Technical Officer (RSS Regulatory Systems Strengthening)

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 140,639 USD and 184,155 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.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Regulation and Prequalification Department (RPQ) through the Regulation and Safety (REG) Unit works with Member States and partners to improve 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 category 4 of the General Programme of Work 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.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision and guidance of a Team Lead, RSS, the incumbent:

• Provides input on the development of WHO guidelines and tools on regulatory systems strengthening and preparedness in response to public health emergencies;
• Contributes to building and strengthening NRA capacity to regulate medical products following assessments, Institutional Development Plan (IDP) elaboration and implementation to address regulatory gaps and the use of WHO tools for planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting;
• Consolidates the implementation of NRA IDPs in priority countries, develops terms of reference, estimates activity costing, organizes and carries out priority activities in coordination with WHO regional and country offices as needed, identifies experts for country missions, identifies NRA representatives to attend trainings /workshops/meetings, and organizes and conducts country visits as needed;
• Assists priority countries to adopt a common regulatory approach for expedited approval of either WHO prequalified products (vaccines, medicines and diagnostics) or products required to address disease outbreaks and/or public health emergencies; contributes to the implementation of the WHO listed authority framework and Coalition of Interested Parties initiatives;
• Produces quality written reports with recommendations;
• Contributes to the implementation and maintenance of Quality Management System in the RSS team and across the RPQ Department;
• Contributes to the development and implementation of RSS workplan;
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• A first-level university degree in Pharmacy, Medicine, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, bio-engineering, or related sciences.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree in Pharmaceutical sciences, Regulatory Affairs, Public Health, Health Technology, Regulatory Legislation, or related science.

Experience

Essential:

• At least five years of professional experience working in the area of regulation of medical products, production and control of medical products including medicines, vaccines, and or diagnostics.

Desirable:

• Field experience in strengthening or providing advice to national regulatory systems in low- and middle-income countries in at least two WHO regions.
• Experience in using WHO global benchmarking tool to evaluate regulatory systems.
• Experience in WHO or in UN setting and/or other experience at the international level.
• Experience with quality management systems.
• Experience in project management.

Skills

• Excellent knowledge and experience in regulation of medicines and health products including vaccines, medicines and diagnostics.
• Good knowledge of regulatory processes and systems in developing countries.
• Good knowledge of quality management principles and practice.
• Effective communication and coordination skills to coordinate activities within WHO and with multiple partners and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the WHO regulatory systems strengthening program.
• Knowledge of regulatory preparedness and capacity building during public health emergencies.
• Effective in organizing, facilitating and conducting country visits, workshops, trainings, and other regulatory capacity building activities.
• Advanced ability to prepare concept notes and written reports.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of French.
• Intermediate knowledge of Russian.
• Intermediate knowledge of any other official UN language.

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 64,121 (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 4948 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 TA 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.
• 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 Manual.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• 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 staff. 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 reasonableaccommodation@who.int
• 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 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 final candidates.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
• 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 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• 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].
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
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