PAHO Consultant - Statistical Modelling Specialist

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:

September 30, 2026

Closing Date:

October 6, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

IHM Infectious Hazard Management

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

Position Title: Statistical Modelling Specialist for Respiratory Viruses Research
Operational context:

The PHE’s Infectious Hazard Management Unit supports countries in the surveillance, prevention, preparedness and control of pandemic and epidemic-prone diseases, through the development of evidence-based strategies to predict, prevent, detect and respond to infectious hazards. It also ensures the regional surveillance functions to these hazards.

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.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

General responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Advisor, Epidemic-prone Diseases Epidemiology Unit and the general supervision of the Unit Chief, Infectious Hazards Management, the consultant will perform the following functions:

• Provide statistical modelling and analytical support for the implementation, expansion, and maintenance of the AMoMo (Americas Mortality Monitoring) network, including review of country data, adaptation of analytical tools, and support to national and regional mortality dashboards.
• Conduct statistical analyses and contribute technical and methodological inputs to scientific documentation and manuscripts related to excess mortality monitoring, including review of statistical methods, modelling approaches, model performance, and mortality surveillance networks.
• Provide statistical and analytical support for the implementation and evaluation of respiratory virus forecasting methods in PAHO regional surveillance dashboards, including adaptation of analytical outputs and training materials for prioritized countries.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of nowcasting methods for respiratory virus surveillance, including adjustment for incomplete or delayed reporting, assessment of model performance and uncertainty, and preparation of technical documentation and training materials.
• Contribute statistical analysis and modelling support to national and regional methods for estimating the medical burden of respiratory viruses, particularly RSV, including approaches to address missing hospitalization data and obtain national-level estimates.
• Develop, adapt, test, and maintain analytical scripts, statistical tools, and data-processing workflows required to support regional and country-level implementation, including parameterization according to available country data.
• Provide statistical modelling support to AMoMo regional activities and technical meetings, including preparation and interpretation of analytical outputs and support to regional and country-level visualization tools.
• Contribute to the preparation and adaptation of technical documents, protocols, training packages, presentations, scripts, and analytical materials required for regional and country-level implementation.

• Product 1 – Report on statistical and analytical support to the expansion and implementation of the AMoMo regional network and dashboards
• Description: Summarize statistical and analytical support provided for AMoMo network expansion, incorporation of new countries, review of country data and outputs, national dashboard implementation, and updates to the public regional dashboard.  Product: $6,594.  Due 30 November 2026. 
• Technical report on statistical methods to support extrapolation of missing hospitalization data for national RSV burden estimates
• Description: Document statistical analyses and methodological inputs used to support extrapolation of missing hospitalization data and national-level RSV burden estimates, including relevant denominator and data-gap considerations.  Product: $7,222.  Due 31 December 2026. 
• Product 3 – Report on statistical support to implementation and maintenance of nowcasting methods in PAHO regional respiratory virus surveillance dashboardsDescription: Document statistical and analytical support to nowcasting implementation and maintenance, including approaches to incomplete or delayed reporting, model performance, and technical materials for future country-level implementation. Product: $6,594.  Due 31 January 2027. 
• Product 4 – Report on statistical support to implementation of respiratory virus forecasting in the PAHO regional surveillance platformDescription: Document statistical and analytical support to forecasting implementation and evaluation in the regional dashboard, including adaptation of related training materials for prioritized countries. Product: $6,280.  Due: 28 February 2027. 
• Product 5 – Technical and methodological contributions to a draft manuscript on excess mortality monitoring methods and networks in the Region of the AmericasDescription: Provide statistical and methodological inputs and draft sections for a manuscript reviewing excess mortality monitoring methods, studies, and networks in the Americas, including the relevance of AMoMo and PAHO’s contribution to mortality surveillance.  Product: $7,222.   Due 31 March 2027 
• Product 6 – Updated report on statistical and analytical support to implementation of AMoMo national dashboards and country-level materialsDescription: Summarize statistical and analytical support provided for installation, adaptation, and use of AMoMo national dashboards and related technical materials in participating countries.  Product: $2,826.   Due 13 April 2027.

 Note 1: The consultant shall provide the manager with a comprehensive technical report detailing all work carried out during the consultancy, to be submitted prior to the final invoice to the project manager. 

Note 2: 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.

EDUCATION
Essential: Master’s degree in epidemiology or health-related profession, statistical Science or Statistical Modelling from a recognized public health and/or epidemiology university.

Desirable: PhD in Epidemiology, statistical Science or biostatistics is an asset.

EXPERIENCE
Essential: 9 years of experience in epidemiology Experience with data management, analysis and reporting using large datasets. Experience working with operational research based on public health dataProficiency in statistical packages such as STATA, SAS, SPSS, or R.

Other skills: Demonstrated ability to effectively use software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Language and level required
Very good knowledge of written and spoken English or Spanish, with a working knowledge of the other language.  Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.

Remuneration (Band level Range) and expected duration of contract

Band/range: B / $314

Expected duration: For six months

Location: Off site

Relocation required: No

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.