OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Access to Medicines and Health Products (MHP) Division works with Member States and partners to improve the access to safe, quality assured, efficacious and affordable medicines and health products and to promote that these are used rationally. In line with the GPW 13 and GPW 14 strategic priorities and to achieve greater country impact, the Health Products Policy and Standards (HPS) Department works with the Regulation and Prequalification (RPQ) Department and the Innovation and Emerging Technologies (IET) Department in the MHP division in the wider framework of access to medicines and health products and Universal Health Coverage and cooperates with the disease-oriented programmes (among others HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, NCDs and mental health, reproductive health and maternal and child health, immunization), emergences and health systems oriented programs such as Primary Health Care. The department works with a wide range of UN organizations, international partners, expert networks and WHO Collaborating Centres.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Coordinates and provides senior technical leadership in establishing new approaches, evidence-based norms and standards, and capacity building initiatives for implementation across Regional and Country Office programmes in the respective area of work.
2. Provides senior level health technical expertise and advice to the Director and Senior Management in WHO normative and standards setting work in the area of medicines, biologicals, blood and other products of human origin, and drug dependence and 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Serves as the scientific/technical reference among UN Agencies and the peer community on the WHO normative and standards setting work in the area of medicines, biologicals, blood and other products of human origin, and drug dependence.
6. Builds technical partnerships with other UN Agencies, Donors, research institutions and other stakeholders in the WHO normative and standards setting work in the area of medicines, biologicals, blood and other products of human origin, and drug dependence to position the technical area of work and implementation into respective policies.
7. Represent the programme area of work in global fora and capacity building activities.
8. Performs all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• Advanced level university degree (Master’s level) in medicine or pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Analytical chemistry or Biology or related fields.

Desirable:

• A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields, with publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the development of norms and standards for health products/ technologies, including:
  • Experience providing senior-level advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision makers
  • Experience in managing human and financial resources
  • Experience in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies.
• Demonstrated experience at the international level.

Desirable:

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 normative and standards setting work in the area of medicines, biologicals, blood and other products of human origin, and drug dependence.
• 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.
• Strong skills in developing and establishing polices and strategies.
• Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Ensuring the effective use of resources
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of French.
•  Intermediate knowledge of Other UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

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 8544 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 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.
• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and E-Manual.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce . Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to r[email protected]
  An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
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• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
• Candidates appointed to a fixed-term position in the Professional category with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].
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