Program Management Specialist

The Department of Health Systems and Services (HSS) is responsible for promoting, coordinating, and implementing the Organization’s technical cooperation in health systems and services development to achieve Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage (Universal Health), based on the Primary Health Care approach. HSS promotes evidence-based policies, strategies and plans to transform national health systems to improve equity and resilience, as health systems move towards the achievement of Universal Health, strengthening governance and stewardship, increasing and improving health financing and social protection, and supporting the development of integrated networks of health services based on a highly resolutive first level of care. HSS strengthens national capacity in the organization of people-centered health services, integrating the healthy life course approach, ensuring quality of care and patient safety, and the effective deployment and management of human resources.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision of the Primary Health Care and Integrated Services Delivery Unit Chief (HSS/PH) and the general guidance of the Directors, Planning, Budget & Evaluation (PBE) and External Relations, Resource Mobilization and Partnerships (ERP), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

• Support the Unit Chief, Advisors, and Entity personnel in the design, negotiation, implementation, and reporting of technical cooperation projects, including resource coordination, performance monitoring and assessment, and use of evaluation tools to support the sound management of regular and extra-budgetary funds;
• Provide strategic support to develop and strengthen partnerships; provide support and inputs to develop new program initiatives to support the program of work;
• Ensure that projects managed by the Unit are executed according to action plans and within established timelines; ensure timely submission of financial and progress reports in accordance with donor agreements;
• Maintain effective partnership with all project stakeholders to exchange critical and technical information and resolve program/project implementation issues to ensure results are achieved as planned;
• Act as a strategic liaison between headquarters and country office staff facilitating seamless project implementation and ensuring effective planning, budgeting and reporting processes;
• Support the preparation of various written reports, including briefing documents, project reports, background papers and presentations. Draft analysis sections of reports and studies and provide input to technical publications;
• Support the preparation of briefings and technical documents for governing body meetings and other internal and external forums, including drafting and preparing necessary materials;
• Engage in corporate efforts for strategic and operational planning, programming, budgeting and resource coordination to enable the Unit’s technical cooperation and operational planning. Ensure that the responsible project coordinators provide required planning data and information to adequately assess and report on implementation of Outcomes, Outputs, projects, and activities;
• Support the implementation of the Unit’s Biennial Work Plan (BWP). Facilitate the coordination among the PMIS Project Managers and support them in program management issues, specifically with issues related to the results-based management framework;
• Support the monitoring of the Unit’s Biennial Work Plan (BWP). Support the Unit Chief in the coordination of the performance monitoring and assessment (PMA) of the Unit’s BWP;
• Participate actively in the Program Management Network (PMN) led by PBE; and in the Resources Mobilization Network (RMN) led by ERP;
• Support the HS Unit Chief in the analysis of the staffing needs of the Team, particularly with respect to the competencies needed to execute the program of work and for the preparation and periodic review of the Human Resources (HR) Plan;
• Work in close coordination and interaction with the Unit’s Administrative Team;
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in health or social science, business administration, management, international relations or in any other field related to the functions of the position, from a recognized university.

Experience:

• Essential: Five years of combined national and international experience in the fields of health or supply chain planning, project management, monitoring and evaluation, including experience in administration, strategy formulation and resource allocation.
• Desirable: Experience in information collection, analysis and visualization of data would be an asset. Experience working in an international agency would be an asset.

Languages:

• Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with working knowledge of the other languages. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2408341