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Qualifications

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This requisition is for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAH/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WH

The Department of Communications (CMof the Pan American Health Organization leads in the development, implementation and management of PAHO’s corporate communication strategy at all levels, internally and externally, within a complex range of media outlets and platforms, media relations, a 24/7 information cycle and increasing mis and disinformation. Corporate communication is essential to PAHO’s mission and strategic priorities and advancement of the principles and practices of communication in support of sound public health principles and practices and PAHO’s mission in the delivery of technical cooperation in the Region of the Americas. Strategic and proactive communication is key to raising PAHO’s visibility and voice, as well as a tool for advocacy and impact. As the lead multilateral health organization in the Region of the Americas and globally recognized, PAHO’s communication must be “best in class” utilizing the necessary leadership, strategies, approaches, tools and technologies in support of PAHO’s roles and responsibilities across a multiplicity of languages, cultures, and political dynamics with a keen focus on public health, science and evidence.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

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

<![if !supportLists]>   <![endif]>Lead the Public Affairs team in strategic and operational planning, budgeting and reporting procedures, in compliance with established guidelines and schedules for their completion and submission;

<![if !supportLists]>   <![endif]>Develop and implement the organization’s media strategy and plans to secure news coverage, building and maintaining effective relationships with journalists and news agencies;

<![if !supportLists]>    <![endif]>Raise PAHO’s visibility and voice through strategic communications, creating content (OpEds, speeches, social media messaging etc.) to position public health and PAHO’s technical cooperation at the forefront of the public agenda;

<![if !supportLists]>   <![endif]>Lead and coordinate the Public Affairs team in its work with other CMU teams, focal points at HQ entities and country offices to plan, produce and disseminate key remarks, messages, narratives, stories, press releases, OpEds, media notes and advisories, talking points, statements, fact sheets, video scripts, campaign materials and other content for health ministries, donors, partners, the news media, general public and other audiences;

<![if !supportLists]>   <![endif]>Plan, coordinate and direct the output and dissemination of the Organization’s key messages, narratives, stories and public information products, while ensuring their accuracy and news value to build and retain public trust in PAHO as a trusted and unrivalled authority on public health throughout the Americas;

<![if !supportLists]>    <![endif]>Provide strategic advice, mentoring and capacitybuilding to PAHO leaders and entities, especially during reputational crises and health emergencies that require authoritative, strategic and expedient management of publicand mediafacing communications;

<![if !supportLists]>   <![endif]>management of publicand mediafacing communications;

<![if !supportLists]>   <![endif]>Advise and assist the CMU Director in the allocation and performance monitoring of financial, human, and physical resources that are allocated to the Public Affairs team for delivery of the entity’s BWP;

<![if !supportLists]>     <![endif]>Provide close and consistent supervision and mentoring to staff and contingent workers of the Public Affairs team, in order to achieve and advance individual and collective productivity and performance across all areas of their respective plans and work;

<![if !supportLists]>    <![endif]>Contribute team knowledge, skills and time to the production and dissemination of relevant CMU toolkits, Ilearn courses, materials and workshops, to enable and embed organizational knowledge and skills in key areas of strategic communications;

<![if !supportLists]>   <![endif]>Act as CMU Advisor to Country Offices and their communications focal points as part of a larger strategy to ensure coherence across the Region, and strong links between Country Offices and Headquarters;

<![if !supportLists]>     <![endif]>Provide strategic, informed and timely guidance to the CMU Director, CMU teams and collaborating entities as/when appropriate on important arising issues, opportunities and innovative approaches for communicating the Organization’s mission, programs and achievements in a timely, effective and creative basis, via the Website, social media platforms and news media outlets;

<![if !supportLists]>  <![endif]>Plan and develop strategies for the organization of special events and participation in these events with other entities within the Organization and with outside agencies; organize seminars, lectures, and exhibits on major issues and events of concern relevant to the program of work of the Organization;

<![if !supportLists]>   <![endif]>Supervise staff of the Team; provide training, advice, and guidance on issues arising from the daytoday activities; provide leadership, guidance and monitoring of staff through the setting of clear work objectives, timely and effective use of performance reviews and feedback mechanisms, regular communication, and solving interpersonal or technical conflicts; establish and support a learning environment;

<![if !supportLists]>   <![endif]>Collaborate and contribute to the preparation of the Unit’s Biennial Work Plan (BW, budget and technical evaluation reports;

<![if !supportLists]>   <![endif]>Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential: A bachelor’s and a master’s degree in journalism, media communications, public relations, policy communications, political science, or in any of the areas related to the functions of the position, from a recognized university.

