Head - Tourism and Health Program THP

CARIBBEAN PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY (CARPHA)

JOB DESCRIPTION PART A 1 Job Information Type of Contract: CORE Associate Consultant Title: Head, Tourism and Health Program Department: Office of the Executive Director

Category:

Professional Grade: P5 Duty Station: Trinidad and Tobago Date Prepared: July 29, 2026 First Level Supervision Executive Director Second Level Supervision Objective/Overview of the Program

CARPHA’s mission is to provide strategic direction in analysing, defining and responding to public health priorities of Member States, in order to prevent disease, promote health and to respond to public health emergencies as well as to support solidarity in health, as one of the principal pillars of functional cooperation, in the Caribbean Community.

3 Organizational Context /Job purpose: (Job summary - a concise statement of the role’s overall purpose and how it contributes to CARPHA’s mandate, strategic objectives, and service delivery, the role of the individual within the team e.g. team member, specialist, advisor, facilitator, coordinator/manager, representative, expert, authority in the field, etc.) available guidelines and degree of independence, nature and purpose of contact within and outside the Organization.

Under the direct supervision of Executive Director, the post holder will function in a multi-disciplinary manner and be responsible for the management of all operational aspects of the development, initiation, implementation and coordination of the various components of CARPHA’s novel, multisectoral Tourism & Health Program (surveillance, response, mass gatherings, capacity building, policy, guidelines and partnerships). This will include liaison with technical and management units within CARPHA, across CARPHA Member States (CMS) and relevant health and tourism partners regionally and globally. 4 Key Responsibilities (Main responsibilities. Use action verbs (e.g., Leads, Manages, Coordinates, Develops, Implements). Focus on results and outputs rather than tasks.

1. Provide oversight of the program and projects associated with CARPHA’s multisectoral Tourism & Health Program (THP), aimed at improving health, safety and security in tourism sector.
2. Coordinate the effective and efficient technical and operational execution of all program components in a timely manner: surveillance, mass gatherings, response, capacity building, policy, guidelines and partnerships internally and at CMS level.
3. Develop, implement and monitor administrative and operational activities of the THP including development and consolidation of workplans, estimated budget and attribution of responsibilities.
4. Advance the THP to become a World Health Organisation (WHO) Center of Excellence for travellers’ health, and a globally recognized program for healthier, safer tourism.
5. Expand the digital surveillance and response components of the THP for other tourism related users/events.
6. Coordinate the provision of timely regional and CMS-specific surveillance data, alerts and reports.
7. Coordinate response to travellers’ health alerts in CMS within 24 hours.
8. Address problems and issues in collaboration with others, initiate corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; and ensure follow-up actions, all within a timely manner.
9. Establish and maintain solid partnerships with internal and external stakeholders at national, regional and global level.
10. Organise and supervise the implementation of program and project-related workshops, conferences and trainings.
11. Ensure good and effective coordination of activities between different CARPHA projects and relevant departments of CARPHA as well as with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Ministries of Health, Tourism, donors and key stakeholders.
12. Identify new opportunities consistent with the approved program and ongoing activities and recommend improvements;
13. Conduct situational analysis and provide technical advice and assistance to governmental and other institutions in building national capacities for enhanced policy and programmatic development;
14. Review and adjust proposals to ensure consistency with relevant priorities and the approved program, taking into consideration available resources. Formulate and present such proposals through the use of technical and substantive input and in accordance with the required format for final review and approval.
15. Coordinate the implementation of a fee-for-service portfolio of the THP components.
16. Undertake duty travel relating to the program for conducting assessments, liaising with counterparts and problem solving as required.
17. Carry out the ongoing review, monitoring and analysis of social, economic and political developments and trends to predict their potential impact on program delivery.
18. Provide overall direction to employees assigned to the program, clarify performance expectations and desired results, monitor and oversee progress, provide guidance and take timely action and/or decision to ensure delivery and achievement of desired objectives.
19. Contribute to the relevant external relationships, representation, communication, resource mobilisation and advocacy work of CARPHA;
20. Support information brokering function of CARPHA through contributions to the health information repository at CARPHA by collation, analysis and sharing of relevant health information and statistics;
21. Initiate, lead, conduct and support original research and audit processes as required and collaborate on relevant projects both internally and externally;
22. Develops and maintains own skills and knowledge as part of continuing professional development.
23. Provide overall direction to assigned staff, monitor and oversee progress, provide guidance and take timely action to ensure delivery and achievement of desired objectives.
24. Participate fully in office meetings and contribute to routine reporting requirements by preparing or ensuring the timely preparation and submission of all program/project reports
25. Participate in the development and preparation of regular updates, administrative and technical reports, conference abstracts, presentations, press releases and other relevant materials including communication tools such as situation reports, briefing notes and on-line resources to share and communicate with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
26. Perform other duties as may be assigned or instructed, including providing support to other areas of work and departments or teams as required. The list of duties in the job description should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. There will be other duties and requirements associated with this post and, in addition, as a term of your employment you may be required to undertake various other duties as may reasonably be required.

