Technical Assistant, GS-5, Temporary Appointment (364 days), Health Technology Centre, UNICEF Supply Division

The Medical Device Unit within the Health Technology Centre at UNICEF Supply Division is looking for a dedicated Technical Assistant to join the team on a Temporary Appointment.

Technical Assistant (GS-5 level)

Health Technology Centre, UNICEF Supply Division

Temporary Appointment (364 days)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Would you like to be part of the dynamic team who manages the Medical Devices product supply for children of the world most in need?  UNICEF Supply Division Copenhagen is seeking a highly motivated individual to assist with the technical and quality assessment of strategic medical device products that are distributed globally in UNICEF Program countries.

UNICEF is committed to providing quality assured medical devices, equipment and consumables to UNICEF programs and partners around the world, supporting maternal, child and neonatal health. The role includes involvement in all aspects of product management. Your eye for detail and skills in research, data analysis and ability to work methodically while managing competing priorities will be put to use for children most in need.

For Every Child…a Sustainable Future

This position is located in the Technical team of the Medical Device Unit within the Health Technology Centre. The core function of the Technical team is to ensure that the Medical Device product portfolio procured and supplied by UNICEF is safe, fit-for-purpose and meets the required quality standards. You will be working with medical devices and equipment such as dressing (compress/bandage/tape), injection (needles/syringes), hospital equipment and furniture, renewables (gloves/tubes/catheters/drains), medical utensils (plastic and steel), surgical instruments, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and oxygen therapy equipment and accessories (concentrators/pulse oximeters/flow meters). The key role of the Technical Assistant is to research, compile, organize and analyze technical product information as well as manage and maintain all aspects of technical documentation. You will be working in a collaborative team environment to support technical specialists in translating program product needs into procurement specifications, developing product technical requirements, assessing product dossiers during public tenders and evaluating product samples.

How Can You Make a Difference?

In collaboration with the Technical Specialist, the Technical Assistant establishes technical standards and guidelines for key commodities purchased by UNICEF. Key responsibilities are:

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Reviews the technical documentation provided by suppliers in response to public tender activities, prepares Technical Evaluation Summary reports for approval by the Technical Specialist.
2. Prepares technical supplier questionnaires for UNICEF public tenders for medical devices, equipment, PPE and oxygen therapy.
3. Screens incoming requests for supply and advices on appropriates of the items, realistic quantities, alternative options, and any other considerations with regards to the requested products.
4. Drafts product technical cards for Supply Catalogue database and ensures that all product specifications are kept up to date in the material master, hosted in our ERP system (SAP).  Proposes creations and amendments to materials within the range of commodities under their responsibility directly in the material master database.
5. Maintains technical dossiers of qualified supplier profiles, prepares lists of potential pre-qualified suppliers for sourcing and tendering as support to Contracting function for further action.
6. Contributes to technical advice on medical equipment, devices and consumables for maternal, neonatal and child health.
7. Assists in monitoring product performance, technical suitability appropriateness and durability on basis of information collected from country offices.  Investigates deviations in supply agreements in partnership with Quality Assurance Centre and Customer Services and Field Support Centre (CSFS).
8. Assists in research and cataloguing of new products.  Keeps abreast of program requirements and prepares technical bulletins for publication. Update the intranet page with technical requirements (technical provisions; guidance notes; catalogue reference and photos, status of innovation projects).
9. Supports the Technical specialist with market surveys, identifying new potential suppliers.
10. Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor and attending to all routine work in his/her absence.

To qualify as a Champion for every Child you will have…

Required:

• Completion of secondary education preferably with additional certification and/or courses in health, clinical, nursing, bio-medical engineering or other relevant health related areas.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience working with technical/quality aspects of medical devices, equipment, and consumables and oxygen and/or oxygen therapy, ideally covering both clinical and bio-medical products.
• Proficiency in Word and Excel
• Fluency in English.

Desirable:

• Experience with oxygen therapy equipment and supplies.
• Very good knowledge of usage of medical equipment, devices and consumables.
• Exposure to usage of medical equipment, devices and consumables in UNICEF program countries and/or resource limited settings.
• Knowledge of procurement practices.
• Proficiency in SAP.
• Proficiency in Power Point
• Proficiency in an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and our core competencies as follows:

Core competencies skills

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Works collaboratively with others

To view our competency framework, please click here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks

The closing date is 27 June 2021. Please be informed that all applications to UNICEF are handled via UNICEF's online recruiting system. You can apply to the above position by creating your profile, and application at our web site: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index.php.  Kindly note that all applications should be in English and that applications outside of the online recruiting system will not be accepted. Kindly also note that diversity and gender balance are factors in the selection process.  Queries can be directed to Louise Pedersen at lpedersen@unicef.org.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/supply/