General Information
Job Highlight
About the Region
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.
About the Country/Multi-Country Office
From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.
About the Project Office
The RBM Partnership to End Malaria is operating under the framework of the Big Push Against Malaria to accelerate malaria elimination through stronger country leadership, regional collaboration and strategic partnerships.
As implementation progresses, RBM is strengthening coordination mechanisms and supporting countries and partners to improve readiness for new and existing malaria interventions while addressing market barriers affecting access to priority malaria commodities.
RBM seeks a Senior Advisor to provide strategic and technical advisory support that advances sustainable solutions for malaria commodities by strengthening coordination, providing technical advice and supporting implementation of these programme outputs.
About the Group
From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.
Job Specific Context
The RBM Partnership to End Malaria is operating under the framework of the Big Push Against Malaria to accelerate malaria elimination through stronger country leadership, regional collaboration and strategic partnerships.
As implementation progresses, RBM is strengthening coordination mechanisms and supporting countries and partners to improve readiness for new and existing malaria interventions while addressing market barriers affecting access to priority malaria commodities.
RBM seeks a Senior Advisor to provide strategic and technical advisory support that advances sustainable solutions for malaria commodities by strengthening coordination, providing technical advice and supporting implementation of these programme outputs.
Role Purpose
To provide senior strategic and technical advisory support that strengthens sustainable solutions for malaria commodities through improved global, regional and national coordination, market shaping, country readiness, and localization and regionalization of manufacturing efforts, helping countries and partners accelerate equitable and sustainable access to malaria commodities.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Strategic Advisory
Provide strategic advice to the RBM partnership, including endemic countries, on sustainable solutions for malaria commodities.
Identify emerging opportunities, risks and priorities related to market shaping, country readiness and localization.
Support RBM's strategic positioning within relevant regional and global initiatives.
Provide technical advice that supports evidence-based decision-making and programme implementation.
Market Shaping and Sustainable Access
Provide strategic advice to support market-shaping initiatives addressing identified market failures and biological threats across key malaria commodities.
Support or coordinate market-shaping task forces as required.
Identify practical approaches that strengthen affordability, availability and sustainable access to malaria commodities.
Support technical coordination with key global, regional, and national partners.
Monitor implementation of agreed actions and recommend practical solutions to emerging challenges.
Localization and Regional Manufacturing
Advise on localization and regionalization of malaria commodity manufacturing.
Support coordination of manufacturing initiatives and improve visibility of ongoing regional efforts.
Identify opportunities that strengthen regional manufacturing ecosystems and sustainable supply chains.
Support implementation of priorities emerging from the Big Push Against Malaria and Pillar 5 agenda.
Provide technical advice that strengthens sustainable and equitable access to quality-assured malaria commodities.
Country Readiness
Provide strategic and technical advice to strengthen country readiness for the introduction, scale-up and sustainable deployment of new and existing malaria commodities.
Support development of country readiness approaches that address policy, regulatory, financing, procurement, supply chain, implementation and operational requirements.
Advise on country prioritization, sequencing and implementation pathways for introducing new malaria commodities.
Support countries and partners in identifying readiness gaps, implementation bottlenecks, and practical solutions.
Facilitate technical collaboration between countries and strategic partners to strengthen coordinated readiness efforts.
Contribute to the development of technical guidance, readiness frameworks, learning products and country support packages.
Monitor implementation of agreed readiness actions and recommend adaptive approaches where required.
Expected Deliverables
Deliverables will be agreed prior to an assignment and will include, but not limited to:
Strategic technical advice to advance the Big Push Against Malaria, with a particular focus on Pillar 5 - Develop and Prepare for Rapid Introduction of New Tools.
Technical guidance and implementation support to strengthen country readiness, market shaping, and sustainable access to malaria commodities.
Strategic recommendations and technical inputs that strengthen localization and regionalization of malaria commodity manufacturing and improve visibility of ongoing initiatives.
Briefing notes, technical papers, presentations and other decision-support products to inform RBM leadership, partner engagement and strategic planning.
Technical support to Pillar 5 consultations, technical working groups, partner engagements and other strategic initiatives, including agreed follow-up actions.
Contributions to programme reporting, knowledge management, learning and documentation of lessons to strengthen implementation of Pillar 5 and the broader Big Push Against Malaria.
End-of-assignment recommendations and technical handover notes, where applicable.
Skills
Competencies
Education Requirements
Required:
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Public Health, Medicine, Pharmacy, Epidemiology, Health Economics, Business Administration, International Development, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or another relevant discipline is required.
Desired:
-
Additional professional training or certification in health economics, pharmaceutical or health commodity markets, market shaping, supply chain management, procurement, regulatory systems, manufacturing, or another field directly relevant to the assignment.
Experience Requirements
Required:
Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in global health, health commodities, market shaping, pharmaceutical or health-product markets, supply chains, country readiness or related fields.
Demonstrated experience providing strategic technical advice within international health programmes.
Experience supporting implementation of complex multi-partner initiatives.
Demonstrated experience working with governments, regional institutions and international partners.
Familiarity with malaria commodity markets, country readiness, localization and regional manufacturing initiatives.
Strong analytical, facilitation, coordination and communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments.
Experience with malaria commodities, including medicines, diagnostics, vaccines, vector control products or other emerging malaria tools.
Desirable
Experience supporting the introduction or scale-up of new health products, including country readiness, market shaping, procurement, supply chain or sustainable access.
Experience working on pharmaceutical or health-product manufacturing, localization, regional production or market development, particularly in Africa.
Experience working with governments and regional or global health institutions such as Africa CDC, WHO, Global Fund, Unitaid, Gavi, regional economic communities or similar organizations.
Experience convening diverse public, private and development partners and translating technical discussions into practical actions.
Experience working in malaria-endemic countries, particularly in Africa, is an asset.
Language Requirements
| Language | Proficiency Level | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| English | Fluent | Required |
| French | Basic | Desirable |
Additional Information
- UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
- Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
- UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
- We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
- UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
Terms and Conditions
- For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
- For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
- For more details about the contract types, please click here.
- All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
- It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.