PAHO Consultant - Respiratory Viruses Surveillance and Pandemic Preparedness

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:

January 30, 2026

Closing Date:

February 6, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

IHM Infectious Hazard Management

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

Position Title: Respiratory Viruses Surveillance and Pandemic Preparedness consultant
Purpose of contract:
The purpose of this consultancy is to deliver technical support to countries in the Americas to strengthen, integrate, and use surveillance systems for influenza, COVID‑19, RSV, and other respiratory viruses in order to inform timely public health action. It also aims to enhance pandemic preparedness and response by supporting capacity building, data analysis and reporting, preparedness planning, and regional coordination and evaluation activities.
Description of deliverables:
The objective of the Health Emergencies Department (PHE) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is to increase health sector resilience to emergencies and disasters. PHE assists Member States to strengthen the health sector’s capacities in prevention, risk reduction, preparedness, surveillance, response, and early recovery for emergencies and disasters related to any hazards (natural, man-made, biological, chemical, radiological and others) and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain disasters, including outbreaks, and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. PHE is responsible for ensuring the implementation and updating of the PAHO/WHO Institutional Emergency and Disaster Response Policy.

The incumbent is a member of PHE’s Infectious Hazards Management Unit (IHM). This area of work supports countries in the surveillance, prevention, preparedness and control of pandemic and epidemic-prone diseases. A primary focus is strengthening integrated routine surveillance systems in Member States across the Americas to enable timely monitoring of the epidemiological context of seasonal influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses (ORVs). This approach supports informed decision-making and enhances countries’ preparedness to track trends in future respiratory pandemics.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

General responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Advisor, Epidemic-prone Diseases Epidemiology (PHE/IHM) and the general supervision of the Unit Chief, Infectious Hazards Management (PHE/IHM), the consultant will perform the following functions:

1.      Provide technical cooperation to countries in the Americas to strengthen, monitor, and evaluate surveillance systems for influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and ORV at national and local levels, including through country missions.

2.      Assist in developing and revising data collection protocols for respiratory disease surveillance at the country level.

3.      Assess needs and deliver targeted training on surveillance of seasonal and pandemic influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and ORV.

4.      Support the regional consolidation of epidemiologic and virologic surveillance data on influenza, COVID-19, RSV and ORV.

5.      Update and promote regional guidance on integrated surveillance of respiratory viruses, including operational guidelines and monitoring tools.

6.      Support the training and use of Pandemic Influenza Severity Assessment (PISA) tools by countries.

7.      Support the implementation of forecasting/nowcasting methods to monitor respiratory virus incidence in dedicated countries.

8.      Support countries in the implementation of functionality studies to compare universal and sentinel surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.

9.      Coordinate and monitor the weekly submission of regional reports to the global level.

10. Support Member States in updating their pandemic preparedness plans.

11. Participate in and facilitate pandemic preparedness and response evaluations, including lessons-learned workshops, simulation exercises, and intra-action reviews.

12. Contribute to the preparation of regional reports, newsletters, and meetings on integrated surveillance of respiratory viruses.

13. Support the implementation of the MOSAIC framework initiative in the Americas.

14. Lead the SARInet working group on integrated surveillance of respiratory viruses.

 

Deliverables and payment schedule

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following products/services related to these responsibilities with input from the respective project manager, the Advisor, Epidemic-prone Diseases Epidemiology (PHE/IHM):

• Technical cooperation workplan with activities related to pandemic preparedness to be implemented from March 2026 to January 2027. Due 30 March 2026 $4,902

• SARInet regional meeting report on the pandemic preparedness session– Due date 29 April 2026 $5,160

• PRET progress report, including data collected through the landscape analysis– Due date 30 May 2026 $4,902

• Final draft of the revised version of the updated regional framework for respiratory viruses– Due date 29 June 2026$5,160

• Technical cooperation progress report for 5 supported countries– Due date 29 July 2026 $5,160

• Report on the implementation of Unity studies in the Americas– Due date 31 August $4,644

Total contract amount: $29,928.00

The consultant shall provide the manager with a comprehensive technical report detailing all work carried out during the consultancy, to be submitted prior to the final invoice to the project manager.

 

Note: The hiring of the selected candidate will be subject to the presentation of the following documents (Note: These documents are NOT required to apply to this position but will be required before a contract can be signed):

 

• Copy of diploma and/or certificate(s)

• Three letters of professional references that include the full name of the contact person, telephone number, and address or email.

 

Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages

EDUCATION
Essential: University degree in health sciences or any other field related to the functions of the post, from a recognized university.
Desirable: A master’s degree in epidemiology of infectious diseases or public health would be an asset

 

EXPERIENCE
Essential: Minimum of 7 years of national and international experience in the planning, management, and evaluation of public health surveillance systems and of prevention/control programs for epidemic-prone diseases
Desirable: Experience working on influenza, COVID-19 or ORV surveillance would be an asset.

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE SKILLS

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of technical cooperation strategies, and best practices to support surveillance for influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and ORV.

• Expertise in monitoring, evaluating, and strengthening surveillance systems for respiratory diseases.

• Strong understanding of influenza and other respiratory pathogens.

• Excellent organizational and analytic skills combined with strong professional oral and writing skills including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

• Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical and conceptual skills; demonstrated ability to assess, analyze and synthesize large datasets and provide recommendations on key technical issues.

Language and level required

Excellent written and spoken English or Spanish and working knowledge of the other language; working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is an asset. 

Remuneration (Band level Range) and expected duration of contract

Band/range: B / $258 daily rate

Expected duration: From 6 months, with possibility of extension subject to funding availability

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.