[Hiring] International PAHO Consultant - Wastewater Surveillance for Public Health @Pan American Health Organization

Role Description

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Purpose of contract:

• To support the assessment, strengthening, and strategic development of wastewater surveillance capacities in selected countries.
• Design implementation frameworks adapted to different epidemiological, laboratory, and infrastructure scenarios.
• Align with integrated and One Health surveillance approaches.

General Objective:

• Provide technical expertise for the evaluation, planning, and implementation support of wastewater surveillance systems for public health.

Specific Objectives:

• Assess existing national capacities for wastewater surveillance.
• Identify technical, laboratory, and operational gaps.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations for system strengthening.
• Design scalable surveillance models tailored to country contexts.
• Support integration of wastewater data into public health decision-making systems.

Scope of Work:

• Review existing documentation, policies, laboratory capacity, and surveillance frameworks.
• Conduct consultations with national authorities, laboratories, environmental agencies, and partners.
• Map current wastewater sampling, testing, and data analysis capacities.
• Assess diagnostic platforms, logistics, and data reporting systems.
• Identify priority pathogens and surveillance use-cases.
• Develop technical guidance for implementation and scale-up.
• Provide recommendations for integration with epidemiological and laboratory surveillance systems.
• Support development of monitoring indicators and evaluation frameworks.

Qualifications

• University degree in public health, microbiology, environmental health, epidemiology, laboratory sciences, or related field.

Requirements

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in microbiology, surveillance systems, or environmental microbiology.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize tools and software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Outlook.
• Strong analytical and report writing skills.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Experience facilitating technical consultations.
• Excellent written and spoken English (and/or Spanish); working knowledge of Spanish (or English). Working knowledge of French or Portuguese would be an asset.

Benefits

• Remuneration: Band/range: B / USD 258.00 daily cost.
• Expected duration: 1 June to 31 August 2026.
• Location: Off site Home-based with potential travel to selected countries, as required.
• Relocation required: No.