Homeoffice Roster of consultants: Vaccine safety bei Pan American Health Organization

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

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

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

June 23, 2025

Closing Date:

July 10, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

CIM Comprehensive Immunizations

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

This requisition is for a consultancy at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Provide a short description of the objective of the office/department here.
• Provide a description of the purpose of the consultancy here.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Purpose of consultancy:

This consultancy seeks to maintain and advance critical activities aimed at strengthening the national surveillance systems and the projects dedicated to the early detection, prevention and mitigation of risks related to vaccine/vaccination safety. It seeks to address and minimize the potential consequences of these risks on vaccine acceptance and on the overall health of populations within the countries of the Americas.

Background:

The Pan American Health Organization has made great strides in supporting the countries of the region in strengthening surveillance systems of Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization (ESAVI). In each country of the region, the implementation of activities has been developed in four strategic lines of action that include: 1. Strengthening monitoring and response to ESAVI, 2. Strengthening of national capacities, 3. Digital transformation of ESAVI surveillance and 4. Active surveillance.

At the close of the pandemic, efforts have naturally been redirected and interest in vaccine/vaccination safety issues for these vaccines has decreased, but systems still require a sustained effort to overcome existing gaps for the other vaccines in vaccination schedule, with emphasis in new vaccines. It is for this reason that the CIM/vaccine safety team requires the continuity of technical cooperation activities with the countries, to achieve the objective in the different lines and to have mature and stable systems, with the capacity to timely generate information on vaccine safety.

New public health challenges have emerged, such as unprecedented dengue incidence rates in several countries, the emergence of yellow fever outbreaks, and the risks of H5N1 influenza transmission to humans. These issues necessitate the use of existing vaccines or the introduction of new ones. However, the safety concerns surrounding new vaccine technologies, their active ingredients, innovative delivery methods, and the adaptations needed to tackle emerging pathogens that pose epidemic risks present significant challenges. These challenges require thorough evidence and information on vaccine safety, especially when these technologies are deployed on a large scale in response to public health threats.

No less important is the current demand of vaccine safety information by national public health authorities and the public. This information, on the status of all vaccines, both known and new, will be generated by the systems that countries should have implemented.

PAHO/CIM is providing technical cooperation to the countries or the Region to face these challenges. Countries need to be prepared to detect, investigate and analyze vaccine safety situations that may arise.

Deliverables:

The selected consultants will support the following activities:

Support the strengthening of ESAVI surveillance in the assigned countries through the development of manuals and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of ESAVI surveillance processes. Track patterns and trends in ESAVI notifications for all vaccines distributed in assigned countries. Support the review of severe ESAVI cases that countries detect and consult to PAHO. Support investigation activities of severe ESAVI cases when required and when requested by countries. Continue to support the National Vaccine/vaccination Safety Committees for their formation, training, and for the fulfillment of their functions, as required by the country. Perform relevant ESAVI data analyses when country information is available. Support activities for the development of the situation analysis of ESAVI surveillance in countries that wish to initiate or define the roadmap of technical cooperation activities for ESAVI surveillance. Support the projects for the improvement or implementation of digital tools for ESAVI surveillance and vaccine safety. Carry out the implementation of activities to evaluate vaccine safety signals detected at the regional level. To provide technical support for data management processes of the assigned countries that transfer information to PAHO. Collaborate in the review of technical documents on vaccine safety for countries in the region.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages:

Education:

Essential:

Medical doctor with postgraduate training in epidemiology, public health, pharmacovigilance or pharmacoepidemiology. No links to the pharmaceutical industry

Desirable:

Knowledge and experience with the use of digital tools in epidemiology and/or public health or knowledge or experience in health information systems

Experience

Essential:

At least 7 years of experience in epidemiological surveillance and/or pharmacovigilance of vaccines at the national or regional levels, e.g. Ministry of Health, National Regulatory Authority, National Institutes of Health, PAHO, UNICEF, etc.

Desirable:

Experience in the implementation of projects to strengthen ESAVI surveillance Experience in supporting projects in the implementation of digital tools for ESAVI surveillance

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

Knowledge and experience in post-vaccination adverse event case management, including notification procedures, case investigation, analysis of vaccine safety data, and causality assessment.

Experience in the management of surveillance data and in the processes of detecting and evaluating safety signals.

Desirable:

Knowledge in the design of digital tools for surveillance processes and skills to interact with government institutions for the promotion and implementation of public health projects.

Language:

Excellent level of proficiency in written and oral comprehension of English and/or Spanish, with working knowledge of the other one.

Localization:

Off-site: Work from home

Pay rate:

Minimum daily rate: USD 258

Maximum daily rate: USD 314

Additional information

How to apply:

This roster will be announced through the PAHO website and the candidates that qualify might be considered for consultancies  with PAHO Comprehensive Immunization Program, that application will be valid for a maximum period of 2 years.

Additional information

• This vacancy notice can be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

• Successful candidates will be included in the shortlist and may subsequently be chosen for consulting assignments that are in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the shortlist does not guarantee selection for a consultancy contract. There is no commitment by either party.
• Only candidates who are being seriously considered will be contacted.
• All applicants must complete an online profile to be considered for this consultancy. For the evaluation of your application, make sure that your profile on the PAHO Careers page is up to date; All experience records must include a detailed description of the tasks performed at the time. Please note that CVs/PHFs inserted through LinkedIn are not accessible.
• A written test may be used as a method of selection.
• If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, 3 professional reference letters from previous work experiences, including the full name of the contact person, telephone number and address or email, and a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO/WHO only considers higher education qualifications obtained from an accredited/recognized institution 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 via the following link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear on the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment or extension of appointment is subject to the PAHO/WHO Regulations and e-Manual.
• For information about PAHO, please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to the diversity of its workforce.
• PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. Individuals who join PAHO are required to maintain these standards in both their professional work and personal activities.
• PAHO also promotes a work environment free of harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a proven history of abusive conduct.
• PAHO staff frequently interact with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious offenses will be dismissed and may also face criminal prosecution.
• PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not hire smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and citizens of unrepresented or underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• Consultants will perform the work as independent contractors in their personal capacity, and not as representatives of any entity or authority. The performance of work under a consulting contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
• PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility for any taxes, duties, social security contributions, or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions, and any other contributions that are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction where the work is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement from PAHO/WHO.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables.  Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract.  There is no commitment on either side.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in the PAHO Career page is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.  Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for 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/WHO only considers higher educational qualifications 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/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
• For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to providing a respectful and supportive workplace for all personnel .
• PAHO 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 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 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 wrongdoings will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
• PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.  The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
• PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant.  The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.

Jetzt bewerben