Team Lead, LNS Laboratory Networks and Services

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Regulation and Prequalification Department (RPQ) works with Member States and partners to improve the access to essential medicines and other health technologies of assured quality, safety and efficacy or effectiveness. RPQ works within the Access to Medicines and Health Products Division (MHP) division departments in the wider framework of Universal Health Coverage and category 4 of the General Programme of Work and cooperates with disease-oriented programmes (among others HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, reproductive health, maternal and child health, immunization, NCDs and mental health) towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The department works with a wide range of UN organizations, international partners and expert networks, and WHO Collaborating Centres. The objective of the Regulation and Safety (REG) unit in RPQ is to support all Member States to strengthen their capacity so that they will have regulatory systems to ensure that all medical products and other health technologies on their markets meet internationally recognized standards of quality, safety and efficacy. The strategic objective of the LNS Team is to coordinate global strategies for the strengthening of national and/or regional control laboratories for vaccines including other biologics, control laboratories for pharmaceuticals, including towards meeting WHO requirements and other international standards as well as laboratories for testing of medical devices consistent with WHO guidelines on good laboratory practices and lot release for vaccines, supporting WHO Prequalification programme in testing of vaccines, monitoring quality of prequalified vaccines, undertaking audits of WHO contracted laboratories for vaccines testing and promoting global and regional networks of quality control laboratories. The team also provides leadership in development and maintenance of procedures, knowledge hubs and databases of control laboratories and monitoring the impact of WHO policies and strategies through regulatory strengthening activities and proposes changes or new initiatives to address needs for impact.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

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

2. Develops and proposes technical health policies and strategies for implementation through collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and provides advice in developing further the laboratory networks and services for strengthening and improving technical capacity of target clienteles.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

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

8. Represent the programme area of work at various meetings to advocate for strengthening of quality control laboratories for medicines, vaccines, medical devices including in vitro diagnostics as well as promoting networking of such laboratories.

9. Coordinates and endorses responses to country requests for strengthening national control laboratories and propose appropriate capacity building and specialized technical support activities to address identified gaps, including technical seminars, workshops and country/regional training activities and promotes awareness of and support for the work of laboratory networks and services through advocacy, communication and resource mobilization activities.

10. Perform all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:
An advanced level university degree in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, microbiology, medicine, biology, and/or field closely related to the functions of the position

Desirable:
PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

Essential:
1. A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the management of national/regional quality control laboratories for medicines, vaccines and other biologics, medical products regulation including experience in the area of health policies, and strategies.
2. Demonstrated experience managing human and financial resources.
3. Demonstrated experience at the international level.

Desirable:

1. Experience in leading or coordinating audits/inspection of quality control laboratories.
2. Experience in working with WHO guidelines and other internationally recognized technical standards and norms.
3. Familiarity with WHO regulatory strengthening and/or WHO Prequalification programmes.

Skills

1. Concrete skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of a public health/disease control programmes.
2. Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies
3. Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.
4. Good skills in mobilizing resources.
5. Ability to engage and communicate effectively and diplomatically with external partners including Ministries of Health, Donor institutions, Civil Society, and other stakeholders.
6. Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area.
7. Knowledge in working on lot release of vaccines in the context of WHO's policies and strategies in this area.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
6. Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential:
Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:
Intermediate knowledge of French.
Intermediate knowledge of any other official UN language.

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 92,731 (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 6321 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.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• 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.

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• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

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