Roster: Strengthening the elimination of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in the Americas

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 5, 2025

Closing Date:

December 20, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

CIM Comprehensive Immunizations

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

This requisition is for a consultancy at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Provide a short description of the objective of the office/department here.
• Provide a description of the purpose of the consultancy here.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Purpose of consultancy:

This consulting work aims to develop and implement key activities to strengthen the elimination of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome in the region, and to re-achieve the status of endemic measles elimination, following the three main components of the regional strategy for measles, rubella and CRS and elimination: 1) implement a rapid response to outbreaks; 2) achieve high and homogeneous population immunity levels; 3) and maintain a solid and sensitive surveillance systems.

Background:

In 1994 the countries in the region adopted the resolution to eliminate measles. The last endemic case of the pre-elimination period was reported in Venezuela in 2002. In 2003, the countries in the region adopted the resolution to eliminate rubella and CRS. The last endemic cases of rubella and CRS in the pre-elimination period were reported in 2009 in Argentina and Brazil, respectively. Since then, the region has achieved and lost two times the elimination of measles. The last time it was lost was on 17 October 2025 after an outbreak lasted for more than 12 months in Canada.

To maintain the gains achieved in elimination and to restore elimination status, countries need to implement the following actions within the framework of the regional strategy:

• Achieve vaccination coverage of 95% or higher with two doses of the vaccine in at least 80% of municipalities.
• Identify and immediately report all suspected cases of measles, rubella, and CRS. Conduct field investigations of all suspected cases within 48 hours after the case has been reported.
• Strengthen surveillance in high-risk, border, and epidemiologically silent areas, complementing it with active case searches.
• Identify and immediately vaccinate all contacts of confirmed or suspected cases (according to each country's analysis of susceptible individuals), ideally within the first 72 hours after the first contact with the case, during the period of disease transmissibility (4 days before to 4 days after the date of onset of the rash).
• Implement rapid response plans, including the formation and training of rapid response teams, situation rooms, and adequate hospital infection prevention and control measures.
• Intensify vaccination activities, using outbreak response vaccination tactics (selective or mass vaccination) in areas with confirmed cases and strengthening routine vaccination in areas and populations at higher risk of spread.
• Ensure international travelers are vaccinated before visiting areas with active transmission, including infants aged 6 to 11 months as an exceptional measure, at least 15 days before visiting areas with active transmission.  

The Comprehensive Immunization Program (CIM) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is providing technical cooperation to all countries of the Region, with emphasis on those facing ongoing measles outbreaks to identify and overcome challenges to sustain the elimination.

Activities:

The selected consultants will support the following activities:

Rapid response:

• Promote the organization of the Rapid Response Team (RaRT/ERRa – equipo de respuesta rápida) at the national and subnational levels and accompany and strengthen its actions.
• Contribute to the situational analysis of measles or rubella outbreaks at least at the national level.
• Support rapid response activities in areas with active outbreaks, with an emphasis on case investigation, identification and vaccination of susceptible contacts, active search of cases, and the implementation of selective or mass vaccination strategies, according to the epidemiologic scenario.
• Support the National Sustainability Commission activities, including its participation in the ERRa at the national level.
• Coordinate with different national actors, to triangulate information and strengthen outbreak control measures. Write reports and include photos of the actions supported in the field, as part of the reports.
• Provide technical advice for the elaboration of the outbreak closing report, that should include the criteria to verify the outbreak interruption as described in the Regional Framework for the Monitoring and Re-verification of Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Elimination in the Americas.

Vaccination, surveillance and laboratory:

• Monitor and analyze vaccination coverage and other immunization indicators.
• Support the implementation of Rapid Vaccination Monitoring (MRV) to identify pockets of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals.
• Strengthen epidemiological surveillance through monitoring of indicators and the implementation of community, institutional, and laboratory active searches.
• Strengthen epidemiologic surveillance data quality control and analysis, and triangulate data with laboratory surveillance and vaccination results.
• Support countries in the region in optimizing laboratory response during measles outbreaks, including the monitoring of virus transmission within and between countries, following PAHO guidelines.
• Support the efforts to implement a risk analysis assessment following PAHO’s guidelines.
• Collaborate with CIM in the deployment of a new information system for the epidemiological surveillance of measles, rubella, and CRS.
• Other tasks that may arise in the assigned work.

Regional Verification Commission

• Provide technical support to CIM in its role as “Technical Secretariat” of the Measles and Rubella Elimination Regional Monitoring and Re-Verification Commission (RVC).
• Contribute to the organization and implementation of the RVC meeting and reports.

Other

• Contribute to the development of different information products on measles and rubella including writing of scientific articles, with the purpose of sharing regional lessons at the global level.
• Other activities related to measles, rubella and CRS elimination.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages:

Education

Essential:

A university degree in a health-related profession and/or a master’s degree from a recognized university in epidemiology, public health or a related field. No links to the pharmaceutical industry

Desirable:

Knowledge and experience with the use of analytical and digital tools for data analysis and outbreak control in epidemiology and/or public health. PhD or Doctoral studies.

Work experience

Essential:

At least 7 years of experience in vaccine preventable diseases epidemiological surveillance and/or immunization program, including experience in measles/rubella outbreak control at national level, e.g. Ministry of Health.

Desirable:

Experience in the implementation of measles/rubella outbreak control at international level. Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and other media.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential:

Experience in 1) implementing a rapid response to measles or rubella outbreaks, including field outbreak investigation, planning and conducting outbreak response measures, outbreak interruption criteria; 2) analysis of surveillance, laboratory surveillance and vaccination data.

Demonstrated ability to apply strong analytical skills, collaborate effectively within diverse teams, and leverage problem-solving experience to address complex challenges.

Desirable:

Knowledge in the design of digital tools for surveillance processes and skills to interact with government institutions for the promotion and implementation of public health projects.

Language

Essential:

Excellent level of Spanish proficiency in writing, reading and speaking.

Desirable:

Excellent level of English proficiency in writing, reading and speaking.

Localization:

Multiple duty stations according to needs identified by CIM.

Payment rate:

Minimum daily rate: USD 258

Maximum daily rate: USD 314

Additional information

How to apply:

This roster will be announced through the PAHO website and the candidates that qualify might be considered for consultancies with PAHO Comprehensive Immunization Program, that application will be valid for a maximum period of 2 years.

Please include your CV and Cover letter.

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.