Technical Officer, Revolving Fund For Access To Vaccines

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Qualifications

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This requisition is for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

The RRF special program comprises two funds - Revolving Fund for Access to Vaccines (RF) and Strategic Fund for Public Health Supplies (SF). The special program is commissioned to facilitate cross-functional integration, collaboration and optimization of processes and value[1]added services between the SF and RF to address new and evolving strategic and technical needs of Member States for vaccines and strategic public health supplies. The RF is a technical cooperation mechanism that ensures equitable Access to safe, effective, and affordable vaccines through the pooling of vaccine demand from Member States. The SF is a technical cooperation mechanism to improve Access to quality-assured, safe, effective and affordable essential medicines and strategic public health supplies. The RF and SF provide technical cooperation to Member States throughout the supply chain and are central components of PAHO's strategy to move towards Universal Health.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the Chief, Revolving Fund for Access to Vaccines (RRF/RF) and the direct supervision of the Technical Officer, Revolving Fund for Access to Vaccines (RRF/RF) the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

a)   Coordinate the daily operations of the RF to ensure an efficient and uninterrupted supply of vaccines and related supplies to Member States for the implementation of national immunization programs based on country demand and financial plans;

b)   Lead the collection process of the regional demand for vaccines and related supplies, ensuring timely country submissions to meet deadlines for validation, analysis and tendering processes. Monitor demand, plan completion, identify bottlenecks and coordinate actions to overcome them;

c)    Review and approve funded procurement requisitions in the PASB Management Information System (PMIS); monitor vaccine procurement and supply to Member States against country demand plans;

d)   Monitor usage and balance of the RF capitalization account, ensure funding availability for all supply needs in the demand plans pending procurement. Coordinate the collection and processing of requests for the RF credit line allocation and follow up of country payments and escalation measures for arrears;

e)   Provide technical support to the development of plans of action to improve and manage the Revolving Fund for Access to Vaccines (RF);

f)    Support and coordinate the implementation of process improvements and operational efficiencies of the RF; with Country Offices and headquarters’ administrative and technical entities (PRO, IMT, LEG, FRM);

g)   Provide guidance to Member States on the RF operative procedures, serve as primary liaison with country offices for the submission of demand plans, approval of price estimates, financing of requisitions, deliveries and other processes of the RF. Coordinate the implementation of agreements with partners in relation to the supply of vaccines and related products, including compliance with non-financial reporting requirements;

h)   Actively contribute to the update and dissemination of the Revolving Fund policies, SOPs and operational manual;

i)     Provide data and materials for the RRF web page and intranet as needed;

j)    Present periodic updates on country demand plan performance through regular meetings;

k)   Monitor and ensure that target dates and deadlines are met and that correspondence and queries are responded to in a timely manner; ensure that reports and documents are in line with PAHO standards, rules, practices and procedures;

l)     Supervise staff, establish clear work objectives, conduct timely and effective performance appraisals, provide coaching and feedback and support staff development opportunities;

m)  Perform other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential: A bachelor’s degree in business administration, industrial engineering, logistics, finance or any field related to the functions of the post, 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(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position.  PAHO, only considers official degrees obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 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: Five years of combined national and international experience in logistics management with emphasis on vaccine management, international procurement, finance and supply chain management.

Desirable: Working experience at an international organization with oversight for logistics management.

SKILLS:

PAHO Competencies:

·       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.

·       Teamwork: Collaborate and cooperate with others. - Works collaboratively with team members and counterparts to achieve results; encourages cooperation and builds rapport; helps others when asked; accepts joint responsibility for the teams’ successes and shortcomings. Identifies conflicts in a timely manner and addresses them as necessary; understands issues from the perspective of others; does not interpret/ attribute conflicts to cultural, geographical or gender issues.

·       Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: Relate well to diversity in others and capitalize 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.

·       Communication: Express oneself clearly when speaking/Write effectively/Listen/Shares knowledge - Quality and quantity of communication targeted at audience.  Listens attentively and does not interrupt other speakers.  Adapts communication style and written content to ensure they are appropriately and accurately understood by the audience (e.g., power-point presentations, communication strategies, implementation plans).  Shares information openly with colleagues and transfers knowledge, as needed.

·       Knowing and managing yourself: Manages stress/Invite feedback/Continuously learn - Remains productive even in an environment where information or direction is not available, and when facing challenges; recovers quickly from setbacks, where necessary. Manages stress positively; remains positive and productive even under pressure; does not transfer stress to others. Seeks feedback to improve knowledge and performance; shows self- awareness when seeking and receiving feedback; uses feedback to improve own performance.    Seeks informal and/or formal learning opportunities for personal and professional development; systematically learns new competencies and skills useful for job; takes advantage of learning opportunities to fill competencies and skill gaps. 

·       Producing Results: Deliver quality results/Take responsibility - Produces high-quality results and workable solutions that meet clients’ needs. Works independently to produce new results and sets own timelines effectively and efficiently.  Shows awareness of own role and clarifies roles of team members in relation to project’s expected results. Makes proposals for improving processes as required and takes responsibility for own work and/or actions, as necessary.   Demonstrates positive attitude in working on new projects and initiatives. Demonstrates accountability for own success, as well as for errors; learns from experience.  

·       Moving forward in a changing environment: Propose change/Adapt to change - Suggests and articulates effective and efficient proposals for change as needed when new circumstances arise.  Quickly and effectively adapts own work approach in response to new demands and changing priorities. Is open to new ideas, approaches and working methods; adjusts own approach to embrace change initiatives.

Technical Expertise:

-        Extensive knowledge of supply chain management, particularly in an international environment.

-        Extensive knowledge of cold chain technologies and systems for the conservation of vaccines.

-        Ability to negotiate, influence and positively impact the generation and implementation of plans of utilization and optimization of the use of Revolving Funds.

-        Ability to work harmoniously as a team member in a multidisciplinary and international environment.

-        Ability to manage multiple issues and tasks in a complex organizational environment and to re-prioritize actions on short notice.

-        Ability to integrate managerial and administrative inputs into recommendations for decision-making.

-        Ability to prepare clear, concise and complete analyses, proposals, reports and other written materials; maintain accurate records and meet critical deadlines; research and analyze complex problems, evaluating varied information and data, either in statistical or narrative form and exercise sound judgment within established guidelines.