Advisor, Medicines and Health Technologies

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 90,970 USD and 117,287 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This requisition is for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

The subregional level of PAHO/WHO’s technical cooperation (TC) is recognized functionally, programmatically, at organizational level, and in the PAHO Budget Policy. Subregional TC is aimed at meeting the needs of a group of countries in their pursuit of the subregional health development goals within the framework of the Organization’s collective mandates. The Subregional TC encompasses all or some countries belonging to one of the legally established intergovernmental integration mechanisms eg.: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR); the Central America Integration System (SICA); and the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO). The Subregional TC supports the health agendas of the various integration mechanisms and the strategies for its implementation must be jointly developed. The Subregional Office coordinates PAHO/WHO Technical cooperation with the subregional integration processes for the implementation of the respective Biennial Work Plans (BWP). This is undertaken in close coordination with PAHO/WHO’s Department of Health Systems and Services (HSS) and corresponding technical units. The primary objective of the Department of Health Systems and Services is to strengthen health systems based on Primary Health Care, supporting universal access to health and universal health coverage.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision of the Subregional Program Coordinator (SPC-CRB), and the technical guidance of the Unit Chief, Medicines and Health Technologies (HSS/MT), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following duties:

1. Advocate and provide strategic, technical and programmatic advice and support for the development, update and implementation of policies, plans and strategies favoring access, regulation, innovation, production, pricing and rational use of medicines and other health technologies (including safe blood and organ transplants) at the subregional level within the framework of PAHO’s Strategic Plan and the PAHO Subregional Cooperation Strategy (CSC) and the Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH IV) framework;
2. Create, strengthen and convene subregional networks aimed at improving access to safe, efficacious and quality-assured medicines and other health technologies including, but not limited to, networks dedicated to the improvement of regulatory capacities, the use of health technology assessment and other evidence informed processes for selection, incorporation and management of health technologies, post marketing surveillance and to improving access to safe blood and organ transplants;
3. Contribute to the identification of subregional knowledge gaps and of research priorities on medicines and other health technologies;
4. Provide advice and support for the development of good managerial practices for MT aiming at the improvement of access to health technologies, the appropriate and rational use of medicines and the establishment of regulatory capacities to ensure the availability of safe, quality, and effective medicines and other health technologies at the subregional level within the framework of PAHO’s Strategic Plan and the Health Subregional Plan or Agenda of the Caribbean;
5. Provide advice and technical expertise in the development of MT core data and information systems (at the subregional level, and between countries, their integration with broader health information systems, the production of analysis and policy briefs and the identification of knowledge gaps, amenable to organizational and evaluative research; produce on a periodic basis an analysis of the MT situation, trends and issues within the Subregion;
6. Mobilize political, technical and financial resources for the implementation of the subregional technical program on MT;
7. Contribute to the formulation of the subregional BWP and monitor regularly the financial and programmatic implementation of the MT component of the BWP; provide inputs for the strategic analysis and assessment of the MT component of the BWP; and contribute in the preparation of reports, as required;
8. Contribute to the identification, documentation, systematization, dissemination and scaling-up of good practices and lessons learned in the area of MT in the subregion;
9. Support, in agreement with respective PWRs and according to the country BWPs, country HSS advisors on MT issues;
10. Promote and support inter-country and inter-subregional cooperation for joint programs, and information and knowledge sharing related to MT oriented to advance the subregional BWP and oriented to economy of scale and reduction of asymmetries among countries;
11. Provide leadership, guidance and monitoring of supervised staff by setting clear work objectives, ensuring timely and effective use of performance reviews and feedback mechanisms, engaging in regular communications, and solving interpersonal or technical conflicts; establish and support a learning environment; administer, allocate and monitor the financial, logistical and staff resources assigned to the MT component and prepare and justify the program or work and budget proposals of the MT component of the subregional BWP;
12. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education****:

Essential: A university degree in one of the health, social, or management sciences and a master’s degree in pharmacy, health economics, public health or other health science related to the functions of the position, from a recognized institution.

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/. 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.

Experience****:

Essential: Nine years of combined progressive national and international experience in the implementation and administration of programs and projects related to medicines, health technologies, policy and regulation of medicines and other health technologies, health and pharmaco-economics, production and quality control, or access to health products.

