Unit Head, Prequalification (PQT)

Job Description - Unit Head, Prequalification (PQT) (2402472)

Unit Head, Prequalification (PQT) - (2402472)

Grade: P6

Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 2 years

: Jul 4, 2024, 11:08:07 AM

: Jul 25, 2024, 9:59:00 PM

: Switzerland-Geneva

: HQ/MHP Access to Medicines and Health Products

: Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Regulation and Prequalification Department (RPQ) works with Member States and partners to improve the access to essential medicines and other health technologies of assured quality, safety and efficacy or effectiveness. RPQ works within the Access to Medicines and Health Products Division (MHP) division departments in the wider framework of Universal Health Coverage and cooperates with disease-oriented programmes (among others, HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, reproductive health, maternal and child health, immunization, NCDs and mental health) towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The department works with a wide range of UN organizations, international partners and expert networks, and WHO Collaborating Centres. Through the prequalification process, it assures the quality, safety and efficacy of appropriate health products and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) to be available for procurement through or with funds from the UN system or global procurement agencies. The list of prequalified health products is subsequently used by member states' national procurement agencies and NGOs.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Coordinates and provides senior technical leadership in establishing new approaches, evidence-based policies and strategies, surveillance, and capacity building initiatives for implementation across Regional and Country Office programmes in the respective area of work.
• Provides senior level health technical expertise and advice to the Director and Senior Management in the area of WHO prequalification on the development and establishment of new health strategies and policies for implementation into and/or the monitoring and evaluation of national and global policies.
• Ensures effective coordination, management, and accountability of the programme area in delivering its objectives through efficient managing a diverse team of technical experts, financial resources and effective work plan coordination to optimize the programme's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.
• Ensures the coordination and management of the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the Department's area of work of key performance indicators and global reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize performance of Department deliverables.
• Serves as the scientific/technical reference among UN Agencies and the peer community on the WHO prequalification.
• Builds technical partnerships with other UN Agencies, Donors, research institutions and other stakeholders in the WHO prequalification to position the technical area of work and implementation into respective policies.
• Represent the programme area of work in global for a and capacity building activities.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties:

• Lead, manage and supervise the prequalification of health products and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) through dossier assessment; inspection of manufacturing and testing sites/facilities; and sample testing or independent performance evaluation and support product evaluation activities at international, regional, and national levels, including contributing to facilitating reliance and harmonization.
• Oversee the evaluation and/or risk assessment of health products to support WHO and member states' response to health emergencies, shortages and other needs outside scope of routine PQ. Lead, manage and coordinate the provision of scientific and technical advice to WHO programmes, National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and member states, UN procurement agencies, manufacturers and other stakeholders on new product innovations, contract research organizations, quality control and testing laboratories, and healthcare workers, on (a) in matters related to quality assurance of health products; (b) prioritization of products for assessment; (c) consideration of suitability of operational and programmatic characteristics of health products.
• To undertake research of relevant PQT related information, preparing reports and presenting information, data and results, including training materials in the areas of work and competence and the human and budgetary resources for the prequalification activities.
• Oversee communication and advocacy activities related to Prequalification and lead, manage and supervise communication and advocacy activities related to PQ.
• Prepare appropriate reporting, including to the WHO governing bodies, on the above-mentioned areas of work.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university (Master's) degree in medicine, pharmacy, chemistry, or biological sciences related to the functions of the position.

Desirable: A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the management of health products evaluation, including:

• Experience providing senior level advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision makers,
• Managing human and financial resources,
• As well as experience in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies.
• Demonstrated experience at the international level.

Desirable:

• Experience in a broad area of health technologies (medicines, vaccines, biologicals, medical devices, diagnostics, vector control products).
• Field experience at country level in a national institution involved in regulation of health products.

Skills

• Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies
• Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.
• Strong understanding and skills in mobilizing resources.
• Ability to engage, build consensus and communicate effectively and diplomatically with Member States, partners and media.
• Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area.
• Globally respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in scientific evaluation of health products for quality, safety, efficacy/performance and suitability for use in health products on member states, especially those on LMICs.
• Proven leadership skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes.
• Expertise in the field of registration or prequalification of health technologies and good understanding of WHO's or reference health products regulatory agencies, both policies and strategies in this area.
• Recognized leadership and ability to work with experts' networks and organizations at national and international levels.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural background, and from different and complementary fields of expertise; and to supervise programmes, budgets, individuals, and teams.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 106,023 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 7925 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. 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/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
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