Stop TB Partnership - Regional Technical Advisor

UNOPS hosts the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership Secretariat (STBP) as of 1 January 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland. The vision of the Stop TB Partnership is to realize the goal of elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) as a public health problem and, ultimately, to obtain a world free of TB by ensuring that every TB patient has access to effective diagnosis, treatment and cure; stopping transmission of TB; reducing the inequitable social and economic toll of TB; and developing and implementing new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic tools and strategies. The Stop Partnership is uniquely positioned to support the development and further implementation by partners of the current and future Global Plan, acting as a coordinator and catalyst for the range of partners engaged in the fight against TB.

As a key initiative of the Stop TB Partnership, the goal of the Global Drug Facility (GDF) is to facilitate worldwide, equitable access to TB medicines and diagnostics across both public and private sectors. This goal is achieved through management and coordination of market activities for the full portfolio of TB medicines and diagnostics, strategic procurement and innovative logistics solutions, technical assistance and capacity building for TB programmes in better pharmaceutical management practices, and accelerated uptake of new TB medicines, regimens, and diagnostics using the GDF Launch Pad.

In an assigned region/portfolio of countries, under the guidance of the GDF Demand, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building (DTC) Team leader, the GDF Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) promotes the StopTB Partnership and the GDF policies and strategies, and serves as a regional  technical leader and procurement and supply management (PSM) expert to advise and coordinate countries, donors and stakeholders, identify regional and country supply systems improvement needs and opportunities, and actively manage technical assistance and capacity strengthening to ensure continuous access to anti-TB medicines and laboratory products, and an expedited uptake of new treatment and diagnostic tools as part of the GDF Launchpad approach. This goal is achieved through promotion of best PSM practices, new TB tools, and strengthening forecasting, quantification, supply planning, transition-to-new-tools planning and monitoring, and implementation of early warning systems (EWS) to avoid treatment interruptions or waste of TB products.

RTA may be involved, as required, in broader spectrum of activities related to pharmaceutical systems strengthening, supply chain management, management information systems, pharmaceutical services, and providing technical leadership to countries, donors and technical agencies in the field. 

The RTA works closely with the GDF Country Supply Officers, other GDF teams, and contributes to the implementation of the StopTB/GDF strategy.  The RTAs will be based in key regions.  

The RTA is the primary liaison between the GDF and national TB programs, donor-funded regional and field TB programs, such as by USAID and the Global Fund (GF), the GF Principal Recipients, Government counterparts, stakeholders, and partners involved in pharmaceutical management activities and/or implementing related programs in the countries and region. The RTA is responsible for the deployment of the GDF tools and frameworks and their adequate customization and ownership at the country level. RTA works with international and national stakeholders to ensure that technical assistance and capacity building activities to countries in the portfolio are adequately effective and that deliverables are meeting quality standards.  RTA supports measurement and documentation of portfolio results.  The RTA also contributes and supports the GDF capacity building and knowledge exchange plans.

Under the direct supervision of the Demand, Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Team Leader, the RTA is expected to perform the following functions:

1.    Ensure regional technical leadership of the GDF

• Provide PSM technical leadership and serve as a technical resource for global and regional stakeholders, such as international donors (e.g. The Global Fund, USAID, UNITAID), policy (e.g. WHO) and technical agencies (KNCV Foundation, UNION, MSF, PiH, CHAI, etc.), regional and country bi-lateral projects. 
• Ensure GDF’s technical leadership role and maintain the PSM best practices and tools are on the agenda of regional meetings and conferences, such as Joint Program Review, National TB programs meetings, regional UNION Conferences, regional Green Light Committee (rGLC) meetings, and other thematic meetings and workshops related to TB control as requested.
• Initiate and coordinate the GDF regional events, including workshops and trainings, with regional stakeholders to ensure that agendas and curricula reflect the regional and country needs, are aligned with GDF strategy and objectives and are actively supported by the stakeholders.
• Represent the GDF at the country, regional, and global meetings, specifically those related to the development of financial, procurement, and medicines and other products quality assurance polices and processes for the post-donor-funded procurement realities.
• As required, establish and lead working groups of stakeholders or task forces to ensure coordinated approach to addressing the PSM issues for improved access to TB products, and expedited uptake and proper use of new TB tools
• Identify the need for and provide technical inputs to develop and update GDF-developed PSM-focused tools to improve impact of GDF technical assistance, ensure harmonization with global standards, and address the introduction of new technologies, new regimens, new medicines and/or new diagnostics.
• Actively promote GDF as a source of affordable, quality-assured TB products, technical assistance, capacity development, and best PSM practices in the region; when appropriate, based on country context, explore options for expanding the GDF client base.
• Contribute to the development of the GDF Demand, TA, and Capacity Building (DTC) strategy and its implementation.

