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Specialist, Essential Medicines, Biologicals and Health Technologies

Managua

  • Organization: WHO - World Health Organization
  • Location: Managua
  • Grade: Mid level - NO-C, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Medical Practitioners
    • Pharmacy
    • PAHO/WHO Representation, Nicaragua
  • Closing Date: Closed

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT
PAHO Country Offices are responsible for ensuring that the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) country program of technical cooperation and its country presence provides adequate support to the national health development process and, at the same time, enables the country/ies to shape the sub regional, regional, and global health agendas. The PAHO/WHO Country Office is the basic organizational unit for technical cooperation with the country/ies, drawing on PAHO/WHO resources from all levels and all parts of the Organization.
 
This is undertaken in close coordination with PAHO/WHO Department of Health Systems and Services (HSS) and corresponding technical units. The primary objective of the Department of Health Systems and Services is to strengthen health systems based on Primary Health Care, supporting universal health. Its work encompasses the following areas\: strengthening of health systems governance for social protection in health; strengthening of regulatory frameworks and financial protection for progressive realization of the right to health; organizing people-centered, integrated health service delivery; promoting access to and rational use of quality, safe, and effective health technologies; strengthening national health research systems, and promoting the integration of scientific knowledge into health care, health policies, and technical cooperation; and developing human resources for health.
 
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Under the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative and the general supervision of the Unit Chief, Medicines and Health Technologies (HSS/MT), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties\:
  1. Provide strategic, technical and programmatic support for the development, update and implementation of evidence-based policies, plans and strategies favoring access, regulation, innovation, production, pricing and rational use of medicines and other health technologies (including safe blood and organ transplants) within the framework of PAHO’s Strategic Plan;
  2. Provide technical cooperation to strengthen the evidence-based approach in the preparation of key norms, guidelines and strategies to guide institutional committees responsible for the selection and use of essential medicines and the development of the national essential medicines list and formularies, as well as treatment protocols;
  3. Provide support for the development of good managerial practices for MT aiming at the improvement of access to health technologies, the appropriate and rational use of medicines and in particular in the area of antimicrobial resistance, and the establishment of regulatory capacities to ensure the availability of safe, quality, and effective medicines and other health technologies;
  4. Provide support in the development of MT core data and information systems (including the use of Information Communication Technologies), their integration with broader health information systems, the production of analysis and policy briefs and the identification of knowledge gaps, amenable to organizational and evaluative research; produce on a periodic basis an analysis of the MT situation and trends;
  5. Support the capacity of academic institutions and other national agencies in the development of human resources with competences pertinent to the regulation, pharmaceutical surveillance, production, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), pricing and rational use of medicines and biological products, using several learning strategies, including distance learning;
  6. Collaborate in the strengthening of the functions of the National Regulatory Agency (NRA) in respect of medicines and biological products including the strengthening of pharmacovigilance systems, to enable the NRA to perform at Level 3 classification including the component of biological;
  7. Disseminate appropriate and relevant technical information on the procurement of medicines and stock management models;
  8. Support south-south and triangular cooperation for the transfer of health technologies;
  9. Provide technical cooperation in activities related to increasing awareness of the link between access to and the rational use of medicines in health systems, building strategies to sensitize health professionals, consumers and other key stakeholders on the consequences of the irrational use of medicines in health outcomes and expenditures;
  10. Coordinate the activities of the Organization’s Strategic Fund for the procurement of essential medicines and strategic health supplies to ensure affordable quality medicines and health technologies promoting all the instruments to strengthen supply management systems, improve demand planning and minimize product shortages;
  11. Coordinate within the Country Office and other relevant organizational entities, including the subregional level, in the efficient and effective management of the PAHO Strategic Fund, including monitoring and evaluation of its performance;
  12. Mobilize resources, financial and non-financial by assisting national authorities in the preparation of project proposals and plans to appropriate national, bilateral and international agencies and by facilitating south-south and triangular cooperation for health development;
  13. Contribute to the coordination of delivery of the Organization’s technical cooperation and financial assistance, working as part of the team of consultants assigned to the Country Office;
  14. Collaborate in the preparation of the Representation´s Biennial Work Plan (BWP) and the execution of international cooperation, including the analysis of political, technical and socioeconomic realities;
  15. Perform other related duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
 
Education\:
Essential\: A university degree in one of the health sciences or a related field from an accredited institution.
 
