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

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:

September 18, 2026

Closing Date:

September 30, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

IHM Infectious Hazard Management

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

Objectives of the Department

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.

Organizational Context

PHE Department supports Member States in strengthening preparedness, surveillance, prevention, and response capacities for zoonotic threats through evidence-based technical cooperation and intersectoral collaboration.

Zoonotic influenza and other diseases at the human-animal-environment interface require sustained collaboration among public health, animal health, environmental, laboratory, surveillance, and other relevant sectors. In the Americas, PAHO has supported regional efforts to strengthen intersectoral surveillance, emergency preparedness, risk assessment, laboratory collaboration, and response capacities under a One Health approach. The regional consultation on strengthening intersectoral work at the human-animal interface identified the need for stronger coordination, clearer joint roles, operational protocols, preparedness arrangements, and mechanisms to support timely action across sectors. The subsequent establishment of the Commission for the Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Influenza in the Americas (CIPCIZA) further strengthened this regional framework.

CIPCIZA technical work has included intersectoral working groups addressing surveillance, laboratory collaboration, and risk assessment, with emphasis on practical recommendations, clarification of sectoral roles, exchange of experience, and identification of practices that can be adapted across countries. These areas provide an important technical basis for strengthening national and regional preparedness and response to zoonotic influenza and other emerging threats at the human-animal-environment interface.

In this context, PHE is establishing a roster of experts who may be called upon, as required, to provide technical expertise, participate in expert consultations and working groups, support regional meetings and simulation exercises, contribute to technical products, and provide specialized inputs related to zoonotic diseases, One Health, surveillance, laboratory systems, intersectoral risk assessment, preparedness, and response. Inclusion in the roster does not imply that an expert will be required to perform all activities described in these terms of reference; assignments will depend on the technical needs and scope of each request.

Purpose

The purpose of the roster is to establish a pool of qualified national and international experts with demonstrated experience in zoonotic diseases and the human-animal-environment interface who may provide specialized technical support to PHE, as requested, for preparedness, surveillance, risk assessment, prevention, and response to zoonotic and other emerging infectious threats.

Experts selected from the roster may contribute to regional and country-level technical cooperation, including intersectoral coordination, technical consultations, expert working groups, capacity mapping, simulation exercises, development or review of technical guidance and tools, regional meetings, webinars, and analytical or consultation reports. The nature and extent of the assignment will be defined according to the specific technical requirement.

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, including the preparation of analytical reports, meeting reports, technical briefs, concept notes, presentations, guidance, and operational tools.

• Ability to work effectively in multicultural, multidisciplinary, and international environments and to engage constructively with stakeholders from different sectors and institutional backgrounds.

• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to both specialized and multidisciplinary audiences.

• Autonomy, sound judgment, adaptability, and results-oriented approach when working under time-sensitive conditions and evolving technical requirements.

Location:

Experts included in the roster will generally work remotely from their place of residence. Specific assignments may require participation in virtual or in-person regional or country activities, subject to the terms and authorization of the individual assignment.

Remuneration/Expected contract duration:

Band: B

Daily Pay Rate: Depending on deliverables and the specific assignment, daily rates can vary from USD 258.00 to USD 314.00.

Duration: TBD, according to specific assignment and roster requirements.

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.