Advisor, Communicable Diseases Control and Elimination

Join us and be a driving force in strengthening communicable disease prevention, control and elimination in Suriname

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), is seeking an experienced and results-oriented Advisor, Communicable Diseases Control and Elimination to provide strategic and technical leadership in the prevention, control, surveillance and elimination of communicable diseases and public health threats in Suriname.

Under the technical guidance of the Director, Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control and Elimination (CDE) and the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR), the selected candidate will:

• Provide technical cooperation to national health authorities in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of communicable disease prevention, control, elimination and surveillance programs, including malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, antimicrobial resistance, vector-borne diseases, zoonotic diseases and neglected diseases.
• Support the strengthening of national and local health services through evidence-based approaches, epidemiological surveillance, disease prevention strategies and health information systems.
• Advise the Ministry of Health and other institutions on diagnosis, treatment, patient management, disease control technologies, environmental public health initiatives and climate-sensitive health risks.
• Analyze and evaluate surveillance data, identify disease risks and outbreaks, and provide recommendations to support public health preparedness, response and decision-making.
• Promote collaboration among government institutions, academic partners, civil society organizations, neighboring countries and international stakeholders to strengthen national capacity and support implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR).

For a complete list of functions, please see the post description.

What is required for this position?

Education

A bachelor’s degree in a health-related profession and a master’s degree in epidemiology, public health or any other field related to the functions of the position, from a recognized university.

Experience

Nine years of combined national and international experience working in epidemiology and control programs or in the administration of health services related to control of diseases, health analysis and statistics. Practical managerial experience in the operational aspects of prevention and control programs.

Languages

Fluency in English. A working knowledge of Spanish, 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 (ERP) and management information systems. Other IT skills and knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Word are considered essential.

Competencies and Skills

For a complete list of competencies and skills, please refer to the post description.

The skills required are:

• Theoretical and practical expertise in communicable disease surveillance, epidemiology, prevention and control methods.
• In-depth knowledge of disease transmission, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of communicable diseases.
• Professional expertise in preventive public health, epidemiological research, disease control and health services.
• Ability to analyze surveillance systems and develop innovative solutions for their improvement.
• Knowledge and skills in the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of technical cooperation interventions and programs.
• Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including preparation of reports, presentations and technical documents.
• Knowledge and practical expertise in the International Health Regulations (IHR), outbreak control and public health emergencies.
• Ability to develop collaborative multisectoral partnerships and mobilize resources.
• Knowledge of surveillance strategies to maintain disease elimination achievements and prevent re-establishment.
• Knowledge of communicable disease surveillance and response in remote, cross-border and mobile-population settings.
• Knowledge of One Health approaches and the relationship between climate, environmental conditions, vector-borne diseases and zoonotic risks.

Duration of Contract

Post of limited duration. First year probationary period.