Desirable\: A master’s degree in health care administration, health regulations and policy, pharmacy, or a related field would be an asset.
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/.  PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http\://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https\://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process.
 
Experience\:
Essential\: Seven years of national professional experience in the planning, organization, development and implementation of programs and activities related to the field of medicines and other health technologies.
 
Desirable\: Working experience in policy and regulation of medicines and other health technologies and/or exposure to the pharmaceutical sector / access to medicines would be an asset.
 
SKILLS\:
PAHO Competencies\:
  • Intrainstitutional Action\:  Operates in a fair, consistent and equitable manner, and displays such behavior by example. Ensures that the mission and the values of the Organization as well as the setting in which projects will be carried out are the drivers in one's technical work. Understands the results required and performs to that standard. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization.
  • Analysis, Synthesis, and Forecasting\:   Takes or organizes individual and collective action after analyzing situations on the basis of the available evidence and knowledge.  Continuously analyzes the evolution of situations in an area of work and makes suggestions to adjust or confirm the decisions necessary to implement required actions. Is capable of anticipating the implications of an analyzed situation between six months to one year ahead.
  • Communication\:  Actively engages in conversation with the key players in a multicultural environment both within and outside the organization.  Develops a network of appropriate contacts inside and outside PAHO to gain information or to build an alliance.  Takes into consideration the multicultural differences within the organization.
  • Teamwork\:   Promotes team work and leads one's area to finish tasks and accept responsibility. Creates a positive environment within the area of work. Makes everyone feel like they are part of the team as well as welcomes and appreciates everyone's ideas and suggestions.  Able to see the positive aspects of working as a team, shares the team's enthusiasm for achieving mutual goals.
  • Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions\: Identifies the risks and benefits of options for future health initiatives based on the analysis of institutional and political trends. Applies a broad approach to work in the health field.
  • Evaluation of technical cooperation interventions\:  Proposes criteria for evaluating interventions at the process, management, and outcome level, in addition to plans for evaluating technical cooperation, in keeping with the PAHO's strategic direction.
  • Information Management\: Processes and analyzes the data objectively, presenting it clearly and equitably. Leads the effort to acquire relevant and selected information that facilitates the achievement of organizational results.  Evaluates/leads the evaluation of information systems on the basis of its advantages/disadvantages for processing information relevant to the area of work
  • Resource Mobilization\:  Establishes partnerships and alliances with a variety of institutions and organizations as well as internal partnerships to obtain financial and non-financial resources.  Is able to relate with all types of people and at all levels in order to obtain resources that are needed. Is able to present and disseminate information in a clear manner.  Executes resources according to the agreements previously established with partnerships.
Technical Expertise\:
  • Expertise in national legislative and policy frameworks for medicines and health technologies including regulations, quality assurance systems; procurement and supply management and human resources development;
  • Knowledge in developing and implementing strategies that promotes the incorporation of the rational use of medicines and biologicals into the health agendas and plans and integrated national health services, particularly within primary health care.
  • Familiarity with the characteristics of the production of medicines along the entire value chain of production as well as with the challenges/issues of developing countries.
  • Ability to design and develop project interventions; knowledge and skills in project planning, management and evaluation, including resource mobilization and grant management.
  • Expertise in utilization of new information and communication technologies in the implementation of technical cooperation.
  • Strong public health and strategic thinking background showing resourcefulness, initiative, leadership qualities and skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive areas; demonstrated ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendations on key political and technical issues.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy and tact to effectively communicate with senior level officials, multiple stakeholders and professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
  • Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.
Languages\:
Very good knowledge of Spanish with working knowledge of English. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
 
IT Skills\:
Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio, Microsoft SharePoint and Project would be an asset.
 
REMUNERATION
Annual Salary\: (Net of taxes)
Cordova C$ 1,240,672
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Local Recruitment)
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.
 
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and e-Manual.
 
For information on PAHO please visit\: http\://www.paho.org
PAHO/WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
 
PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
 
PAHO offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance).  Other benefits include\: 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension plan and health insurance scheme.
 
All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this post. 
 
Candidates must hold a permanent local working visa (citizenship or permanent resident card) of Nicaragua.
 
Candidates will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.  A written test and/or interview will be held for this post.  The post description is the official documentation for organizational purposes.
This vacancy is now closed.
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