Project Assistant

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department of Essential Medicines and Health Products (EMP) works with Member States and partners to improve access to essential medicines and other health technologies of assured quality for patients, and to promote rational use of them. EMP works closely with the other departments of the Health Systems and Innovation(HIS) cluster, and within the wider framework of Universal Health Coverage and category 4 of WHO's Global Programme of Work. It also cooperates with a number of WHO -- programmes (including those for HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, reproductive health, maternal and child health, immunization, non-communicable diseases and mental health), towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. EMP cooperates with a wide range of UN organizations, international partners and expert networks, and WHO Collaborating Centers. The department's principal areas of work are\: (1) regulation of medicines and other health technologies (medicines, vaccines, other biologicals, blood products, medical devices, and diagnostics), which includes normative and standard-setting work, prequalification of medicines, vaccines and diagnostics for UN and international procurement, strengthening of regulatory authorities and networks, and safety and vigilance of health technologies, plus work on substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit medical products; (2) policy, access and use, which includes organization of the Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines, and of the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, and work on national policies, procurement, supply management and pricing of health technologies; (3) public health, innovation and intellectual property, which covers the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public health, Innovation and Intellectual property, and work with countries on local production and transfer of technology; and strategies for management of intellectual property issues. The objective of the Prequalification Team is to enhance access to health technologies (medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and devices) for priority diseases. Through the prequalification process, it ensures the quality, safety and efficacy of appropriate health technologies and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to be procured with international donor funds. The list of prequalified health technologies is also used by national procurement agencies and nongovernmental organizations.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the supervision and guidance of the responsible Officer and in close collaboration with the office of the Head of the Regulation of Medicines and other Health Technologies (RHT) unit and the Finance Assistant within the Office of the Director/EMP the incumbent will carry out the following duties. Contribute to development of the Prequalification Team (PQT) budget and monitoring system, including\: analysis of monthly expenditure relating to key activities such as assessment sessions and manufacturing site inspections, drawing the attention of the supervisor or other senior staff to over- or under-spending, or inconsistencies in financial data; preparation of PQT budgets, be these annual budgets for the team, or budgets for submission to donors (especially UNITAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), taking into account, as appropriate, previous expenditure, projected availability of funds, and increase or decrease in staffing or activities.Contribute to improvement of RHT grant management, including\: monitoring of expenditure of donor funds by PQT product stream and activity preparation of financial reports for submission to donors. Provide day-to-day support for financial management, including\:

- checking obligating documents, entering relevant information available from the GSM or other on-line systems, ensuring availability of funds, updating files and transferring funds as instructed or as delegated;

- checking obligating documents for completeness, and following-up on missing information, liquidating obligations, undertaking reconciliation and preparing periodic reports, as required;

- initiating and keeping track of all contract extensions (APWs, TSAs DFCs etc.) and renewals, checking and/or indicating PTAEOs, verifying that funds are available for the proposed contracts, earmarking funds, verifying and initiating payment requests and follow up on proper approvals;

- initiating and checking, purchase requests for IT equipment, working in close collaboration with IT colleagues to ensure that ordered equipment is appropriate. Provide administrative support to PQT, including for organization of medicines assessment sessions, medicines inspection, and PQT internal/external meetings. Perform other related duties as required or instructed, including providing support to other areas of work, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Completion of secondary school education or equivalent.
Desirable\: Further education would be an asset.

Experience

Essential\: At least 5 years of relevant experience.
Desirable\: Relevant experience — particularly in providing support for large grant management ― in WHO or another UN agency an asset. Experience in Oracle-based or other ERP systems an asset.

Skills

The incumbent maintains and updates proficiency in the use of modern office technology through attendance at in-house courses, on-the-job training or self-training. He/she keeps abreast of changes in procedures and practices, rules and regulations, organizational structure, in the department, the cluster and WHO, to be able to brief others and explain procedures.

WHO Competencies

Knowing and managing yourself
Producing results
Teamwork
Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of French.
The above language requirements are interchangeable.

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at CHF 75,084 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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.

• 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.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit\: http\://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.