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(/diploma(/certificate(required for this position.  PAHO, only considers official degrees obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHE, a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IA/ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESC. The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation 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: Nine years of combined national and international experience in public information, mass media communications and/or journalism.

SKILLS:

PAHO Competencies:

<![if !supportLists]>–     <![endif]>Theoretical and practical knowledge of the principles and practices of journalism and the news media, social media, knowledge management, and organization and dissemination, collaboration and refinement of information.

<![if !supportLists]>–     <![endif]>Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and tact to effectively communicate with the media and with senior level health officials in public and private sector and the civil society, multiple stakeholders and professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

<![if !supportLists]>–     <![endif]>Strong professional oral and writing skills including the development of reports, oral presentation, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

<![if !supportLists]>–     <![endif]>Indepth knowledge and understanding of communication methodologies, concepts and tools, and their role in promoting the concept of a learning organization.

<![if !supportLists]>–     <![endif]>Ability to analyze current public information networks to develop and plan innovative and appropriate solutions for improvement.

<![if !supportLists]>–     <![endif]>Excellent knowledge and skills for the design, organization, and coordination of complex special events and communication campaigns.

Technical Expertise:

<![if !supportLists]>·       <![endif]>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.

<![if !supportLists]>·       <![endif]>Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: 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.

<![if !supportLists]>·       <![endif]>Teamwork: 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.

<![if !supportLists]>·       <![endif]>Communication: Foresees communication needs of audience and targets message accordingly.  Facilitates open communication; encourages others to share their views openly and takes time to understand and consider their views.  Writes down ideas in a clear, structured, logical and credible way; drafts and supports the development of guidelines, policies and procedures. 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.

<![if !supportLists]>·       <![endif]>Creating an empowering and motivating environment: Manages individual and group projects and ensures that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clearly defined, understood and accepted; delegates work appropriately to achieve best results.

<![if !supportLists]>·       <![endif]>Producing Results: Monitors own and others’ work in a systematic and effective way, ensuring required resources and outputs. Aligns projects with Organization’s mission and objectives. Consistently solves own and team’s problems effectively as needed. Proactively engages in projects and initiatives, accepting demanding goals, in line with Organizational Strategies and Program of Work. Demonstrates accountability for work of team and sets an example, while explicitly articulating lessons learnt for own and team’s benefit.

<![if !supportLists]>·       <![endif]>Moving forward in a changing environment: Actively supports Organizational change initiatives and demonstrates personal commitment to them, including when faced with new demands; proposes workable solutions to challenging situations.  Engages in positive responses to a changing environment and promotes workable solutions to achieve own and team’s results.  Welcomes, and actively seeks to apply, new ideas, approaches and working methods and technologies in order to improve own and/or team’s work processes and results; demonstrates commitment to Organizational change initiatives. d results; demonstrates commitment to Organizational change initiatives.

<![if !supportLists]>·       <![endif]>Ensuring effective use of resources: 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 crossOrganizational resources needed for largescale 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 costeffective solutions for the Organization.

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 current technology and software, spreadsheets and presentations, as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERand management information systems. Proficiency in a range of IT skills and software programs, including Microsoft office Suite ( Word, Excel, Power Point, Outloocollaboration tools (Share point, Teams, One Drive and Adobe Creative Cloud (Master Suit. Additional skills include experience with 3D visualization and modeling software, digital social media product development tools, Visio and Project, demonstrating a strong foundation in technical skills and software application.

REMUNERATION

Annual Salary: (Net of taxe

USD $77,00 post adjustment

Post Adjustment: 2% of the above figure(.  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

This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and eManual.

For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org

PAHO/WHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.

PAHO/WHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.

PAHO/WHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoing will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.

PAHO/WHO is committed to workforce diversity. PAHO/WHO has a smokefree 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 insuranc.  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 online profile 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 organization purposes.