Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/10/FT446
Title: Advisor, Emergency Operations Center
Grade: P4
Contract type: Fixed-term appointment
Duration of contract: Two years, first year probationary period.
Application Deadline: 29 October 2010
Duty Station: Washington, D.C. United States of America
Organization unit: AM Americas (AM)
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response (PED)/Deputy Director (DD)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :
The objective of the Area on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief is to reduce the impact of disaster on the health of the population of the Americas, through disaster preparedness, mitigation and a timely and coordinated response.
Description of duties:
Under the general supervision of the Deputy Director, the technical supervision of the Senior Advisor, Disaster Preparedness and Response and the administrative supervision of the Manager, Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response (PED), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:
a) Manage the Organization's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to effectively respond to disasters and emergency situations throughout the Region; monitor events to anticipate possible threats and alert corresponding technical entities, Country Representatives, Center Directors, Executive Management and key partners; revise and update the Organization's Standard Operation Procedures; ensure that the EOC is prepare to operate under the Incident Management System and that all systems are in place to ensure EOC can function during extended hours (staffing, IT support, video conferencing, etc.);
b) Coordinate and manage relationships with a wide variety of internal and external operational actors, including the International Health Regulations Team; Health Cluster Coordinator when the mechanism is activated; the Organization's disaster focal points in Country Offices; Emergency Operations Center in other national agencies and in the United Nations and Inter-American systems; the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; military organizations and NGOs;
c) Prepare recommendations for the development, implementation, monitoring and dissemination of operational procedures, guidelines and standards within the EOC and Response Teams to ensure alignment with modalities of work at Headquarters, Country Offices and Centers; review and update the Organization's Standard Operating Procedures for emergencies (SOPs) annually;
d) Design and implement ongoing staff training and simulation exercises for the Disaster Task Force, as well as prospective personnel for the Incident Management Mechanism; provide technical advice to Member Countries and Country Offices of the Organization on how to organize emergency centers to monitor crises;
e) Coordinate the production of technical information and data on disasters and emergencies, including the impact of the event on health; data analysis and preparation of reports to facilitate information sharing, decision-making and response to events. Liaise with PED Advisors to ensure broadest dissemination possible to international community and general public.
f) When activated, provide technical support and direct advice to the Incident Manager on the chain of command, type of response expected, and coordination of staff working in the EOC;
g) When called upon to directly supervise staff, establish clear work objectives, conduct timely and effective performance appraisals, provide coaching and feedback, and support staff development opportunities;
h) Perform other related duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Essential: A bachelor's degree in public administration, management, international affairs, logistics, and a master's degree in public administration, management, disaster management or related field from a recognized university.
Desirable: Specialized training in disaster preparedness would be an asset.
Skills:
-- Intrainstitutional Action: Leads team efforts toward full understanding of the policies the organization must operate within as well as the Standard of Conduct for the International Civil Services. Leads employees and co-workers toward operating in a fair, consistent and equitable manner, and displays such behavior by example. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization.
-- Performance Management: Plans and takes concrete steps on one's own initiative to improve job performance and required competencies. Learns from one's mistakes, adjust goals and courses of action to meet changing needs. Conducts evaluation meetings with subordinates at the times stipulated, using the Organization's instruments and other specific to the area. Consistently motivates the staff members to improve their abilities, gives them tasks and activities that represent a challenge to them.
-- Teamwork: Embraces and leads consensual decision-making that is, leading the fulfillment of team decisions, even when they may not fully coincide with one's own opinions or proposals. Knows how to manage difficult team situations and promotes consensus building. Takes responsibility for the team's successes and failures.
-- Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions: Selects priority ideas for executing the interventions after anticipating their potential problems and solutions. Participates in the preparation of strategic plans, providing input about their impact, quality, critical points, and risks.
-- Knowledge Management: Supports and develops networked and community working. Identifies, develops and nurtures networks and communities. Identifies and builds on working networks that enable knowledge and information flow. Designs and implements knowledge and information services. Enables utilization of knowledge and information sources. Delivers relevant knowledge and information in most appropriate form. Participates in and learns from networked and community approaches.
-- External Action: Promotes the values of the Organization through mutually relationships with external institutions. Monitors one's work using transparency in the execution of all tasks.
-- Resource Mobilization: Establishes partnerships and alliances with a variety of institutions and organizations as well as internal partnerships to obtain financial and non-financial resources. Is able to relate with all types of people and at all levels in order to obtain resources that are needed. Is able to present and disseminate information in a clear manner. Executes resources according to the agreements previously established with partnerships.
Technical Expertise:
- Theoretical and practical expertise at the highest level in all aspects related to disaster management, situation room or incident room management.
- Knowledge and skills in project planning, management and evaluation, including resource mobilization and grant management.
- Knowledge and understanding of database systems to support planning, monitoring and evaluation of the technical cooperation strategy and work plan; familiarity with emergency communications equipment and services.
- Ability to coordinate, monitor and control administrative and logistical services affecting several projects and involving the allocation of work, developing/adjusting operational procedures.
- Strong public health and strategic thinking background showing resourcefulness, initiative, leadership qualities and skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive areas; demonstrated ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendation on key political and technical issues.
- Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy and tact to effectively communicate with senior level officials, multiple stakeholders and professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
- 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.
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 Microsoft SharePoint and Project would be an asset.
Experience:
Essential: Nine years combined national and international experience in the public or private health sector in disaster/humanitarian management, project management, monitoring and evaluation.
Desirable: Experience in providing direct administrative or logistic support services to field projects in large private or public 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.
Additional Information:
A WRITTEN TEST AND/OR INTERVIEW MAY BE HELD FOR THIS POST. CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED ONLY IF THEY ARE UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN ON-LINE PERSONAL HISTORY FORM. THE POST DESCRIPTION IS THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
US $66,480. at single rate
US $71,390. with primary dependants
Post Adjustment: 42.6 % of the above figure(s). 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.
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.
WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
Apply Now at https://erecruit.who.int/public/hrd-cl-vac-view.asp?o_c=1000&jobinfo_uid_c=23563&vaclng=en