Advisor, Veterinary Epidemiology and Information System

Organizational Context

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Job Purpose

Advance veterinary public health, zoonoses prevention, and health security across the Americas by strengthening surveillance systems, epidemiological capacity, and One Health collaboration to support evidence-based decision-making and disease prevention.

Responsibilities

Provide technical cooperation to Member States on epidemiological approaches for disease prevention, surveillance, control, and elimination. Support national and regional disease control programs. Strengthen integrated surveillance, information, preparedness, and response systems at the human-animal-environment interface. Provide technical support for veterinary public health, zoonoses, and food safety projects. Develop and deliver capacity-building initiatives and collaborate with international partners. Manage the Epidemiology Unit of PANAFTOSA, including coordination of technical teams, workplans, project implementation, and financial resources.

Work Experience

Nine years of combined national and international professional experience in epidemiology, public health, or related fields, including work in surveillance, epidemiology, and risk analysis of animal diseases impacting food and health security. Experience should include data analysis and use of epidemiological information systems and computational tools, including geographic information systems (GIS) and statistical software.

Skills

Expertise in epidemiology of zoonotic and high-impact animal diseases within a One Health framework. Advanced knowledge of epidemiological methods, biostatistics, risk analysis, modeling, and surveillance systems. Ability to analyze epidemiological data and strengthen surveillance and early warning systems. Experience integrating and analyzing data from surveillance systems and laboratory networks. Capacity to lead technical cooperation initiatives, manage resources, and oversee multidisciplinary teams. Ability to build strategic partnerships and promote interinstitutional and intersectoral collaboration. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Strong analytical, problem-solving, planning, and results-oriented abilities. Commitment to teamwork, knowledge sharing, integrity, accountability, and respect for individual differences. Proficiency in advanced epidemiological analytical tools, including risk analysis, spatial epidemiology (GIS), statistical modeling, infectious disease transmission modeling, simulation and scenario-based analysis, data science approaches (e.g. big data analytics, machine learning), data visualization, and reproducible analytical workflows. Experience in the use and management of databases and epidemiological information systems. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and applications for data analysis, reporting, and communication.

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