5 Expected Outputs: (Define tangible and measurable deliverables linked to CARPHA’s goals, e.g.: technical reports, policy briefs, laboratory analyses, training sessions, improved service delivery outcomes, compliance with quality standards (ISO, WHO/PAHO, CARICOM), and capacity-building contributions.)

1. Monitor and coordinate the planning, budgeting, and implementation of all relevant activities for all externally funded projects under the THP, ensuring compliance with donor objectives and outcomes.
2. Prepare and submit semi-annual and annual work plan (AWP) performance reports in collaboration with the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) within two weeks of reporting deadlines.
3. Leads the preparation of the department’s annual work plan based on CARPHA’s current strategic plan inclusive of setting Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound (SMART) targets within two (2) weeks of reporting deadlines.
4. Coordinate with the department’s technical staff for the preparation of weekly epidemiological reports, monthly and quarterly technical reports and annual performance report.
5. Ensure submission of justifications/concept notes for technical missions at least 6 weeks prior to their start and at least two (2) months for regional workshops.
6. Review and approve all Internal Travel Request (ITRs) for technical staff in the department no less than 2 weeks prior to a mission.
7. Support the preparation of donor funding proposals aligned to the THP to ensure continuity and sustainability of the program.
8. Coordinates the preparation and submission of Duty Travel reports within two weeks of the completion of a technical mission and within one month of a regional workshop.
9. Coordinate and lead at least four (4) THP-related technical missions annually in the areas of travelers’ health and mass gathering surveillance.
10. Ensure that at least 90% of all THP-related EWS Alerts are responded to within 24 hours of receipt.
11. Lead as well as support other relevant CARPHA technical departments in the preparation of watching briefs based on prevailing public health situations.
12. Work with technical THP staff to increase the number of registered entities on the Tourism and Health Information System (THiS) and Healthier Safer Tourism (HST) awarded tourism entities.
13. Ensure that all Early Warning Systems (EWS) under the THP are operational with at least 95% up-time annually with relevant updates, upgrades and maintenance conducted to facilitate efficient functionality.
14. Coordinated with THP technical staff to ensure that all technical guidelines, manuals and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are reviewed annually and updated as needed.
15. Leads the implementation of the department’s fee-for-service portfolio under the guidance of the Office of the Executive Director (OED) ensuring at least 10% of the department’s budget is covered through this mechanism.
16. Sustain and build partnerships with both national and regional public and private tourism organisations to strengthen and advance the THP regionally and internationally.
17. Coordinate and contribute to the preparation of at least 2 research publications annually with THP staff.
18. Manage the delivery and expansion of THP’s training portfolio ensuring up-to-date training materials, expanded training sessions and increased participation.

PART B KEY BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES List and describe the essential competencies to perform the job

COMPETENCY DESCRIPTION Leadership and Management Demonstrates the ability to guide, motivate, and empower others to achieve high performance while modelling CARPHA’s values. Encourages continuous learning, provides constructive feedback, and supports the growth and development of self and others. Fosters an inclusive, accountable, and results-oriented environment that enables teams to excel. Communication and Collaboration Communicates clearly, respectfully, and professionally with cultural sensitivity to support effective information sharing across teams, departments, and Member States; tailors messages to different audiences. Works cooperatively across departments, campuses, and Member States; values diverse perspectives; builds relationships that support shared goals. Results Orientation and Accountability Delivers expected outputs on time and to established department standards; takes ownership of tasks; follows through on commitments. Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking Uses evidence, sound judgment, and innovative approaches to identify and resolve challenges. Customer Focus and Service Excellence Shows commitment to understanding and responding to the needs of Member States and stakeholders. Provides timely, professional, and courteous support while upholding CARPHA’s service standards. Proactively seeks opportunities to improve service quality and strengthen stakeholder trust. Integrity and Professional Ethics Acts with honesty, transparency, and fairness, ensuring confidentiality and trust in the organisation. Adaptability and Resilience Responds positively to change, ambiguity, and crisis conditions; remains productive under pressure.