Desirable: Experience working at the subregional level would be an asset. Experience working in the United Nations or other multilateral institutions would be an asset.

SKILLS****:

PAHO Competencies:

-Overall attitude at work: Maintains integrity and takes a clear ethical approach and stance; demonstrates commitment to the Organization’s mandate and promotes the values of the Organization in daily work and behavior; is accountable for work carried out in line with own role and responsibilities; is respectful towards, and trusted by, colleagues and counterparts.

-Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: Relate well to diversity in others and capitalizes on such diversity - Treats all people with dignity and respect. Relates well to people with different cultures, gender, orientations, backgrounds and/or positions; examines own behavior to avoid stereotypical responses; considers issues from the perspective of others and values their diversity.

-Teamwork: Collaborate and cooperate with others - Creates team spirit; promotes collaboration and open communication in the team; proactively supports others; welcomes team responsibilities and drives team results; promotes knowledge sharing in the team.

-Communication: Express oneself clearly when speaking/share knowledge - Foresees communication needs of audience and targets message accordingly. Facilitates open communication; encourages others to share their views openly and takes time to understand and consider their views. Writes down ideas in a clear, structured, logical and credible way; drafts and supports the development of guidelines, policies and procedures. Shares relevant information openly and ensures that the shared information is understood; considers knowledge sharing as a constructive working method and demonstrates awareness of the Organization.

-Creating an empowering and motivating environment: Provide direction - Manages individual and group projects and ensures that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clearly defined, understood and accepted; delegates work appropriately to achieve best results.

-Producing Results: Work efficiently and independently - Monitors own and others’ work in a systematic and effective way, ensuring required resources and outputs. Aligns projects with Organization’s mission and objectives. Consistently solves own and team’s problems effectively as needed. Proactively engages in projects and initiatives, accepting demanding goals, in line with Organizational Strategies and Program of Work. Demonstrates accountability for work of team and sets an example, while explicitly articulating lessons learnt for own and team’s benefit.

-Moving forward in a changing environment: Propose change - Actively supports Organizational change initiatives and demonstrates personal commitment to them, including when faced with new demands; proposes workable solutions to challenging situations. Engages in positive responses to a changing environment and promotes workable solutions to achieve own and team’s results. Welcomes, and actively seeks to apply, new ideas, approaches and working methods and technologies in order to improve own and/or team’s work processes and results; demonstrates commitment to Organizational change initiatives.

-Ensuring effective use of resources: Strategize and set clear objectives - Sets specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely objectives for own team and/or the Organization; systematically analyses and anticipates priority projects for own team and allocates necessary resources to achieve them; identifies the cross-Organizational resources needed for large- scale projects in line with key Organizational objectives. Anticipates foreseeable changes and adapts own and team’s projects in the face of unforeseen circumstances and/ or challenges; creates measures and criteria to monitor progress of overall projects against key Organizational objectives; creates cost-effective solutions for the Organization.

-Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond - Develop networks and partnerships and encourage collaboration - Builds and negotiates strategic partnerships and alliances with a wide range of key stakeholders to ensure Organizational results and success. Creates innovative opportunities for promoting synergies inside and outside the Organization to improve Organizational success.

Technical Expertise:

-Theoretical and practical expertise in medicines and health technologies; technical and social determinants of access and use of health technologies, covering areas of policy development and regulation.

-Broad knowledge of management principles and practices with specific emphasis on financing, innovation and public health production and quality evaluation, and service delivery.

-Technical expertise in providing technical assistance to countries in the development, management, operation, or evaluation of programs or projects in health technologies and research.

-Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities, including budget programming and control.

-Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation projects, interventions and in the development of criteria for evaluating program interventions, budget programming and control.

-Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendations on key political and technical issues.

-Skills in resource mobilization (including fundraising and partner collaboration) and financial management for delivery of expected results.

-Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

Languages:

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

IT Skills:

Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio, Microsoft SharePoint and Project would be an asset.

REMUNERATION

Monthly Salary****: (Net of taxes)

US$6,126.33 (Salary non-negotiable)

Post Adjustment****:

US$3,596.16 This amount is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and e-Manual.
• For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• 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.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this post.
• The post description is the official documentation for organization purposes.