Regional Adviser Job @ World Health Organization #Biochemistry #Microbiology #Biological sciences #Biotechnology

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Access to quality medical products is crucial for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030). The goal of the Department of Health System Development is to support advances in UHC in SEAR Member States, to improve people’s access to needed services and medical products without suffering financial hardship.

Medical products regulatory agencies are tasked to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of all medical products viz medicines, vaccines, medical devices and diagnostics, enforcement of legal procedures related to medicines development and manufacturing, monitoring and ensuring compliance with statutory obligations. The regulatory agencies play an essential role in all aspects of pharmaceutical regulations related to product registration, manufacturing, distribution, price control, marketing, research and development, and intellectual property protection. Regulators face a number of challenges today and these are related to the wide variety of medical products that they must deal with. Newer products are coming into the market and the role of the regulator is to ensure safe, efficacious and affordable products for their populations. The technical and managerial capacities of the regulatory agencies in member countries need to be strengthened for them to be able to effectively discharge their responsibilities.

Through the South-East Asia Regulatory Network (SEARN), by increasing collaboration, Member States in the Region have agreed to

1. enhance the ability of national regulatory authorities to ensure safety and quality of medical products;

2. develop more streamlined work sharing arrangements together to accelerate access to medical products.

The expected result is people across the Region will have access to safer and better-quality medical products. This is a priority within the WHO’s new General Programme of Work.

The South-East Asia Region has five priorities for improving access to quality medical products including collaboration in regulation and more rational use of medicines with a focus on antibiotics.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the overall guidance of Director, Programme Management and direct supervision of Director, Health Systems Development (HSD), the incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Provide technical guidance to countries for improving quality and regulation, and regulatory system strengthening for medicines, medical devices and diagnostics in the countries in the region;

2. Provide technical advice and support activities and deliverables of SEARN, including ways to expedite approval of new and existing priority products through inter-country collaboration and support for quality control laboratory network;

3. Support the organization of country self- and joint assessments of regulatory capacity, including supporting institutional development plans;

4. Promote engagement of external partners supporting national regulatory system strengthening, to align with national regulatory agency priorities and institutional development plans;

5. Support post-marketing surveillance and vigilance activities for medicines and medical devices in the SEARN network;

6. Develop and contribute to publications on quality and safety of medical products; and

7. Perform any other relevant duties assigned by Director HSD or supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Master’s level university degree in pharmacy/medicine/biochemistry/microbiology/biological sciences/bio-technology/public health or other health science-related field.
Desirable: Doctorate in pharmacy/medicine/biochemistry/microbiology/biological sciences/bio-technology/public health or other health science-related field. Advanced degree or specialization in the manufacture or regulation of medicines or medical devices.

Experience

Essential: At least ten years’ relevant experience in the area of medical products, particularly pharmaceuticals regulation, some of which should have been obtained in an international context.
Desirable: Experience in working across multiple agencies and managing their often-diverse objectives.

Skills

Good knowledge of product development, production and control. This includes having worked for a medicines manufacturer or a national regulatory authority. Demonstrated ability to work with experts at national and regional levels, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. Excellent organizational skills.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Ensuring the effective use of resources
5. Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

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 88,162 (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 2439 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 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.

• 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.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO’s workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. 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.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.