Technical Officer, Medicines and Health Technologies

PAHO Country Offices are responsible for ensuring that the Pan American Health Organization / 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 countries 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.

Under the general supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative, and the direct supervision of the Advisor, Health Systems and Services (HSS), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to the following assigned duties:

1. Provide technical support for the promotion and rational use of quality medicines and health technologies to advance the achievement of universal health coverage in the Country;
2. Collaborate and provide support for the adaptation and integration of global and regional strategic orientations in medicines and biologicals into the technical cooperation program; develop work plans based on these orientations with input from participating key partners;
3. Provide technical support for strengthening pharmaceutical supplies management and standards in pharmaceutical management including the implementation of Good Practices and quality assurance systems; identify needs based on assessments; develop sub-regional norms and guidelines, and support collaborative mechanisms and pooled negotiation mechanisms, including the use of the Strategic Fund;
4. Collaborate in the strengthening of Pharmacy Education and development of human resources in key areas of the pharmaceutical policies;
5. Collaborate and provide support for activities promoting the rational use of medicines and biologicals, assisting with the development of strategies, adoption of national Essential Drug Lists, the use and regulation of generic medicines by the country, and the development of training courses in rational use to strengthen the national integrated health service delivery;
6. Collaborate with national authorities in implementing, monitoring and evaluating the National Pharmaceutical Policy and related strategies and activities with indicators assessing impact on access to medicines; support in developing, monitoring and assessing national pharmaceutical policies including regulation processes;
7. Provide technical support for developing a regulatory framework for medicines and the strengthening of regulatory capacity, including the assessment, strengthening of regulatory functions and establishing of Good Practices and standards and quality assurance systems along the medicines manufacturing, supply and dispensing facilities and pharmaceutical services; promoting harmonization in close collaboration with the national regulatory authority;
8. Provide technical support in areas of work related to access to medicines and biologicals, and specifically on pricing and cost containment methodologies, intellectual property management and the Agreement on Trade‑Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS);
9. Participate in the implementation of specific projects, manage budgets, and prepare reports against project indicators;
10. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

• Overall attitude at work: Maintains integrity and takes a clear ethical approach and stance; demonstrates commitment to the Organization’s mandate and promotes the values of the Organization in daily work and behavior; is accountable for work carried out in line with own role and responsibilities; is respectful towards, and trusted by, colleagues and counterparts.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with team members and counterparts to achieve results; encourages cooperation and builds rapport; helps others when asked; accepts joint responsibility for the teams’ successes and shortcomings. Identifies conflicts in a timely manner and addresses them as necessary; understands issues from the perspective of others; does not interpret/ attribute conflicts to cultural, geographical or gender issues.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: Treats all people with dignity and respect. Relates well to people with different cultures, gender, orientations, backgrounds and/or positions; examines own behavior to avoid stereotypical responses; considers issues from the perspective of others and values their diversity.
• Communication: Quality and quantity of communication targeted at audience. Listens attentively and does not interrupt other speakers. Adapts communication style and written content to ensure they are appropriately and accurately understood by the audience (e.g., power-point presentations, communication strategies, implementation plans). Shares information openly with colleagues and transfers knowledge, as needed.
• Knowing and managing yourself: Remains productive even in an environment where information or direction is not available, and when facing challenges; recovers quickly from setbacks, where necessary. Manages stress positively; remains positive and productive even under pressure; does not transfer stress to others. Seeks feedback to improve knowledge and performance; shows self- awareness when seeking and receiving feedback; uses feedback to improve own performance. Seeks informal and/or formal learning opportunities for personal and professional development; systematically learns new competencies and skills useful for job; takes advantage of learning opportunities to fill competencies and skill gaps.
• Producing Results: Produces high-quality results and workable solutions that meet clients’ needs. Works independently to produce new results and sets own timelines effectively and efficiently. Shows awareness of own role and clarifies roles of team members in relation to project’s expected results. Makes proposals for improving processes as required and takes responsibility for own work and/or actions, as necessary. Demonstrates positive attitude in working on new projects and initiatives. Demonstrates accountability for own success, as well as for errors; learns from experience.
• Moving forward in a changing environment: Suggests and articulates effective and efficient proposals for change as needed when new circumstances arise. Quickly and effectively adapts own work approach in response to new demands and changing priorities. Is open to new ideas, approaches and working methods; adjusts own approach to embrace change initiatives.

• Technical expertise in the development and implementation of strategies that promotes the incorporation of the rational use of medicines and technologies in health agendas and integrated national health plans and services, particularly within primary health care.
• Sound knowledge of national medicines policy including medicines regulations and, quality assurance systems; procurement and supply management systems.
• Familiarity with the characteristics of the production of medicines along the entire value chain as well as with developing country challenges/issues at the interface between health policy/systems.
• Knowledge and skills in the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation program and activities, including budget programming and control.
• Strong professional writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

Essential: A university degree in pharmacy or health-related field from an accredited institution.

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.

Essential: Five years of professional experience in programs and projects related to medicines and health technology policy and regulation, procurement and supply management, production and quality control, or service delivery.

Very good knowledge of Spanish with working knowledge of English.

Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio and Project would be an asset.

This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and e-Manual.

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

PAHO/WHO 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 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 organization purposes.