OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Access to Medicines and Health Products (MHP) Division works with the Member States and partners to improve access to essential medicines and other health technologies of assured quality, safety and efficacy or effectiveness. The division works with a wide range of United Nations organizations, international partners, expert networks and WHO Collaborating Centres. In line with the global health strategic priorities and to achieve greater country impact, the Health Products Policy and Standards (HPS) Department works with the Regulation and Prequalification (RPQ) 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) and health systems-oriented programmes such as Primary Health Care. The Norms and Standards for Pharmaceuticals Team is one of eight teams in the HPS Department, MHP Division. 

The objective of the Team is to assure the quality and safety of health products through the development and establishment of global norms and standards and reference materials: robust quality control procedures; guidelines, and recommendations on the production and quality/safety control of essential medicines and health product; and to provide technical assistance to WHO Member States for national medicines regulatory activities.
 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Quality control of medicines:

1. Plan and coordinate activities for elaborating and revising International Pharmacopoeia texts, including managing the work plan in consultation with the members of the Expert Advisory Panel for the International Pharmacopoeia and Pharmaceutical Preparations.
2. Advise and prepare supporting texts to serve the development of quality control specifications for medicines, publication in The International Pharmacopoeia and their implementation in the Prequalification Programme, and other WHO programmes, WHO Member States, United Nations agencies and other programmes.
3. In collaboration with WHO Expert Advisory Panel, support the development, establishment, revision, publication, and promotion of monographs on priority medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients, as well as general chapters, general notes, operating procedures, best practices, policies and strategies (including the work plan) for The International Pharmacopoeia.

Expert Committee and related consultations:

1. Prepare/review first texts of specifications and background papers on policy texts related to quality control and for the annual WHO Expert Committees on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations and its preparatory technical meetings.

External Assessment Scheme for national quality control laboratories:

1. Support proficiency tests (WHO External Quality Assurance Assessment Scheme (EQAAS)) for national drug control laboratories and other laboratories in all of the six WHO regions through preparation of the test protocols, the evaluation of results, and follow-up actions.
2. Disseminate information on study results and analysis of the EQAAS studies and facilitate follow up actions with quality control laboratory, in collaboration with relevant teams and programmes.
3. Develop and maintain contacts with other scientific professionals and counterparts in national/regional regulatory authorities, relevant industries and other scientific and regulatory organizations.
4. Coordinate and advise WHO Collaborating Centers and collaborating partners developing standards for quality control of pharmaceuticals for The International Pharmacopoeia.
5. Perform all other related duties as assigned.
    

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced University degree (Masters level or above) in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy or analytical chemistry or related fields.
Desirable: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or analytical chemistry or related fields.

Experience

Essential: 

At least seven  years of experience in the development of pharmaceutical specifications.

At least five years hands-on experience working in a quality control laboratory using pharmacopoeia specifications, including analytical method development and validations.

At least seven years of experience in drafting and editing technical quality control text, and / or preparation or evaluation of the quality part of marketing authorization applications for pharmaceuticals.

Desirable: 

Experience in working in the development of pharmaceutical specifications in an international environment.

Experience in working in the quality control related function at national, regional or international level.

Skills

Good knowledge of pharmaceutical regulatory requirements (e.g., CTD Module 3). 

Strong technical knowledge in pharmaceutical quality control and pharmacopoeial affairs. 

Strong technical knowledge in WHO and other internationally recognized quality assurance standards and health product regulations.

Excellent technical writing skills.

Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work in a multicultural team and maintain effective working relationships with recognized experts and stakeholders. 

Strong methodological and analytical skills, with the ability to conduct research, identify and analyze literature relevant to the programme area. 

Good planning and organizational skills, attention to detail and the ability to multi-task and work under pressure. 

Strong IT skills: Word, Excel, presentation software, databases and web navigators.
 

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Knowing and managing yourself
Producing results
 

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

 

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 84,672 (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 6428 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

• Staff members who have been separated as a result of the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will be given special consideration.

• 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 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 eManual.

• The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

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• 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 may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.

• 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 a fixed-term position in the International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical 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 shws@who.int.

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