Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Grade:
D-1Salary - Annually:
Post Adjustment - Annually:
Contractual Agreement:
Staff - Professional PostJob Posting:
July 22, 2026Closing Date:
October 16, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern TimePrimary Location:
Washington, D.C.Organization:
CDE Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control, and EliminationSchedule:
Full timeDESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:
Director, Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control and Elimination (CDE)
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), is seeking a visionary, strategic, and results-oriented leader to serve as Director, Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control and Elimination (CDE).
The Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control and Elimination (CDE) Department promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities directed toward the surveillance, prevention, control, elimination and/or reduction of communicable diseases and zoonosis throughout the Region of the Americas.
Under the general supervision of the Director and the direct supervision of the Assistant Director, the selected candidate will:
• Provide strategic, technical, policy, and programmatic leadership for PAHO’s work in communicable diseases, zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, infection prevention and control, communicable disease risk factors, and food safety.
• Lead and coordinate the implementation of PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, supporting Member States in eliminating more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.
• Promote research, innovation, and knowledge generation, fostering the adoption of evidence-based policies and best practices among countries and partners.
• Strengthen food safety systems and advance integrated One Health approaches to address zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and foodborne disease threats.
• Mobilize financial and technical resources and establish strategic partnerships with governments, donors, international organizations, academic institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders to advance public health goals.
• Represent the Department at the highest levels and provide authoritative technical and strategic advice to Member States, regional bodies, and partner institutions.
• Provide overall leadership and management of the Department, including strategic planning, budget oversight, performance management, organizational development, and effective use of financial and human resources.
For a complete list of functions, please see the post description.
Education
A university degree in health or social science and a master’s degree in public health, epidemiology or any other field related to the functions of the post from a recognized institution.
Experience
Fifteen years of combined national and international experience in progressively challenging managerial positions in communicable diseases, including the development and evaluation of policies and programs for prevention and control of communicable diseases, and the application of epidemiological methods to disease surveillance and public health program planning and evaluation.
Languages
Fluency in English or Spanish with a working knowledge of the other language.
IT Skills
Demonstrated ability to effectively use current technology and software, spreadsheets and presentations, as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and management information systems. Other IT skills and knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Word are considered essential.
For a complete list of competencies and skills, please refer to the post description.
The skills required are:
• Extensive expertise in public health and communicable diseases, including epidemiology, prevention, surveillance, and disease control.
• Extensive leadership and management experience in complex public health programs and health systems.
• Ability to provide strategic direction, organizational leadership, and policy guidance at the highest levels.
• Strong resource mobilization, fundraising, and partnership development skills.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead through persuasion, consensus-building, and collaboration.
• Strong analytical, strategic planning, and performance monitoring capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills with diverse national and international partners.
• Ability to manage sensitive issues with sound judgment, diplomacy, tact, and discretion.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals from diverse professional, cultural, and national backgrounds.
• Strong financial management and organizational resource allocation skills.
Post of indefinite duration. First year probationary period.
DISCLAIMER
This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade and level.
All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this post.
Candidates will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.
In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the official degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO, considers official higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in one of the following databases:
- World Higher Education Database (WHED), list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The list can be assessed through the link: http://whed.net/
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation chea.org
- College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, nces.gov to support the validation process.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and e-Manual.
PAHO/WHO is committed to:
PAHO supports an environment of mutual respect and dignity for all applicants. All interested individuals who meet the requirements of this position are encouraged to apply.
Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. To do so, email us at: pahorecruitment@paho.org
Maintaining high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
Promoting 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 misconduct.
Providing a smoke-free environment.
Protecting the people in the communities we serve. Therefore, we have zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoing will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
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