Job Posting Title PAHO Consultant -"Tobacco Control Consultant"

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:

December 3, 2025

Closing Date:

December 13, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

NMH Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

Since 2007, Bloomberg Philanthropies has supported WHO in advancing the implementation of tobacco control policies outlined in the MPOWER package. Likewise, PAHO, through WHO, has received designated funding since 2021 to provide tailored technical assistance and capacity-building for national authorities, while fostering collaboration with civil society and academia partners.

The primary goal of utilizing these funds is to accelerate the implementation of the MPOWER package by addressing persistent challenges and gaps, and by providing context-specific support to Member States.

Tobacco control initiatives require the expertise of multi-disciplinary professionals due to the extensive range of policy areas involved. To address these needs, this consultancy roster aims to engage a pool of qualified professionals who will support the Tobacco Control Team within the Risk Factors Unit of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH).

Consultants selected from this roster will work under specific contracts, each defined by distinct deliverables related to Tobacco Control. These deliverables will be detailed within individual contracts and will contribute to improving MPOWER scores and indicators of the Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2025–2030, as well as ensure effective execution of organizational work plan and assigned funds, including Member States’ assessed contributions and donors’ voluntary contributions, in line with the Organization’s policies, guidelines and procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Call for applications: Tobacco Control Consultant Roster Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

Background

Since 2007, Bloomberg Philanthropies has supported WHO in advancing the implementation of tobacco control policies outlined in the MPOWER package. Likewise, PAHO, through WHO, has received designated funding since 2021 to provide tailored technical assistance and capacity-building for national authorities, while fostering collaboration with civil society and academia partners.

The primary goal of utilizing these funds is to accelerate the implementation of the MPOWER package by addressing persistent challenges and gaps, and by providing context-specific support to Member States.

Tobacco control initiatives require the expertise of multi-disciplinary professionals due to the extensive range of policy areas involved. To address these needs, this consultancy roster aims to engage a pool of qualified professionals who will support the Tobacco Control Team within the Risk Factors Unit of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH).

Consultants selected from this roster will work under specific contracts, each defined by distinct deliverables related to Tobacco Control. These deliverables will be detailed within individual contracts and will contribute to improving MPOWER scores and indicators of the Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2025–2030, as well as ensure effective execution of organizational work plan and assigned funds, including Member States’ assessed contributions and donors’ voluntary contributions, in line with the Organization’s policies, guidelines and procedures.

Objectives:

Establish a roster of qualified consultants who can be engaged to provide specialized technical assistance to support the implementation of regional tobacco control activities, in alignment with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the MPOWER package, the Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2025–2030 and the PAHO Strategic Plan 2026-2031, as well as supporting the implementation of the work plan and budget allocated to PAHO’s Tobacco Control team.

Description of Deliverables:

Consultant will be responsible for delivering the following products/services with input from respective project manager: Rosa Sandoval

Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Advisors on Tobacco Control, and in coordination with the Tobacco Control Team Members, the consultant will support the implementation of regional tobacco control efforts through the following activities:

• Provide tailored technical assistance to Member States to support the development and implementation of evidence-based tobacco control policies, in line with the WHO FCTC, its implementation guidelines, decisions of the Conference of the Parties, and the MPOWER package. This includes support in facilitating the collaboration between national authorities and partners at regional level, with special emphasis in countries with ongoing legislative and regulatory processes.
• Design and implement regional capacity-building activities, including webinars, workshops, and technical missions, targeting health and other government sector officials to promote tobacco control policies at regional and subregional levels. This includes providing support to the Tobacco Control team in mobilizing the involvement of partner organizations such as the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Vital Strategies, Johns Hopkins University, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, among others.
• Provide assistance in coordinating evidence translation and knowledge transfer efforts, including the identification of needs and development of technical resources, factsheets, communication materials, presentation content, guidelines, tools, and reports to advance the tobacco control agenda. This includes establishing and strengthening partnerships with academic institutions and other knowledge partners.
• Conduct research and systematize evidence on specific tobacco control topics, at the request of national authorities, compile and prepare periodic technical reports, concept notes, papers and other relevant information to inform project implementation, in coordination with WHO, PAHO/WHO country offices and partners, accordingly.
• Support the periodic monitoring of tobacco control policy implementation across the Region of the Americas, using established WHO/PAHO data collection instruments and processes, and in line with international and regional mandates.
• Collaborate in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2025–2030, as well as tobacco control indicators of the PAHO Strategic Plan 2026-2031, the Global Plan of Action for NCDs, and other relevant Work Plans.
• Provide support for the execution of grant-related tobacco control activities aimed at improving MPOWER scores and preventing setbacks, as well as accelerating the implementation of WHO FCTC mandates, in collaboration with WHO, PAHO/WHO country offices, the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC and partner organizations. This includes managing timelines, deliverables, and milestones, and maintaining effective partnerships to facilitate strategic and technical exchange, resolve challenges, and ensure timely implementation.
• Participate in relevant working groups, technical meetings, and forums, contributing programmatic analysis and technical recommendations, and preparing reports and presentations as needed.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned by the Advisors, to support the advancement of tobacco control efforts in the Region.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Education:

Essential: A bachelor’s degree in health or social science or in any other field related to the functions of consultancy.

Desirable: A master’s degree in public health, public policy, or a field related to the functions of consultancy would be an asset.

Experience:

Essential: Five to six years of combined national and international experience in the fields of public health, public policy or socio-economic development.

Desirable: Practical experience working in tobacco control projects at the international level in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Technical qualifications required:

Consultants must demonstrate experience and competencies in the following areas:

• Technical expertise in tobacco control, tobacco taxes, health legislation and regulation, public health, public policy, international relations, and technical cooperation.
• Ability to integrate technical and managerial input into decision-making processes.
• Strong skills in managing multiple tasks within complex organizational environments.
• Ability to design and promote innovative approaches to strengthening project management and process monitoring.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills to manage knowledge and information related to public policy, tobacco control, tobacco taxes, health legislation and regulation.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships for coordinated project implementation.
• Capacity to support the team in preparation of funding proposals.
• Advanced technical, analytical and conceptual skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the preparation of reports, presentations, and technical documents in English and Spanish.

IT skills:

Demonstrated ability to effectively use software programs such as Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Word are considered essential.

Language and level required:

English:               Professional

Spanish:           Professional

Portuguese:       Knowledge would be an asset

French:                Knowledge would be an asset

Payment Band A: Between $41,280 and $51,600 annually

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.