6 Technical Expertise (List and describe, in order of priority, the abilities required to perform the job, include technical, managerial and soft skills required.)

• Ability to mobilise resources by initiating, developing, maintaining and leveraging partnerships with key stakeholders and communities.
• Ability to successfully apply the Agency’s communication policies and strategies in interactions with key stakeholders in member states and international partners.
• Ability to identify critical goals, objectives and key outcomes to be achieved by CARPHA.
• Excellent diplomacy skills, capable of tactfully dealing with politically sensitive issues.
• Experience of identifying criteria for prioritizing funds and activities within a program.
• Experience of project management
• Good knowledge of the programs of various international agencies in the region.
• Sound technical and policy advisory skills, based on evidence.
• Experience of building networks and relationships with stakeholders and contributing to key strategies
• Knowledge of public health issues and trends, particularly in the Caribbean
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and managing projects
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication and negotiation skills.
• Excellent proposal development skills.
• Good leadership and mentoring skills.
• Ability to work as a team member and exercise tact and discretion at all times. Education (Qualifications)

Essential: Advanced University degree in public health, health policy, social sciences or related disciplines.

Desirable: Highly relevant specialist knowledge or expertise acquired through experiential learning or postgraduate/professional qualifications in public health, business administration, social sciences, health policy or related disciplines.

Experience

Essential: At least ten (10) years’ experience in the development, implementation and assessment of public health programs. Experience of providing policy advice and capacity building through training and/or research.

Desirable: Experience working in the Caribbean and in similar area. Experience and aptitude to mentor staff.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English. Ability to communicate in Spanish and/or French is a plus but not essential. IT Skills

Proficient in the use of a variety of database tools, spreadsheets, word processing and presentation software (e.g. Microsoft Office). Ability to use statistical software and epidemiological packages (for example: SAS, SPSS, STATA, EPI INFO) desirable. Scope and Complexity

The role includes both strategic and operational leadership of CARPHA’s Tourism and Health Program (THP), guiding the planning, implementation, and oversight of regional and national travellers’ health initiatives including mass gatherings across CMS. It involves managing stakeholders across both tourism and health sectors across all CMS to support implementation of the THP components. Furthermore, collaboration with tourism will involve both private and public entities focusing on building sustainable partnerships, advocacy and gaining buy-in from those entities to drive implementation. Travelers’ health is not a traditional area of public health surveillance for many CMS and thus the position will involve working closely with national surveillance teams to institutionalize and integrate this area on surveillance into their overall system.

The role has a strong response function that requires immediate coordination of technical resources to address public health alerts reported through the unit’s electronic early warning systems as well as outbreak situations. Additionally, the job also entails developing and maintaining regional and international health networks that provides surveillance data and technical guidance to support public health interventions in the Caribbean. Aligned to this, it also involves the creation and maintenance of a CARPHA THP regional Alert and Outbreak database and repository used to track regional public health situations and inform response initiatives. The position requires delivering in-country and virtual technical assistance, capacity building, and travellers’ health response to support CARPHA and its Member States.

The role functions within a complex regional environment, balancing multiple priorities across Member States and partners, and contributes to evidence-informed decision-making on regional public goods and strategic health priorities. It involves supervisory responsibilities, budget management, and accountability for the Unit’s performance, as well as ongoing engagement with internal departments, external stakeholders, and regional and international agencies to ensure alignment with CARPHA’s strategic objectives and mandates. Functional Relationships

Internal:

 Executive Director: Provides strategic oversight, guidance, and approval of THP strategies and work plans; regular reporting and updates.  CARPHA Department Heads: Collaborates on cross-cutting initiatives to integrate THP into all agency-wide programs and activities.  CARPHA Integrated Surveillance Team: Participates actively providing and integrating surveillance, data, response  Department Management Team: Participates in decision-making, accountability, conflict resolution, and resource allocation to achieve strategic goals.

