Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will provide technical expertise on commercial and innovative (new to market) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). S/he will advise on the commercial offers and/or donations along with the lead PPE technical referent.

The consultant will approve or reject the proposed items based on review and analysis of the technical and regulatory documentation submitted to the OSL technical team and provide an assessment of a given supplier’s ability to quality assure their product. S/he will assist communication with manufacturers and distributors and support OSL in view of the technical dossier for each product supplied through WHO-OSL.

The consultant will also provide expert advice on the result of the tests performed at independent, accredited laboratories for PPE

Background

Since the beginning of 2020, the HQ OSL Supply team has been supporting a major part of the COVID-19 response of the Division of Emergency Response (WRE).
The OSL Supply team provides continuous support to Regional Offices (RO) and WHO Country Offices (WCO), by delivering supplies (PPE, laboratory and medical devices).
OSL needs to ensure that the supplies provided to countries are compliant to the minimum level of quality defined by WHO or certification organization.

Deliverables

Deliverable 1:

  • Facilitate the technical review of commercial and/or donated offers of PPE and determine compliance to target performance levels defined by WHO, for emergency and long-term supply.
  • Review of technical documentation submitted
  • Provide report on each offers / donation summarizing his/her recommendation.

Expected by: Complete active open tenders by June 2022, and complete upcoming tenders by January 2023. (3-6 months for each new Expression of Interest (EOI) / Invitation to Bid (ITB), as required)

Deliverable 2:

  • Propose expert advice on PPE testing for WHO quality assurance of PPE, with independent laboratories.
  • Advise WHO staff on best practices for coordination e with WHO independent laboratory testing.
  • Propose advice on lab test results and provide concluding remarks to OSL Supply Technical team lead, on items’ compliance and deviations to WHO requirements.

Expected by: Ongoing work all during the assignment

Deliverable 3:

  • Advise on the OSL technical secretariat function.
  • Advise country and regional officer on desk review for PPE and Class I and II medical devices.
  • Propose new checklist and tools to improve OSL Technical secretariat functions to best support supply and procurement officers on QA matters.

Expected by: Ongoing work all during the assignment

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in materials engineering.

Desirable:

Certificate in engineering management, project management or equivalent.

Experience

Essential:

  • Minimum 7 years’ experience in manufacturing and/or practical application of engineering knowledge related to polymers.
  • Minimum three years’ experience designing or assessing polymer products, nonwovens for PPE and finished PPE products, plastic film products and other polymeric products.

Desirable:

  • Participation in WHO/UN publications and expert meetings related to PPE.
  • Professional engineer designation,
  • One to two years’ experience responding to WHO/UN/NGO requests for technical support related to PPE and Class 1 and 2 medical devices.

Skills/Knowledge:

  • Demonstrated knowledge in product testing and standards development and management.
  • General project management knowledge.
  • Proven ability to be detail oriented and highly organized.
  • Demonstrated interpersonal and diplomatic skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders and to present technical information clearly and effectively.
  • Excellent analytical and writing skills.
  • Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment and IT tools.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary environment.
  • Demonstrated capacity to deliver results in time critical scenarios, during outbreak and pandemic response.
  • Excellent knowledge of standards related to PPE performance, quality control and assurance processes, regulatory requirements for PPE and medical devices, in major jurisdictions.
  • Understanding and active participation in UN tender exercises.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:
Working knowledge of another WHO official language.

Location

Off site: home based.

Travel

Possible short visits to WHO/HQ Geneva during assignment to facilitate the project development.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B USD 7000 - 9980 per month

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months

Additional Information

  • This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
  • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
  • A written test may be used as a form of screening.
  • If your candidature is retained for 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.
  • For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
  • WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
  • Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
  • WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
  • WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
  • Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
  • WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
  • Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html
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