Technical Specialist (Pharmaceuticals), P4, Fixed-Term, Copenhagen, Denmark #19110

UNICEF is looking for a Technical Specialist to be responsible for taking proactive action to ensure that UNICEF achieves its strategic objective of securing access to quality, safe, effective, and value for money products of specialization for deployment in humanitarian and development contexts.

Technical Specialist (Pharmaceuticals) P4, FT, Post # 19110
Medicines and Nutrition Centre (MNC)
Supply Division, Copenhagen, Denmark

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.

For every child,

Strategic office context:

The Medicines and Nutrition Center’s (MNC) core objective is to provide timely access to value-for-money medicines and nutrition products that are safe, efficacious and of acceptable quality MNC products are deployed by governments, partners and UNICEF programmes to both development and humanitarian emergency contexts. MNC maintains between 800 and 1200 products in its customer-driven portfolio targeted to support global health and nutrition interventions for children and their parents. The products are for prevention, promotion and treatment in alignment with global and country normative guidelines and adapted to fit-the-purpose e.g. patient packs to facilitate dispensing by healthcare workers at the lowest level of health care service delivery.

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Technical Manager, be responsible for taking proactive action to ensure that UNICEF achieves its strategic objective of securing access to quality, safe, effective, and value for money products of specialization for deployment in humanitarian and development contexts.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Provide expert guidance in the evaluation and comparison of multiple scenarios to maintain a product portfolio mix suitable for both humanitarian and development contexts.
2. Ensure that products procured and supplied by UNICEF meet acceptable standards of quality, safety and efficacy and are fit-for-purpose.
3. Provide support and collaborate in the planning, development and monitoring of plans, programmes and projects related to supply of products of specialization, their normative guidance, standards, policies and research
4. Provide technical support to countries and partners to source and procure products of specialization within agreed policy frameworks.

The incumbents is accountable for:

1. Leadership in delivery of technical expertise in the procurement and supply management of products of specialization.
2. The highest level of integrity, standards and accountability through implementation of sound, accurate product risk management systems, procedures and documentation as well as regular and accurate reporting.
3. Effective collaboration and strategic partnership with internal and external counterparts through coordination, communication, and networking.
4. Subject Matter Expert (SME) on products of specialization.
   1. Advice and guide on technical matters about products of specialization. This includes product selection, specifications, standards, quantification, assessment, quality assurance and rational use
   2. Advocate for and participate in fora for formulating standards, norms, policies, and guidelines
5. Product portfolio management for products of specialization
   1. Conduct market research, provide analyses, background information, recommendations for improving the suitability and range of products
   2. Advocate for and foster strategies to develop and bring new products to the portfolio, as well, phase out superseded products
   3. Clarify inadequate customer specifications and recommend suitable substitute or alternative products where applicable
6. Procurement and Supply Management: Lead and organize the technical activities for the procurement and supply management of products of specialization with a goal to provide rapid and relevant responses to evolving supply needs and situations facing children and their families.
   1. Participate in the development of supply strategies and advice on context-specific procurement methods
   2. Guide the development of and review technical specifications, standards and requirements to ensure completeness and appropriateness
   3. Establish the list of potential pre-qualified suppliers for solicitation exercises in collaboration with the Quality Assurance Centre (QAC)
   4. Organize and oversee the technical assessment of technical offers in collaboration with Quality Assurance Center. Sign off on technical assessments conducted by supervisees
   5. Ensure timely and accurate updates of the institution’s material master data with the required information relevant to the products of specialization
   6. Technical focal point for investigation and resolution of complaints, recalls and deviations
   7. Provide guidance on de-commissioning and disposal of unusable products
7. Risk Management, in collaboration with QAC
   1. Identify and plan for mitigation of specific risks for products of specialization
   2. Facilitate the development, enhancement and implementation of standard operating procedures and related quality risk management systems

1. People Management: Responsible for leading a group of professionals and support staff. 
   1. In collaboration with technical manager, develop work plans and priorities, allocate responsibilities, monitor and report achievements.
   2. Supervise, guide and train supervisees and evaluate their performance 

1. Collaboration, partnerships, and Networking
   1. Effectively liaise with, contribute to, and draw on knowledge institutions and partner inputs for UNICEF use.
   2. Establish and maintain cross center, cross functional and cross agency collaboration on technical aspects of products of specialization
2. Any other duties or assignments as requested by supervisor

Impact of Results:

1. Optimum UNICEF product portfolio mix in line with organizational strategies and customer needs.

1. Product procured by UNICEF meets acceptable standards of quality, safety and efficacy and are fit-for-purpose 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

A completed advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in Pharmacy or pharmaceutical sciences or pharmaceutical regulation or related technical field.

*A First university degree (Bachelor’s) in Pharmacy or related field may be acceptable in lieu of an Advanced university degree in conjunction with two additional years of relevant work experience.

Studies in public health an asset.                                 

Required Work experience:

• Minimum eight (8) years progressively responsible professional work experience relevant to pharmaceutical products.
• Extensive hands-on work experience in the quality assessment of pharmaceutical products, including at the global level.
• Specialist knowledge of pharmaceutical products
• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical markets

Desired:

• Working understanding of procurement and supply chain management principles
• Work experience in both public and private sectors

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core Competencies:

• Builds and Maintains Partnerships

• Works Collaboratively with others

• Thinks and Acts Strategically

• Drive to achieve impactful results

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness

• Innovates and Embraces Change

• Manages ambiguity and complexity

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Priority will be given to all the eligible candidates participating in UNICEF’s 2022 Mobility Exercise and Staff on Abolished post.