Specialist, Communications

**Grade**: NO-A

**Contractual Arrangement**: Fixed-term appointment

**Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days)**: One year, First year probationary period. Post of limited duration

**Job Posting**: Nov 19, 2024, 3:09:54 PM

**Closing Date**: Dec 10, 2024, 4:59:00 PM

**Primary Location**: Brazil-Rio de Janeiro

**Organization**: Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center

**Schedule**: Full-time


**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)**

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), through its Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease/Veterinary Public Health Center (PANAFTOSA/VPH), promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation aimed at reducing the health, social, and economic burdens of zoonotic and food-borne diseases, as well as animal diseases with significant impacts on public health and food security, such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). PANAFTOSA's technical cooperation is part of the Department of Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control, and Elimination (CDE). Its efforts are focused on the surveillance, prevention, control, and elimination of diseases, ensuring that interventions are technically sound and appropriate for the political and sociocultural contexts. PANAFTOSA strives to achieve a sustainable impact on health by providing normative guidance, promoting evidence-based interventions, and fostering alliances that enhance country capacity, inter-country collaboration, and policy and decision-making through improved health information, analysis, and quality at all levels.

**DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES**

Under the direct supervision of the Center Director, PANAFTOSA and the general guidance of the Director, Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health (CDE), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:
a) Coordinate with PANAFTOSA/VPH technical areas to plan, develop, review, approve, manage and disseminate the contents on the initiatives and strategies of PANAFTOSA/VPH technical cooperation, in ways to be relevant, useful and empathic, as well as effective, timely and clear;
b) Prepare, maintain and monitor PANAFTOSA/VPH communication plan, aligned with the PAHO/WHO Strategic Communication Plan;
c) Coordinate the diagramming, design and production of technical documents, newsletters and information materials for events and technical meetings. Develop, review and update digital content, including texts and news and provide linguistic support to the technical area of PANAFTOSA/VPH by reviewing and editing texts in Spanish, Portuguese and English;
d) Collaborate with the PAHO Communications Network, serving as a focal point and engaging with counterparts from PAHO offices and Headquarters to ensure effective communication and coordination;
e) Support the organization of technical meetings and events related to PANAFTOSA/VPH technical cooperation, for example, COSALFA, REDIPRA, RIILA, RIMSA, COHEFA, COPAIA, RELAPA, among others, and in events such as: World Health Day, World Food Safety Day; World Rabia Day, World Day of Zoonosis, World Health Day, World Awareness Day for Snakes, among others;
f) Support the review/approval of PANAFTOSA/VPH technical guides and documents through the internal process, including PubTrack;
g) Coordinate the communication and library team, responsible for the processes related to PANAFTOSA/VPH communication and publications;
h) Prepare the processes for obtaining, reviewing and dissemination of information in coordination with the technical areas of Panaftosa/VPH -PAHO/WHO, according to the communication strategy and in accordance with the public defined as a priority;
i) Establish and maintain communication with relevant media outlets, to disseminate information on PANAFTOSA/VPH technical cooperation;
j) Manage and maintain a comprehensive image library, ensuring a relevant and up-to-date visual repository for regional issues, programs and activities;
k) Collaborate with technical areas to ensure timely updates and maintenance of the PANAFTOSA/VPH PAHO-WHO website, guaranteeing accuracy, relevance and consistency of online content;
l) Monitor the impacts of PANAFTOSA/VPH-PAHO/WHO communication;
m) Perform other related duties, as assigned.

**REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS**

**Education**:
**Essential**: A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, media studies, digital media communication, advertising, or in any other discipline related to the functions of the position, from a recognized university.

**Desirable**: Training in public health would be an asset.

**Experience**:
**Essential**: Three years of national professional experience in communications or journalism, with practical experience in corporate and/or strategic communications.

**Desirable**: Experience working in health promotion as well as with international organizations/agenc