PAHO/WHO Representative

Grade:

P-58,597.08 USD

Post Adjustment - Monthly:

2,673.69 USD

Contractual Agreement:

Staff - Professional Non-post

Job Posting:

July 14, 2026

Closing Date:

July 21, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Primary Location:

Panama City, Panama

Organization:

DIR Office of the Director

Schedule:

Full time

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Objective of the Office/Department
The objective of the PAHO/WHO’s presence in countries, territories, and areas is to promote, develop, and facilitate collaboration among the Secretariat, relevant national stakeholders, and international development partners, contributing to and supporting their efforts to achieve national health goals; attain universal health coverage; and contribute to global, regional, and subregional public health goals and actions, when and where required. PAHO/WHO provides guidance and technical cooperation in organizing the humanitarian health response and in strengthening the capacity of the health sector to rebuild and recover from emergencies in appropriate and sustainable ways. The PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR), supported by all levels of the Secretariat, leads the work of the PAHO/WHO office, which directs and coordinates PAHO/WHO's technical cooperation in and with countries, from all other levels of the Organization (subregional, regional, and global).

Organizational Context
The PAHO/WHO Representative represents the Director of PAHO and the WHO Director General in the Country of assignment and reports directly to the Director of PAHO; he/she is the top official in the PAHO/WHO Country Office in the duty station of assignment. PAHO/WHO’s relevance at country level lies in its ability to support Member States to coordinate the efforts of multiple sectors to attain health objectives and to cooperate with a growing number of partners (UN agencies, international and local non-governmental organizations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, development banks, funds and foundations, civil society organizations, and the private sector), harmonizing and aligning work and resources with the national health policies, strategies, and plans. Strengthening national capacities for health development is fundamental for improving PAHO/WHO’s performance at country level and has implications for the Organization’s modality of work with countries in the following areas: (1) gradually shifting the emphasis from direct implementation activities to policy advice, capacity-building practices, and knowledge brokerage, but maintaining direct implementation where needed; (2)widening the interlocutors of PAHO/WHO’s technical cooperation at country level beyond the Ministry of Health; (3) playing aleadership role at country level in health development cooperation; (4) engaging with relevant non-State actors; and (5) coordinatingeffectively with the rest of the UN System and other development partners.

Summary of Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Director of PAHO, the PWR leads PAHO/WHO's country program, in line with PAHO/WHO's core functions, and strategies and priorities identified in the PAHO Strategic Plan and the WHO General Program of Work (GPW). The PWR provides leadership in the following key functional areas: 1) Convening, Representation, Partnership, and Advocacy; 2) Technical Cooperation, Policy Advice, and Dialogue; and 3) Administration and Management. Specifically, the incumbent will:
1.Convening, Representation, Partnership, and Advocacy:
−Represent PAHO/WHO in all respects, promoting and advocating for PAHO’s cross-cutting themes of gender, human rights, equity, and ethnicity.
−Act as an upstream policy adviser to the government, promoting an effective health dimension to social, economic, environmentaland development policy through policy dialogue with senior government officials from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and other relevant ministries and local governments, bi-lateral and multi-lateral agencies, the UN system, non-governmental organizations andother partners; and advocates for health as an integral part of national and development agendas.
−Provide health authorities with updates on the evolutions in the global health and health and development environments, including the implications of these evolutions on national health programs.
−Follow-up with national authorities on governing bodies' resolutions and facilitate the country's contribution to the work of PAHO/WHO and global health, and the mutual benefit from its membership in PAHO and WHO.

Key Behavioral 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.

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: Relates well to diversity in others and capitalizes 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.

• Teamwork: Advocates for collaboration across the Organization - Creates and encourages a climate of team- working and collaboration across the Organization; sees cooperation as a key Organizational priority and creates collaborative systems and processes to achieve Organizational goals. Actively identifies and tackles disagreements between internal and external counterparts that compromise the Organization’s goals and mandate; diplomatically facilitates the resolution of conflicts between others and ensures strategic partnerships with a range of key stakeholders; maintains and extends an effective collaborative network of individuals inside and outside the Organization.

• Communication: Share knowledge - Shares decisions and directives of senior management and communicates them in a manner that ensures both understanding and acceptance; shares knowledge and best practice at the three Organizational levels (country, regional and global), as necessary.

