Contract Period: March 1, 2021 to March 31, 2023. 

Status: Full-time contract

Reports to: Programs and Communications Coordinator for Latin America

Supervises: Technical Assistant of Projects in Latin America

Posting Date: January 12, 2021

Posting Closing Date: Rolling process. Open until Sunday, 14 February 2021, and interviewing on a rolling basis.

Organizational Overview

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is an international nongovernmental organization (NGO) that works to transform health care worldwide so that it reduces its environmental footprint, becomes a community anchor for sustainability, and a leader in the global movement for environmental health and justice. With offices on three continents and partners around the world, Health Care Without Harm is leveraging the health sector’s expertise, purchasing power, political clout, workforce development, and moral authority to create the conditions for healthy people, communities, and the environment.

Since 2009, HCWH has expanded its work in Latin America through an overall strategy for the health care sector and the implementation of several projects, which include collaboration with national and subnational ministries of Health in different countries, and partnership with key stakeholders (WHO, PAHO and other organizations). In addition to our regional team, HCWH works closely with a strategic partner in Brazil (Projeto Hospitais Saudáveis) who represents the interests and leads the development and implementation of HCWH-related work in the country.

Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH), a Health Care Without Harm initiative, is an international network of hospitals, health care facilities, health systems, and health organizations dedicated to reducing their environmental footprint and promoting public and environmental health. GGHH has more than 1,470 members in 72 countries who represent the interests of over 45,000 hospitals and health centers. Our members are using innovation, ingenuity, and investment to transform the health sector and foster a healthy future for people and the planet. 

In Latin America, GGHH has 918 institutional members in 14 countries, who represent the interests of more than 6,280 public and private hospitals and health systems across the region. 

Description

Health Care Without Harm is looking for a seasoned technical professional, with strong relationship and management skills, to lead the implementation of its projects in Latin America and play a leadership role in the development of HCWH´s regional strategy, in close partnership with the regional and the international team.

The technical and leadership skills of the Technical Coordinator of Projects will also contribute to strengthen our Global Green and Healthy Hospitals initiative in the region, build and develop new relationships with key stakeholders working in the climate and health fields, and design, execute and evaluate the programs that are implemented in Latin America. Also, she/he will collaborate with the Global Team to articulate the regional strategies to the global plans.

Primary Objective for the Technical Coordinator of Projects in Latin America

Lead all technical aspects related to HCWH programmatic portfolio in Latin America, managing the day-to-day implementation of specific programs and providing technical guidance to members, and engage with key stakeholders to expand the work in the region. Championing the engagement with key allies such as PAHO, national ministers and local and national government representatives. Play a key leadership role in a very small and dynamic team, contributing both at a technical and strategic level.

Essential Functions

• In close partnership with the Programs and Communications Coordinator for Latin America, continue developing the overall HCWH strategy and planning for the region.
• Coordinate the implementation and budget oversight of the Sustainable Health in Procurement Project (SHiPP) in Latin America.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of energy efficiency and mitigation projects in Latin America.
• Coordinate the Menos huella, más salud program to support Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Network (GGHH) members in reducing their environmental and climate footprint (including reports and tools development, awards, technical assistance).
• As a key member of the Latin America team, provide expertise and technical support for GGHH members (hospitals and health care systems) in the region to advance their work in sustainable goals.
• Organize training events (workshops, conferences) related to the projects that she/he leads.
• Coordinate the work of consultants and team members of the projects that she/he leads.
• Participate in recruitment processes and management of consultants for the projects that she/he leads.
• Lead and support the development of new tools to advance climate and health work (e.g. how-to guides, toolkits, checklists).
• Design and develop content for online training courses for GGHH members.
• Identify outstanding case studies on waste, energy, chemicals, leadership, climate change and procurement in Latin America.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and success of the programs and projects that she/he leads, and redesign working plans according to the needs that have been identified.
• Work with the HCWH Global team to articulate and coordinate the regional initiatives with the international projects, working as part of programmatic teams under a matrix management structure.
• Collaborate with the HCWH Global team in the international implementation of projects that she/he leads regionally.
• Work with national and subnational health systems to consolidate the regional work and develop environmental health policies related to the projects that she/he leads.
• Develop and maintain productive strategic partnerships to advance program goals, and engage policymakers to enact climate- and health-smart public policy across the region.
• In close partnership with the Programs and Communications Coordinator, identify communications opportunities to strengthen the work and amplify the key messages in the region, and contribute content to communications efforts (such as presentations, articles, reports, webinars, and podcasts).
• Participate in conferences, summits and other events on behalf of HCWH, and act as one of HCWH’s spokesperson during interaction with media, key stakeholders and other strategic partners. 
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with team members across HCWH.
• Provide content and support for Latin America-specific grant proposals and reports.
• All other duties as requested and needed to meet organizational goals.

