Team Lead (Pharmacovigilance)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The strategic objective of the Pharmacovigilance Team is to promote the safety and safe use of health products (including medicines, vaccines, procedures and systems) in patients and populations. This is achieved through pharmacovigilance system development (standards & guidances), pharmacovigilance system strengthening, product vigilance and risk assessment, risk communication and research.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

- Provides technical leadership and managerial support within the Department/Programme, in the area of Pharmacovigilance ensuring that activities in this area are carried out efficiently and effectively.

- Develops and proposes technical health policies and strategies for implementation through collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and provides advice in developing further Pharmacovigilance activities for strengthening and improving technical capacity of target clienteles.

- Manages the programme area in delivering its objectives through efficient managing a small team of technical staff, financial resources and effective work planning to optimize the programme's deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.

- Leads and conducts research on best practices in implementing programmes and activities and dissemination of information for capacity building in the respective area of work.

- Manages the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the subject area of work of key performance indicators and reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize performance of Programme deliverables.

- Serves as the technical reference among the peer community, UN Agencies and other stakeholders at the technical levels in the respective area of expertise.

- Liaises with and utilizes partnerships in other UN Agencies, Donor, or research institutions in the area of Pharmacovigilance to position the technical area of work and implementation into Global and/or National policies.

- Represent the programme area of work at various meetings to advocate for pharmacovigilance strengthening and building capacity.

- Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties:

- Provide scientific leadership, coordination and technical supervision on the pharmacovigilance of medical products.

- Provide Secretariat support for the WHO Advisory committees on safety of medicines and vaccines.

- Where necessary, lead, provide oversight or engage with WHO Global networks and Collaborating centres engaged in Pharmacovigilance activities.

- Provide a timely response and specialized technical advice and assistance to Member States and regions in relation to safety issues concerning medicines and vaccines.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced level university degree in pharmacy, medicine, epidemiology or related scientific discipline related to the functions of the position.
Desirable: A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the management of medicines and/or vaccine safety, including experience in the development of health policies and strategies. Demonstrated experience managing human and financial resources. Demonstrated experience at the international level.
Desirable: Practical experience in the monitoring of adverse drug reactions or adverse events following immunization at the national, regional or global level.

Skills

Concrete skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes. Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources. Good skills in mobilizing resources. Ability to engage and communicate effectively and diplomatically with external partners including Ministries of Health, Donor institutions, Civil Society, and other stakeholders. Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area. Expertise in the application of pharmacovigilance principles, and/or immunization safety, adverse event monitoring, monitoring of safety issues, development of vigilance systems, practical applications and current developments.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

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 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 6436 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.