• Creating an empowering and motivating environment: Provide direction/Support, motivate and empower others - Oversees and provides teams and departments with clear managerial directions which are translated from Organizational strategy. Builds a performance culture in the Organization; contributes to setting Organizational performance goals and standards; monitors Organizational performance against milestones and strategic goals; identifies and nurtures talent as appropriate. Promotes autonomy and empowerment throughout the Organization; inspires enthusiasm and a positive attitude in people towards their work and contribution to the Organization’s success.

• Ensuring effective use of resources: Strategize and set clear objectives/Monitor progress and use resources well - Sets specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely objectives for own team and/or the Organization; systematically analyses and anticipates priority projects for own team and allocates necessary resources to achieve them; identifies the cross-Organizational resources needed for large- scale projects in line with key Organizational objectives. Anticipates foreseeable changes and adapts own and team’s projects in the face of unforeseen circumstances and/ or challenges; creates measures and criteria to monitor progress of overall projects against key Organizational objectives; creates cost-effective solutions for the Organization.

• Promoting the Organization’s position in health leadership: Understand and promote the mission - Creates strong relationships and partnerships by providing an immediate credible impression with, among others, international and national counterparts, technical departments and donor and development partners. Negotiates effectively with people inside and outside the Organization, by adopting a wide range of approaches, and maintaining relationships with all parties at all times. Represents the Organization internally and externally with authority and credibility, preparing and delivering high-level messages, using a wide range of appropriate techniques. Gains agreement from others for a desired course of action that has a positive impact on the Organization. Positions the Organization as a leader in health through successful promotion of the Organization’s mission and programs.

Technical Expertise
Technical: Extensive progressive experience at a senior decision-making level, in particular in managing complex health programs/health systems at both national and international levels. Wide and varied knowledge of public health problems and health management processes. Monitor and report of program performance and demonstrated capacity to provide authoritative technical advice in areas of expertise.

Managerial: Extensive experience in senior, progressively responsible positions in the management of a large public or private administration of administrative matters requiring sensitive negotiation and high-level intervention and in organizational development. Management of health administration and knowledge of international legislation. Resourcefulness, initiative, highly developed judgment and interpersonal skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive areas.

Administrative: Skills or experience in resource mobilization and familiarity with financial management, and the creation and integration of administrative platforms for the deliver of the highest quality Finance, Budget, Human Resources, General Administrative and Infrastructure services. Courtesy, tact, sensitivity to manage confidential information, and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different professional levels, nationalities, and cultural backgrounds. Excellent organizational and analytical skills combined with strong professional oral and writing skills including the development of reports, oral presentations, and summary documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

Education
Essential: A university degree in health-related or social sciences and a master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, health administration, health policy or health economics from a recognized institution.

Experience
Essential: A minimum of thirteen years of combined national and international progressively responsible work experience, including: proven leadership and extensive progressive experience at a senior level, in particular in managing complex health programs/health systems at both national and international levels.
Desirable: Experience working in PAHO/WHO, other UN agencies, or other development organizations and in humanitarian health response in emergency settings would be an asset.

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

IT Skills
1. Demonstrated ability to effectively use current technology and software, spreadsheets and presentations, as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and management information systems. Other IT skills and knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Word are considered essential.

−Facilitate dialogue among national authorities, the donor community, and other development and cooperation partners on policies, andact as a convener/broker for the development and/or strengthening of networks with government, institutions, non-governmentalorganizations, professional associations, external partners and other health actors, to mobilize support and resources for priority healthneeds, developing and maintaining strategic partnerships.

−Promote development cooperation effectiveness among health development partners under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, incollaboration with other national sectors, and in line with the principles of national ownership, harmonization, alignment and mutualaccountability.

−Lead the international cooperation for health within the UN country team under the coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator andensure that UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) (where it exists) and the One Program in Delivering as One (ifapplicable) include a health component that is in line with national, subregional, regional, and global health priorities, and with theCountry Cooperation Strategy.

2. Technical Cooperation, Policy Advice, and Dialogue

−Provide policy advice and facilitate policy dialogue at country level, as well as broader engagement of the country/territory/area insubregional, regional, and global policies and dialogues, strengthening the capacity of the Member State(s) of assignment tocontribute to global health.