Qualifications & Competencies

The ideal candidate will have/be:

• Education: Degree in environmental sciences and/or health (or related). Advanced degree in public health, public policy, sustainability, environmental sciences/management or equivalent is a plus. 
• Experience: At least ten years of experience in environmental management within the health care sector and/or environmental health or sustainability program/project implementation in a nonprofit, private/public sector and/or health care setting. Proven track record in program development working on environmental health or sustainability issues in the health care sector, including indicators development, projects, campaigns and/or policy advocacy. Also, familiarity with climate change issues and challenges for the health care sector.
• Field of expertise: Development and analysis of health care waste management, energy consumption, carbon footprint and sustainable procurement indicators. Strong familiarity with the health care sector, public health and environmental issues. Familiarity with Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) for a major health entity is preferred. Work experience in advocacy, sustainability, or EPP as part of a health care institution/organization is also preferred. 
• In-depth knowledge of the health care sector in at least one of the prioritized countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil) is required.
• Languages: Spanish (native). Fluency in English is required. Portuguese is a plus.
• Excellent research and writing skills to produce reports.
• Intermediate to expert knowledge of Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint and Google Drive. 
• Availability to travel (on hold due to COVID-19 at the moment): 5 or 6 times per year, less than one week at a time, according to work plan). 
• Ability to think proactively, take initiative and see tasks through to completion with appropriate follow-up, capable of navigating uncertainty to go from idea to implementation. 
• Self-driven, entrepreneurial and capable of working as part of a remote team.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, and to respectfully interact in multicultural and multilingual environments.
• Self-disciplined, action-oriented style that can prioritize tasks to meet deadlines. Strong work ethic.
• Flexibility to provide expertise to a team or independently to meet goals in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Self-directed to take action and resolve issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain a positive working relationship with others to achieve the organization's goals. 

General Competencies

• Accountability: takes responsibility for all work activities and personal actions; follows through on commitments; implements decisions that have been agreed upon; maintains confidentiality with sensitive information; acknowledges and learns from mistakes without blaming others; meets deadlines and satisfies promises; recognizes the impact of one's behavior on others.
• Initiative: provides expertise to take action to improve a situation without waiting for explicit instructions; understands how one's own actions relate to the organization's strategic goals; recognizes and responds to opportunities in order to reach a goal; seeks new and improved techniques, solutions, and approaches to completing assignments.
• Managing Resources: allocates time and resources efficiently and effectively; prioritizes work.
• Working Collaboratively: works collegially with others, cooperating in both interpersonal and team relationships; fosters enthusiasm and maintains mutual trust, candor and respect; adds value in collaborative processes rather than merely passing challenges forward. 
• Clear Communication: expresses oneself clearly and effectively when speaking and/or writing to individuals or groups; listens attentively; ensures that information is understood by all parties; shares information in a timely manner using the most appropriate method; presents well-organized information in a group setting; chooses appropriate audience(s) for communications.
• Organization/Project Management: organizes large amounts of information by creating and maintaining well organized systems; follows logical approaches to completing work; brings a project from inception to successful completion, and follows up, as appropriate; translates strategies into step-by-step plans for action; monitors work progress to completion; pays close attention to detail.

What’s In It For You?

• Work for an organization where the mission is inspiring and your colleagues are passionate and motivated.
• Work with staff that care deeply for the mission and the network of people carrying out that mission. 
• Play a role in helping drive growth, influence impact, and advance efforts to create a more sustainable health care sector and community.
• Be part of an inspirational eclectic network.

To Apply or Inquire

Upload a cover letter (in English) and resume (in Spanish or English) here . Questions can be addressed to info@saludsindano.org . Only competitive candidates will be invited to participate further in the recruitment process. Position open through Sunday, 14 February 2021. 

Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth are committed to seeking and sustaining culturally and ethnically diverse organizations, and to the principles that promote inclusive practices. We are dedicated to building a diverse staff with expertise and interest in serving the mission of the organizations in respectful ways. HCWH is an Equal Opportunity Employer.