2.    Implement PSM system strengthening interventions in countries

• Identify countries’ technical assistance and capacity building needs, especially in light of the shiftfrom donor financing to domestic financing and procurement, and the introduction of new TB tools with rapidly changing guidance and recommendations.
• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of interventions aimed at strengthening the TB products supply system and improving access to TB products based on adequate demand forecast, optimized procurement frequency; coordinate with in-country donor and government technical assistance programs.
• Develop technical assistance and PSM capacity strengthening country-specific roadmaps with work plans with timelines and performance indicators, identify and manage required resources, develop annual and quarterly progress reports against the work plan.
• As required, establish and lead PSM-focused working groups of stakeholders or task forces to ensure implementation and monitoring of interventions, such as demand forecasts and optimized procurement frequency, aimed at strengthening the TB products supply systems and improving access to TB commodities.
• Introduce and ensure the NTP ownership of early warning and quantification tools, such as QuanTB, as a StopTB/GDF-recommended an electronic quantification and early warning system designed to improve procurement processes, ordering, and supply planning for TB treatment; assist the NTP and key partners developing the SOPs for quantification, forecasting, supply planning and EWS.
• Advice the NTPs in establishing standard procedures for collecting relevant country data to generate regular forecasts and quarterly EWS reports, and monitor pertinent supply chain parameters such as in-country lead times, order/procurement process and performance, supplier performance, order delivery, port clearance, etc. to inform the GDF Country Supply Officers, The GF, USAID mission, WHO, and other key stakeholders about TB medicines and laboratory products’ status and potential issues.
• Report regularly, and in an agreed fashion with other team members, on key issues in countries and assist in developing data collection approaches and building evidence to support GDF and Stop TB strategic, market and operational decisions.
• Develop a process for regular information updates of Country Profiles, including country-specific lists of TB medicines, treatment regimens and laboratory commodities; changes in national strategies and guidelines; new TB tools uptake trends; performance indicators; and other relevant information. 
• Develop and update training and capacity building materials, and facilitate capacity building exercises as required, or broker the required work with the StopTB and GDF partners’ technical assistance programs.

3.    Expedite the introduction and rational uptake of new TB tools

• Advice countries in the development and implementation of joint transition plans for accelerated uptake of new TB medicines and treatment regimens, including setting attainable targets for introduction and scale-up, timeline and milestones, estimation of potential medicines and laboratory products wastage and performance/uptake monitoring mechanism.
• Ensure continuous technical assistance and capacity strengthening support including provision of costed transition plans throughout the transition period to ensure rational use of TB products and better treatment outcomes.
• Establish a system for collecting data and reporting the indicators related to the uptake of new TB tools.

4.    Manage a pool of regional technical consultants

• Provide technical oversight of the pool of the GDF consultants assigned to the region: identify specific gaps in countries PSM systems that require interventions by GDF consultants, coordinate the assistance with GDF’s DTC Team Lead, National TB Programs and stakeholders, develop technical assistance plans and terms of reference for consultants, assign tasks and ensure the deliverables.
• Ensure quality of the delivered products via performance indicators and technical reports reviews.
• Use regional networks to identify potential new PSM consultants for the GDF and encourage them to apply through the UNOPS - United Nations Office of Project Services - selection process.

5.    Perform other duties as requested

• The Regional Technical Advisor will undertake other special work related to general activities within the StopTB partnership’s Global Drug Facility, assigned and determined by GDF Chief or DTC Team Leader. 

An Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) ideally in management, medicine, pharmacy, public health, supply chain/logistics and/or related subjects with 7 years of relevant experience,
OR

• Excellent knowledge of English (spoken and written)  with proven ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner;
• Knowledge of French, Portuguese or Spanish would be considered an advantage. 

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) Contract level: IICA-3 (ICS11, P4 equivalent)
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• Qualified candidates from High TB Burden countries are strongly encouraged to apply. 
• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.