The purpose for the job 

Under the general guidance of the Technical Specialist P4, be responsible for taking proactive action to ensure that UNICEF achieves its strategic objective of securing access to quality, safe, effective and cost-effective medicines in humanitarian and development contexts.

1. Provide expert knowledge on pharmaceutical products including medicines for peadiatric and adolescent cancers.
2. Provide support and collaborate in the planning, development and monitoring of plans, programmes and projects related to medicine supply, their normative guidance, standards, policies and research.
3. Support the evaluation and comparison of multiple scenarios to give UNICEF confidence in its medicines product portfolio mix.
4. Ensure that medicines procured by UNICEF meet acceptable standards of quality, safety and efficacy.
5. Technical assistance to countries and partners within agreed policy frameworks.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1.  Subject Matter Expert (SME) on medicines for management of cancer in children and adolescents

• Independent leadership in technical support in procurement and supply management of these products
• Advice and guide on technical matters about medicines for management of cancer in children and adolescents.

This includes product selection, specifications, standards, quantification, assessment, quality assurance and rational clinical use.

• Advocate for and participate in fora for formulating standards, norms, policies, and guidelines.

2. Product portfolio management

• Conducts regular product portfolio review to take into account supply and demand market trends.
• Conduct market research, provide analyses, background information, recommendations for improving the suitability and range of products.
• Advocate for and foster strategies to develop and bring new products to the portfolio, as well, phase out superseded products.
• Clarify inadequate customer specifications and recommend suitable substitute or alternative products where applicable.

3. Procurement and Supply Management: Lead and organize the technical activities for the procurement and supply management these products with a goal to provide rapid and relevant responses to evolving supply needs and situations facing children and their families.

• Participate in the development of supply strategies and advice on context-specific procurement methods.
• Guide the development of and review technical specifications, standards and requirements to ensure completeness and appropriateness.
• Establish the list of potential pre-qualified suppliers for solicitation exercises in collaboration with the Quality Assurance Centre (QAC)
• Organize and oversee the technical assessment of technical offers in collaboration with Quality Assurance Center.

Sign off on technical assessments conducted by supervisees.

• Ensure timely and accurate updates of the institution’s material master data with the required information relevant to the products of specialization.
• Technical focal point for investigation and resolution of complaints, recalls and deviations.
• Provide guidance on de-commissioning and disposal of unusable products.

4. Risk Management, in collaboration with QAC.

• 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.
• Identify and plan for mitigation of specific risks for products of specialization.
• Facilitate the development, enhancement and implementation of standard operating procedures and related quality risk management systems.

5. People Management:

• Supervise, guide and train supervisees and evaluate their performance.

6. Collaboration, partnerships, and Networking

• Effective collaboration and strategic partnership with internal and external counterparts through coordination, communication, and networking.
• Effectively liaise with, contribute to, and draw on knowledge institutions and partner inputs for UNICEF use.
• Establish and maintain cross center, cross functional and cross agency collaboration on technical aspects of products of specialization.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

A completed advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in Clinical Pharmacy or pharmaceutical sciences or pharmaceutical regulation or related technical field preferably with specialization in antineoplastics and supportive agents in cancer treatment, care and support.

*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 with antineoplastics and supportive agents in cancer treatment, care, and support.

Work Experience:

• Minimum eight (5) years progressively responsible professional work experience relevant to pharmaceutical products, with specialization in antineoplastics and supportive agents in cancer treatment, care, and support.

• Extensive hands-on work experience in the quality assessment of pharmaceutical products with specialization in antineoplastics and supportive agents in cancer treatment, care and support.

• Specialist knowledge of pharmaceutical products with specialization in antineoplastics and supportive agents in cancer treatment, care, and support

• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical markets, including for cancer treatment, care, and support

Technical Requirements:

Technical Breadth:  Must be capable of independent leadership in providing technical expertise in procurement and supply management of medicines.

Management: Should have adequate professional strength and leadership skills for internal and external application

Innovation and Conceptualization:  Must be fully competent to apply standardized methods, models and innovative approaches in sourcing of quality fit-for-purpose products.

Quality Risk Management: Must be capable of identifying evaluating and mitigating risks connected with products of specialization.

Partnership and Networking: Ability to effectively liaise with and draw on knowledge institutions and partner inputs for UNICEF use.

Desired:

• Working understanding of procurement and supply chain management principle

• Work experience in both public and private sectors

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

Language Requirement:

Fluency in English.

Fluency in French is an asset.