Thailand: Department Head – Public Health in Emergencies

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) welcomes applications from qualified Senior Public Health professionals to serve as Department Head in the Public Health in Emergencies (PHE) Department in ADPC which is a well established and recognized resource for project implementation and capacity building in the field of public health in emergencies. Please indicate the professional affiliation and Position Title in the cover letter clearly.

Department/unit: Public Health in Emergencies

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), established in 1986, is a regional non-profit foundation with headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, supporting the advancement of safer communities and sustainable development, through implementing programs that reduce the impact of disasters upon countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific. The primary geographical focus of ADPC’s activities is Asia with the South, South East and East Asia being the primary sub-regions. In 2005, nine countries, namely Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Sri Lanka signed a Charter establishing ADPC as an inter-governmental organization.

ADPC has vast experience of 30 years of working in Asia Pacific region along with the national and local Government of its charter member countries as well as countries of the Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management (RCC); a regional mechanism established by ADPC in 2000 and comprising of head of national disaster management offices of 26 countries in Asia Pacific. ADPC also shares a close partnership with sub-regional inter-government agencies, such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Secretariat for Pacific Community (previously known as SOPAC) on various disaster risk reduction (DRR) related themes including capacity building, strengthening institutions and systems, knowledge management and mainstreaming DRR into development. It works closely with a range of UN Agencies including UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCAP, WHO, WMO, UNISDR, UNOCHA, UN-Habitat, etc. on DRR related projects and consulting services. In addition, ADPC works with international and local NGOs, national technical and training institutions, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Further details on ADPC and Programs can be found at www.adpc.net

The primary focus of ADPC is to assist national and sub-national Governments in Asia to build capacity to respond to, prepare for and mitigate the natural disaster risk and adaptation to climate change. Accordingly, ADPC is comprised of several thematically organized operational departments such as Department on Safer Development Planning and Implementation (SDPI), Department on Climate Change and Climate Change Adaptation (CCCCA), Department on Resilient Cities and Urban Risk Management (RCURM), Department on Disaster Risk Management Systems (DRMS), Department of Public Health in Emergencies (PHE), Department of Disaster Risk Assessment and Monitoring (DRAM), Training Services Unit (TSU). With around 100 staff from 19 countries and with professionals with expertise in development planning, engineering, architecture, agriculture, social sciences, health science climate sciences and disaster risk reduction.

ADPC has developed its expertise in the management of public health emergencies in disasters through the implementation of projects, and developing and delivering training courses and workshops. The Public Health in Emergencies (PHE) Department has implemented projects and developed specific capacity building and training programs to cover the whole spectrum of the potential hazards that can be anticipated in Asia and the Pacific: natural hazards, complex emergencies and technological disasters. The PHE Team has begun to expand its activities outside Asia to now cover also the Middle-East region. Risk management is the reference conceptual framework for developing projects of management of health in crisis situations.

Statement of Intent:
Department Head will be responsible for the overall management of the Public Health in Emergencies Department in ADPC.

Note:
It is not the intent of this Position Description to cover every aspect of the position requirements, rather to highlight the most important areas of personal and joint responsibility.

General Requirements:

• Operate within all ADPC Guidelines & Procedures/ Policies;
• Provide ongoing capacity building/training and development to ADPC staff as required.

Departmental responsibilities in relation to respective department:

• Responsible for managing Department activities as per the agreed set of strategic objectives of the Department in line with ADPC strategic goals, core values, vision and mission statements.
• Manage and develop the PHE work program/project portfolio. Responsible for providing technical resource inputs to the projects/programs under the department, submission of program/project reports and financial reports to donors and partners.
• Management assistance to the Director; contribute to the futuristic growth of the Department including resource mobilization and lead in the design of new program areas capturing the demand in the region and beyond, as well as in marketing of new program ideas.
• Develop dynamic working relationships with donor, government and partner agencies, and I/NGOs agencies.
• Develop capacity building and training programs (such as workshops and courses) that address current needs in the field of public health in emergencies; review, strengthen and refresh existing public health curricula.
• Build, manage and sustain partnerships with global, regional, and national parties including donors, government agencies, INGOs, NGOs and other stakeholders to promote ADPC’s work in the respective thematic area/s in relation with program/project implementation under the Department.
• Responsible for progress reporting to ADPC Executive Committee, donors and clients including submission of annual work plans for the department, inputs to internal financial statements, etc.
• Responsible for overall management and development of subordinate staff, management of consultants, assets, etc. including programmatic and financial management of programs/projects under the respective Department.
• Keep up to date on developments within the field of public health in emergencies and other related health disciplines.

Institutional Responsibilities:

• Provide technical resource inputs under key specialized technical areas to all other departments.
• Attendance in routine meetings of Senior Managers, Ex-Com and provide resource inputs to corporate functions of the organization.
• Participate in ADPC Governance functions such as RCC meeting, BoT meeting, Development partner meetings, etc. and contribute to ADPC resource generation strategy and institutional development.
• Develop various documents to support and showcase successful implementation of program activities of the department such as articles, case studies, presentations, write-ups for newsletters, journal publications and for presentations at international fora.
• Initiate contract agreements, statements of work (SoWs) for consultants, Memoranda of Understanding/Agreement/Intent (MoUs/MoAs, MoIs) with donors, UN Agencies, I/NGOs, and country program partners and other stakeholders, to support implementation of activities of the department in accordance with the approved procedures and policies of ADPC.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director in charge of the Department.Supervisor(s): Director, ADPC

Required Qualifications / Selection Criteria:

• Medical Doctor with post graduate qualifications in public health and other related health disciplines, strong knowledge and experience in public health practices and health responses in emergencies.
• A minimum of 15 years’ experience in disaster management including public and allied health practices and health response in emergencies, preferably in Asia. Preference will be given to candidate having solid experience in project portfolio/program management.
• Proven successful track record in resource mobilization and experience in identifying, developing and implementing projects related to health in emergencies.
• Practical experience of developing curricula and managing capacity building and training programs and courses, preferably related to public health in emergencies.
• Solid experience and capacity to network, develop and establish effective relationships with donors, national governments, partner agencies, and I/NGOs.
• Proven ability to strategize, plan and organize work, monitor and evaluate activities.
• Ability to develop teaching materials and perform public presentations in a teaching environment, and to facilitate courses, workshops and meetings.
• Excellent communications skills, written and spoken, in the English language.

Personal Qualities:

• Self-motivated, pro-active and takes initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize work and time, independently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, good communicator, team-oriented work style, ability to inspire the team, and experience in working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Strong commitment to work, desire to learn and undertake new challenges, must a creative problem-solver, must have self- confidence, willingness to work hard, upholds the value of integrity, good sense of humor but with seriousness about the quality and excellence of work.Contract

One (1) year contract with possibility of extension

Interested Candidates, please submit the completed ADPC application form, (downloadable from www.adpc.net), resume, copy of diploma(s) and certificate(s) together with a cover letter, to adpcjobs@adpc.net or

Human Resources and Administration

979/69, 24^th Floor

SM Tower, Paholyothin Road

Samsen Nai, Phayathai

Bangkok, 10400

THAILAND

Tel: +66-2-2980681-92

Fax: +66-2-2980012

Only Short-listed candidates will be contacted.