually beneficial working productive partnerships. In the area under one's charge, monitors all activities, using transparency in the execution of all processes. Verifies that the conditions and deadlines set for turning in the product are met, and can objectively report on the results. Leverages external actors to actors to accomplish strategic goals.

• Resource Mobilization: Establishment of an internal Culture that supports the Organization's strategic direction program of work and the organizational results to enable effective resource mobilization. Supports and makes all efforts to increase the level of resources that are considered necessary for operations. Is capable of negotiating with different types of organizations. Uses the financial and non-financial resources with objectivity. Is able to achieve the goals and results with the resources they have.

​Technical Expertise: 

• Technical: Extensive expertise at a decision-making level in, risk reduction, emergency preparedness, complex emergencies and disaster relief and considerable familiarity with other fields relevant to the Department's responsibilities in particular in managing complex health programs/health systems at both national and international levels. Wide and varied knowledge of public health problems and health management 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 administration of administrative and technical matters requiring sensitive negotiation, quick decision taken in stressful situations. Demonstrated ability to provide professional leadership to strategic, organizational, managerial and analytic work in health; 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 background; resourcefulness, initiative, highly developed judgment and interpersonal skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive areas.


• Administrative: Skills in resource mobilization (including fundraising and partner collaboration) and financial management for the delivery of expected results.

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.

Experience:

• Essential: Thirteen years of combined national and international more progressively responsible experience in disaster programs (prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery) with at least five years of supervisory experience.


• Desirable: Experience in management of complex disasters, large humanitarian operations and negotiation with donors and large institutions 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.