PAHO Consultant - Smart Hospitals Project Support

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:

May 4, 2026

Closing Date:

May 11, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

HEO Health Emergencies Office

Schedule:

Part time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

Position Title: Smart Hospitals Project Support Consultant

Purpose of contract:
The purpose of this consultancy is to operational support for the implementation of the Smart Hospitals Project in Jamaica, ensuring timely delivery of planned results in line with PAHO technical standards, donor requirements, and national priorities.

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.

PAHO has been implementing the Smart Hospitals Initiative in the Caribbean to promote safer, greener, and more resilient health facilities. In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, PAHO is implementing the project “Building Back Smarter: Retrofitting Health Facilities in Post-Hurricane Melissa Jamaica,” with funding from the Government of Canada.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

General responsibilities and deliverables:

Under the direct supervision of the Advisor, Health Emergencies (Caribbean) and the general supervision of the Director, Health Emergencies Department, the consultant will perform the following functions:

1. Support the development, implementation, and periodic updating of the project operational plan, including workplans, timelines, milestones, advocacy and risk registers.

2. Support the organization and follow-up of Smart Hospitals assessments, including the coordination with the national authorities for selected health facilities.

3. Coordinate inputs from check consultants on technical guidance documents materials and resources needed to implement project activities.

4. Assist in monitoring progress of design development, procurement, and retrofitting works to ensure alignment with Smart Hospitals A70 standards.

5. Support project performance assessment against agreed indicators, outputs, and outcomes.

6. Contribute to the preparation of technical progress reports, financial monitoring inputs, and donor narrative reports in accordance with PAHO and donor requirements.

7. Identify implementation risks, constraints, and bottlenecks, and propose mitigation actions in coordination with the project management team.

8. Ensure systematic documentation of lessons learned, good practices, and success stories from project implementation.

9. Support stakeholder consultations and intersectoral coordination related to Smart Hospitals standards, climate resilience, and health infrastructure.

10. Contribute to communications and visibility activities, including preparation of inputs for reports, briefs, presentations, and success stories highlighting project results.

11. Ensure appropriate visibility of donor support in line with PAHO and donor communications guidelines.

12. Participate in meetings, workshops, and technical missions related to the Smart Hospitals Initiative as required.

13. Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor to support the successful implementation of the project.

 

Deliverables and payment schedule

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following products/services related to abovementioned responsibilities with input from the respective project manager, the Advisor, Health Emergencies (Caribbean):

***Products for Initial Contract from 18 May 2026 to 17 May July 2027.***

1. Report on implementation of in-country training and assessments.

Due date: 19 June 2026

Amount: $6,578.00

 

2. Project progress report including updates on procurement status for health facility final designs.

Due date: 4 September 2026

Amount: $10,224.50

 

3. Project progress report including updates retrofitting works of health facility.

Due date: 11 December 2026

Amount: $13,384.80

 

4. Draft annual project implementation summary, including lessons learned.

Due date: 12 March 2027

Amount: $12,083.50

 

5. Final consultancy report consolidating results, risks, lessons learned, and recommendations.

Due date: 17 May 2027

Amount: $6,692.40

 

Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages

Education requirements (Qualifications)

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in public health, social science or equivalent degree related to the functions of the post, from a recognized university., or in a discipline related to emergency and disaster management from a recognized institution.
Desirable: A master’s degree in public health would be an asset.

Experience requirements

Essential: At least 7 years of combined national and international experience, with progressive experience in managing large scale projects or grants and supervising multi-functional teams
Desirable: At least 7 years of experience in assisting national authorities in enhancing IHR core capacities would be an asset.

Languages

Essential: Very good knowledge of English and Spanish.  

Asset: A working knowledge of French and Portuguese would be an asset.

Location

The incumbent will be expected to perform this position's duties and responsibilities remotely.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Essential:

· Experience in any of the following areas: disaster risk reduction, humanitarian assistance, project management experience in public health.

· Knowledge and experience in implementing the Smart Hospitals Initiative, health facility retrofitting, disaster-resilient infrastructure, or climate-resilient development.

· Previous experience of having worked in the Caribbean.

· Proven experience coordinating multiple stakeholders, including government counterparts, technical experts, and international organizations.

· Experience supporting the implementation of donor-funded projects, including planning, monitoring, and reporting.

· Proven strong project and operations management and coordination skills.

· Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.

 

Desirable:

· Familiarity with UN or PAHO administrative, financial, and procurement processes.

 

Remuneration (Band level Range) and expected duration of contract

Band/range: Band B / $286.00 daily

Expected duration: Upon signature of contract until 17 May 2027. This consultancy is expected to entail a part-time commitment.

Location: Off site

Relocation required: No

Note: The hiring of the selected candidate will be subject to the presentation of the following documents (Note: These documents are NOT required to apply to this position but will be required before a contract can be signed):

 

• Copy of diploma and/or certificate(s)

• Three letters of professional references that include the full name of the contact person, telephone number, and address or email.

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.