Specialist, Communications & Knowledge Management

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 Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies Department (IMT) is responsible for promoting, coordinating, and implementing the Organization’s technical cooperation in access to and rational use of quality medicines and other health technologies. IMT works across all categories of medicines and health technologies, including medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, medical equipment, blood products, and organs for transplantation. IMT supports countries in addressing barriers to access, addressing challenges across the medical product full life cycle, strengthening regulatory capacity and supporting evidence-based decision making and rational use through health technology assessment. IMT consolidates action in the development of pharmaceutical and other health technology related services and leads efforts in innovation through the regional platform to advance the manufacturing of vaccines and other health technologies, increasing regional capacity in the research and development of priority health products, and supporting the generation of ecosystems to enable development, production and access to medicines and other health technologies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the Director, Communications (CMU), and the direct supervision of the Director, IMT, the incumbent is responsible for the following assigned duties:

• Coordinate the development, adoption and implementation of the Knowledge Management and Communications Strategy within the Department, in close coordination with the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health (EIH) and the Department of Communications (CMU); address the established general priorities to contribute to the IMT functional statement and areas of technical cooperation to Member States and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with modern information technology tools and improved methodologies of information sharing, communication and knowledge management initiatives
• Take lead in the development of the Department’s communication and advocacy activities to support and promote the Department’s biennial work plan (BWP) and strategic objectives; increase visibility and understanding of its technical cooperation with Member States, donors and other relevant stakeholders, assist in the development of education and advocacy materials; provide strategic support to develop and strengthen a consolidated approach to synchronize and harmonize knowledge management and communications initiatives
• Develop, implement, coordinate and evaluate the knowledge management and information sharing strategies and activities, in collaboration with the Director, Unit Chiefs and technical staff in the Department
• Assist in the design and implementation of an integrated management approach of the Department’s dissemination, communication and publication policies/guidelines to promote the technical cooperation projects and the production of project-specific technical publications and promotional materials
• Collaborate with departmental teams to develop strategic communication plans and programs for high-priority campaigns, ensuring aligned messaging and effective stakeholder engagement
• Identify and leverage existing and emerging online tools, platforms and channels to enhance communication and advocacy efforts, staying up to date with the latest digital trends and technologies.
• Analyze web metrics reports to track engagement, reach and impact, providing data driven insights to inform communication strategies and optimize online presence
• Serve as the EIH and CMU’s focal point in the Department to provide strategic support and inputs to develop the principal EIH and CMU’s products and services, organized by the following areas of work:
• Knowledge Management & Organizational Learning: conduct face-to-face and/or virtual orientation/training sessions for the Department’s staff regarding the use and best practices of virtual tools; assist in identifying, developing and implementing Communities of Practice (CoPs); develop and maintain the Intranet/Website; coordinate and support the content management activities, ensuring quality and integrity of information published on both sites
• Editorial Services: provide editorial support for scientific, technical and/or promotional materials produced by the Department for specific internal/external audiences, ensuring quality and integrity of information
• Library and Information Networks: participate in the review process to update the Organization’s taxonomy and information architecture; coordinate and work with the Library to provide to the Department staff the accessibility to scientific articles and bibliographic databases; develop and promote digital literacy initiatives for the Department staff and within the program of work, based on EIH guidelines and Learning Board; promote the integration with the institutional repository initiative and promote the operation of the Virtual Health Library related to the Department’s production, in coordination with EIH/BIREME
• Multimedia Relations and Services: following the relevant CMU’s SOPs, act as contact person and work closely with CMU’s teams to support the timely response to external media requests (interviews, press releases); edit content for press releases, fact sheets, campaign materials, video scripts; review these materials for content, accuracy, and consistency in terminology and style; provide training to the Department’s technical staff in external communication methods, including media training; support and reinforce internal and external communications actions
• Institutional Branding: provide technical support in the promotion of a focused branding and strategic approach to the Organization’s name, visual recognition, public relations efforts, and campaigns across all Department’s visual communication, media and associated networks; coordinate and provide data regarding the production of the Department’s information products, based on the guidelines of the Publishing Policy and the Institutional Branding principles and standards
• Campaigns and initiatives: ensure IMT visibility in Organization’s thematic campaigns, including World Health Days of significance for the Department.
• Support and promote the correct and innovative use of the virtual resources and platforms, and the social and institutional networks; develop and maintain a database of professionals who work with Knowledge Management and Communications within the Department and externally; identify opportunities for and forge strategic partnerships to improve dialogue and outreach activities to promote the Department’s program of work
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Essential: A bachelor’s degree in communications, public health, information sciences, information management, knowledge management, or any other field related to the functions of the post from a recognized institution.
• Desirable: Training in access to medicines and health technologies, and/or methodologies for knowledge management and communication would be an asset.

Experience:

• Essential: Five years of combined national and international experience working in the area of communication projects and information and knowledge management.
• Desirable: Experience designing or implementing communication strategies on innovation and access to medicines and other health technologies, also on global health issues, especially working in LMICs and PAHO country contexts.

Languages:

• Very good knowledge of Spanish and English with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French or Portuguese will be an asset. Demonstrated excellent writing skills in both Spanish and English essential.

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2406501