−Lead the development, monitoring, evaluation, and/or renewal of the PAHO/WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) with thesupport of PAHO Headquarters and WHO Headquarters and following the most recent WHO CCS Guide, ensuring its alignment withnational priorities and harmonization with health development partners; ensure alignment between the CCS and the PAHO StrategicPlan and the WHO General Programme of Work.

−Lead the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Biennial Work Plan (BWP), through which the CCS ismade operational, following organizational guidelines and procedures, and ensuring participation of key national counterparts andstakeholders in health.

−Provide technical cooperation for the development of national health policies, strategies, and plans, including risk assessment andresponse to disaster events and public health emergencies.

−Guide the country/territory/area to adapt and adopt norms, standards and technical guidelines for use and implementation.

−Identify areas requiring technical cooperation and institutional strengthening and lead the provision and brokering of the requiredtechnical cooperation, in coordination with technical entities at subregional, regional and global levels, especially in line withstrategies and priorities identified in the CCS, the PAHO Strategic Plan, the WHO GPW, and the WHO Reform.

−Facilitate the coordination of health actors in response to public health emergencies, observing the PAHO Emergency OperatingProcedures and functioning as UN health cluster lead in emergency situations requiring an international humanitarian health response.

−Provide guidance and technical cooperation in countries affected by chronic crisis or in early recovery and transition on issues relatedto sustainable measures for addressing health needs.

−Strengthen national capacity to comply with the International Health Regulations (IHR), the Framework Convention on TobaccoControl (FCTC) and other global agreements; ensure the inclusion of PAHO and WHO leadership priorities set out in the PAHOStrategic Plan and WHO GPW, respectively, in the technical program, aligned with the national situation.

−Strengthen national capacity to collect, analyze, disseminate and use national data for monitoring the health situation, for trendassessment and to contribute to global, regional, subregional, national and sub-national reporting.

−Facilitate the formulation and translation of evidence-based policies into action plans.

−Gather country intelligence to keep the Director of PAHO and senior management abreast of pertinent developments, and to managethe PAHO/WHO office effectively.

3. Administration and Management:
−Lead the PAHO/WHO country office team, and promote teamwork within the country office, across the Secretariat and within the UNCountry Team (UNCT), in close collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator and with partners.

−Ensure the optimal use of PAHO/WHO’s financial, technical, logistic, human, and information technology resources and systems forefficient and effective management of the office in the country, territory, or area, in full compliance with PAHO/WHO procedures,rules, and regulations; ensure proper maintenance and update of the corporate information systems.

−Ensure full transparency and accountability for the implementation and reporting of biennial workplans, according to the results-basedmanagement framework of the Organization, internal control frameworks, and compliance and risk management best practices.

−Mobilize resources for health, including domestic resources, and strengthen national capacity for resource mobilization.

−Develop, coordinate, and monitor the PAHO/WHO country office biennial work plan and human resources plan; manage andcoordinate staff hiring, performance, and development and learning for the country office team in accordance with PAHO’s humanresources policies, procedures, and processes, to ensure that staff continue to be relevant to PAHO/WHO’s cooperation priorities inthe country, territory, or area.

−Ensure that an ethical and conducive environment for work is present in the PAHO/WHO country office and that mechanisms forprevention of conflict, as well as for mediation and conflict resolution, are available to all staff.

−Ensure the review of, and make all efforts to improve, the safety and security of all PAHO/WHO staff and dependents under the UNsecurity accountability framework.

−Be responsible and accountable for all assets of the PAHO/WHO country office and ensure that all audit recommendations areaddressed in a timely manner.

DISCLAIMER 

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade and level. 

• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this post. 

• Candidates will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. 

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the official degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO, considers official higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in one of the following databases: 

                 

                - World Higher Education Database (WHED), list updated by the International Association of Universities

                   (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

                   The list can be assessed through the link: http://whed.net/

                 

                - Council for Higher Education Accreditation chea.org

                

                 - College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics,

                  nces.gov to support the validation process. 

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and e-Manual.

PAHO/WHO is committed to: 

• PAHO supports an environment of mutual respect and dignity for all applicants. All interested individuals who meet the requirements of this position are encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. To do so, email us at: pahorecruitment@paho.org

• Maintaining high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.

• Promoting 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 misconduct.  

• Providing a smoke-free environment. 

• Protecting the people in the communities we serve.  Therefore, we have zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoing will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.