External:

 CARPHA Member States (Ministries of Health and Tourism, Tourism Authorities, private Associations, agencies): Provides technical assistance, capacity building, training, policy recommendations, and performance monitoring support.  Regional and International Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, and Technical Partners (e.g., World Health Organisation (WHO), Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and World Travel Market (WTM) academia, etc): Engages in technical collaboration, implementation reporting, joint projects, and participation in surveillance and epidemiology committees and working groups.

Authority (Specify the areas where the jobholder has decision-making authority and where higher approval is required.)

The role exercises independent authority in the management and operations of the THP Unit, staff, interns, and in the execution of traveler’s health and mass gathering activities (including budget allocations) and initiatives in support of CARPHA Member States and regionally. Provides expert technical advice, assistance and recommendations on travelers health matters, and other technical policies and initiatives, while seeking high-level approval from the Executive Director for major policy shifts, strategic directions, and resource mobilization.

Accountability

This role is accountable for the performance of visitor base and mass gathering surveillance and response activities under the OED, including effective budgetary management, staff supervision, and delivery of outputs and outcomes. Responsible for ensuring technical quality and alignment with CARPHA’s strategic objectives, with significant impact on Member States’ health systems strengthening. 15 Working Conditions (Describe whether the job is office-based, requires travel, fieldwork, or exposure to health and safety risks)

This position is primarily office-based in Trinidad and Tobago, with regular travel to CARPHA Member States for technical assistance and support, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement.

Problem Solving Requirements

The role routinely addresses complex surveillance and response challenges related to traveller’s health and mass gathering events across CARPHA Member States (CMS). It requires coordination of active and passive surveillance systems, real-time strategic and targeted response to public health threats using current scientific and data-driven approaches. The position demands logical reasoning, strategic thinking, and advanced analytical capabilities to diagnose issues, identify trends, and generate evidence-based solutions. Creative and innovative problem-solving skills are essential to develop actionable recommendations that demonstrate Program effectiveness, process efficiencies, enhance value added, and inform strategic decision-making by both internal and external stakeholders.

17 Communication & Influence (Indicate the level of interaction, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and representation at regional/international levels.) The role requires extensive communication, coordination, and influence across multiple internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment, accountability, and effective Program delivery.  Executive Director: Provides regular strategic oversight, guidance, and approvals; communicates updates and reports on THP activities — Monthly.  CARPHA Department Heads: Collaborates on cross-cutting initiatives, ensuring inclusion of THP within relevant agency-wide programs and initiatives — Regularly.  Department Management Team: Engages in accountability discussions, decision-making, conflict resolution, and resource allocation to support the strategic vision and objectives — Monthly.  CARPHA Member States (MOHs, agencies): Provides technical assistance, capacity building, training, policy advice, response support, and reporting support — Frequent/As needed.  Regional and International Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, and Technical Partners (e.g., WHO, PAHO, CDC, UKHSA, Public and Private Tourism, academia): Maintains strong partnerships for technical collaboration, implementation reporting and joint projects — Frequent/As needed. 18 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) (Specify the metrics used to measure the role’s success (timeliness, quality, efficiency, impact, compliance)  Achieve 90% submission of timesheet by the following Tuesday of each week.  Achieve 90% compliance with submission of Duty Travel Report within two weeks of travel.  Achieve 95% compliance with the Telework Policy, Flexitime and Code of Ethics Policies.  Achieve 90% submission of required documents (e.g., reports, presentations, briefs), feedback and/or approvals within the established timeframe.  Achieve 100% completion and submission of PPES objectives and reviews, including training recommendations, completed semi-annually by July 31 and annually by January 31.  Ensure 80% of all mandatory CARPHA training courses are completed within the specified deadlines.  Program evaluations and/or assessments completed and disseminated.  THP capacity building initiatives implemented.  Public health-related reports developed and disseminated.  Success stories, good practices and lessons learned developed and disseminated.  Resource Mobilisation initiatives of the Agency implemented.  Partnerships maintained and expanded.  Research and Research Ethics Committee support provided. 19 Supervision & Leadership (Describe the number and type of staff supervised, guidance provided, and leadership responsibilities.) Supervises:  Epidemiologist visitor base surveillance  Training and Standards Officer  Administrative Assistant  The role includes technical guidance, oversight, coordination and supervision. 20 Validation/ Approvals First Level Supervisor: Signature: Date: July 29, 2026 Executive Director: Signature: Date: July 29, 2026