Roster: Consultant for Zoonotic Diseases, One Health and Intersectoral Preparedness for Epidemic and Pandemic Threats

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Infectious Hazard Management Unit (IHM), experts selected from the roster may be requested to contribute to the following functions, according to their area of expertise:

• Provide specialized technical input on zoonotic diseases and threats at the human-animal-environment interface, with particular relevance to zoonotic influenza and other emerging or epidemic-prone zoonoses.
• Contribute technical expertise to intersectoral preparedness and response planning under a One Health approach, including the identification of capacities, gaps, priority actions, and opportunities for collaboration among human health, animal health, environmental, laboratory, and other relevant sectors.
• Support or participate in expert working groups and technical consultations on intersectoral surveillance, laboratory collaboration, genomic surveillance, risk assessment, response and other priority technical areas related to zoonotic influenza and emerging infectious threats.
• Contribute to the design, review, adaptation, or technical validation of guidance, frameworks, operational tools, checklists, technical agendas, concept notes, meeting materials, and other products supporting preparedness and response.
• Provide technical inputs for regional or national capacity mapping exercises, including the compilation and analysis of information on surveillance, laboratory, risk assessment, preparedness, response, and intersectoral coordination capacities; identification of operational and technical gaps; and formulation of priority areas for capacity strengthening.
• Contribute to intersectoral risk assessment processes by providing technical expertise relevant to epidemiological, veterinary, environmental, laboratory, ecological, genomic, or other dimensions of zoonotic disease risk, as applicable to the expert profile.
• Support the preparation and implementation of simulation exercises and other preparedness activities, including development or review of scenarios, injects, participant roles, evaluation criteria, monitoring tools, facilitator materials, and after-action or results reports.
• Contribute to regional and country meetings, including expert consultations, working groups, CIPCIZA meetings, technical sessions, webinars, and other events, through agenda development, technical presentations, facilitation, documentation, synthesis of discussions, and follow-up of agreed actions.
• Provide specialized technical inputs to the preparation of analytical reports, consultation reports, meeting reports, technical briefs, presentations, and recommendations, including synthesis of evidence and country experiences into actionable technical considerations.
• Contribute, as appropriate, to technical coordination with ministries of health, veterinary and animal health authorities, environmental authorities, laboratories, academic institutions, international organizations, regional networks, and other technical partners involved in One Health and zoonotic disease preparedness and response.
• Support the identification, documentation, and exchange of good practices, lessons learned, and practical approaches that may strengthen intersectoral collaboration and preparedness across countries in the Americas.
• Provide remote or, when specifically requested and authorized, in-country technical support for preparedness, assessment, consultation, simulation, or response activities, in coordination with relevant PAHO country offices and national authorities.
• Contribute to other technically related activities within the expert's demonstrated area of competence, as agreed with PHE and the designated supervisor.

Education requirements

Education:

• Essential: A bachelor's degree in a health-related field from a recognized university, including medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, epidemiology, microbiology, environmental health, or another relevant discipline related to zoonotic diseases and One Health.
• Desirable: A master's degree or PhD in microbiology, public health, epidemiology, veterinary public health, One Health, infectious diseases, environmental health, risk assessment, laboratory sciences, or a related discipline.

Professional Experience

Essential:

• At least 7 years of professional experience in One Health, zoonotic diseases, veterinary public health, infectious disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, or another closely related field relevant to the human-animal-environment interface.
• Demonstrated professional experience in one or more technical areas relevant to zoonotic disease preparedness and response, such as intersectoral surveillance, laboratory systems, epidemiological or risk assessment, veterinary epidemiology, public health, environmental health, genomic surveillance, outbreak investigation, or emergency preparedness.
• Demonstrated experience working across sectors or disciplines and translating technical evidence, surveillance information, laboratory findings, or risk assessments into practical recommendations for preparedness, prevention, surveillance, or response.
• Experience participating in or contributing to multidisciplinary or intersectoral technical working groups, expert consultations, regional meetings, or similar collaborative processes would be desirable.

Desirable:

• Experience contributing to the development, review, or implementation of technical guidance, operational tools, preparedness plans, simulation exercises, analytical reports, or other technical products related to zoonotic diseases or emerging infectious threats would be desirable.
• Experience with zoonotic influenza, avian influenza, pandemic influenza preparedness, or other emerging zoonoses will be considered an asset.
• Experience or sound knowledge of PAHO/WHO processes, technical cooperation mechanisms, and regional approaches for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response will be considered an asset.

Languages:

• Essential: Excellent written and spoken English and/or Spanish, with working knowledge of the other language.
• Working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese will be an asset.

Required Skills:

• Strong technical knowledge of zoonotic diseases and the human-animal-environment interface, with the ability to apply a One Health approach to preparedness, surveillance, prevention, risk assessment, and response.
• Knowledge of intersectoral surveillance approaches and the roles and information needs of human health, animal health, environmental, laboratory, and other relevant sectors in the detection and management of zoonotic threats.
• Knowledge or demonstrated experience in one or more of the following: zoonotic influenza epidemiology; veterinary epidemiology; laboratory diagnosis and surveillance; genomic surveillance; intersectoral risk assessment; outbreak investigation; environmental or wildlife surveillance; preparedness planning; simulation exercises; or health emergency response.
• Ability to analyze information from multiple sectors and disciplines, identify technical and operational gaps, and synthesize findings into feasible and actionable recommendations.
• Strong facilitation and coordination skills for multidisciplinary and intersectoral audiences, including national authorities, technical experts, laboratories, veterinary services, environmental authorities, academic institutions, and international partners.
• Ability to contribute effectively to technical working groups, expert consultations, regional meetings, webinars, and simulation exercises, including preparation of agendas, technical materials, documentation, and follow-up actions.
• Excellent technical writing and synthesis skills,