Technical Specialist, P-3, (Fixed Term Appointment), Post#129643, Medicines & Nutrition Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

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 136,010 USD and 178,095 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.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Health

Strategic Office Context and Purpose for the Job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Strategic office context

The Medicines and Nutrition Center’s (MNC) core objective is to provide timely access for governments, partners and UNICEF programmes in both development and humanitarian emergency contexts to value-for-money medicines and nutrition products that are safe, efficacious and of acceptable quality. MNC maintains between 800 and 1200 products in its customer-driven portfolio targeted to support global health and nutrition interventions for children and their parents. The products are for prevention, promotion and treatment in alignment with global and country normative guidelines and adapted to fit-the-purpose e.g. patient packs to facilitate dispensing by healthcare workers at the lowest level of health care service delivery.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose for the job

Under the general guidance of the Technical Specialist P4, be responsible for taking proactive action to ensure that UNICEF achieves its strategic objective of securing access to quality, safe, effective and cost-effective medicines in humanitarian and development contexts.

1. Provide expert knowledge on pharmaceutical products including medicines for peadiatric and adolescent cancers.
2. Provide support and collaborate in the planning, development and monitoring of plans, programmes and projects related to medicine supply, their normative guidance, standards, policies and research.
3. Support the evaluation and comparison of multiple scenarios to give UNICEF confidence in its medicines product portfolio mix.
4. Ensure that medicines procured by UNICEF meet acceptable standards of quality, safety and efficacy.
5. Technical assistance to countries and partners within agreed policy frameworks.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Subject Matter Expert (SME) on medicines for management of cancer in children and adolescents

• Independent leadership in technical support in procurement and supply management of these products
• Advice and guide on technical matters about medicines for management of cancer in children and adolescents. This includes product selection, specifications, standards, quantification, assessment, quality assurance and rational clinical use.
• Advocate for and participate in fora for formulating standards, norms, policies, and guidelines.

2. Product portfolio management

• Conducts regular product portfolio review to take into account supply and demand market trends.
• Conduct market research, provide analyses, background information, recommendations for improving the suitability and range of products.
• Advocate for and foster strategies to develop and bring new products to the portfolio, as well, phase out superseded products.
• Clarify inadequate customer specifications and recommend suitable substitute or alternative products where applicable.

3. Procurement and Supply Management: Lead and organize the technical activities for the procurement and supply management these products with a goal to provide rapid and relevant responses to evolving supply needs and situations facing children and their families.

• Participate in the development of supply strategies and advice on context-specific procurement methods.
• Guide the development of and review technical specifications, standards and requirements to ensure completeness and appropriateness.
• Establish the list of potential pre-qualified suppliers for solicitation exercises in collaboration with the Quality Assurance Centre (QAC)
• Organize and oversee the technical assessment of technical offers in collaboration with Quality Assurance Center. Sign off on technical assessments conducted by supervisees.
• Ensure timely and accurate updates of the institution’s material master data with the required information relevant to the products of specialization.
• Technical focal point for investigation and resolution of complaints, recalls and deviations.
• Provide guidance on de-commissioning and disposal of unusable products.

4. Risk Management, in collaboration with QAC.

• The highest level of integrity, standards and accountability through implementation of sound, accurate product risk management systems, procedures and documentation as well as regular and accurate reporting.
• Identify and plan for mitigation of specific risks for products of specialization.
• Facilitate the development, enhancement and implementation of standard operating procedures and related quality risk management systems.

5. People Management:

• Supervise, guide and train supervisees and evaluate their performance.

  6. Collaboration, partnerships, and Networking

• Effective collaboration and strategic partnership with internal and external counterparts through coordination, communication, and networking.

• Effectively liaise with, contribute to, and draw on knowledge institutions and partner inputs for UNICEF use.
• Establish and maintain cross center, cross functional and cross agency collaboration on technical aspects of products of specialization.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:

A completed advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in Clinical Pharmacy or pharmaceutical sciences or pharmaceutical regulation or related technical field preferably with specialization in antineoplastics and supportive agents in cancer treatment, care and support.

*A First university degree (Bachelor’s) in Pharmacy or related field may be acceptable in lieu of an Advanced university degree in conjunction with two additional years of relevant work experience with antineoplastics and supportive agents in cancer treatment, care, and support.

Work Experience:

•Minimum eight (5) years progressively responsible professional work experience relevant to pharmaceutical products, with specialization in antineoplastics and supportive agents in cancer treatment, care, and support.

•Extensive hands-on work experience in the quality assessment of pharmaceutical products with specialization in antineoplastics and supportive agents in cancer treatment, care and support.

•Specialist knowledge of pharmaceutical products with specialization in antineoplastics and supportive agents in cancer treatment, care, and support

•Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical markets, including for cancer treatment, care, and support

Technical Requirements:

Technical Breadth: Must be capable of independent leadership in providing technical expertise in procurement and supply management of medicines.

Management: Should have adequate professional strength and leadership skills for internal and external application

Innovation and Conceptualization: Must be fully competent to apply standardized methods, models and innovative approaches in sourcing of quality fit-for-purpose products.

Quality Risk Management: Must be capable of identifying evaluating and mitigating risks connected with products of specialization.

Partnership and Networking: Ability to effectively liaise with and draw on knowledge institutions and partner inputs for UNICEF use.

Desired:

•Working understanding of procurement and supply chain management principle

•Work experience in both public and private sectors

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

Language Requirement:

Fluency in English. Fluency in French is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and all suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.