Principal Technical Advisor, Pharmacovigilance at the Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

The Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Principal Technical Advisor, Pharmacovigilance

Reference ID: R1514
Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time
Travel Requirements: 30%
Physical Demands: Keyboard use, pulling drawers, lifting papers <10 lbs.

Job Description

• The Principal Technical Advisor, Pharmacovigilance (PV) conceptualizes and leads Field support, core- and regional-funded pharmacovigilance activities and provides technical guidance to countries in the implementation of field-based pharmacovigilance activities, selection of technical strategies, and the development of innovative approaches and programs to strengthen pharmacovigilance as part of the broader regulatory systems strengthening work of USAID MTaPS.
• The PTA-PV leads MTaPS’ collaborative efforts with the World Health Organization (WHO), Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) and other international partners in the area of PV.
• S/he guides the development of core, regional, and country-level work plans and activities related to PV to ensure that the work is of the highest technical quality, is consistent with MTaPS approaches and mandate and are based on and informed by country-level needs and priorities.
• The PTA-PV works closely with all MSH projects/programs, Portfolio Managers and other MTaPS staff to identify opportunities to use new and existing tools, coordinate technical work, and ensure that MTaPS initiatives and goals are achieved.

Required Minimum Education

• A Post-Graduate Degree in a Health related field with specialized training and/or experience relating to pharmacovigilance, pharmaceutical management, and regulatory system strengthening required; physician or pharmacist qualification preferred.

Required Minimum:
Experience:                    

• At least 8 years relevant experience in pharmacovigilance working with a national regulatory authority and/or the pharmaceutical private sector in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa and/or Asia; minimum of 2 - 3 years  resident working in LMICs required.
• Demonstrated experience working with and familiarity with USAID required; experience in working or collaborating with international agencies such as UN (WHO preferably) and GFATM preferred.
• Significant experience in strengthening regulatory systems with particular focus on working with pharmacovigilance systems at regional level
• Experience working with public health programs and the pharmaceutical private sector will be an added advantage.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge and experience with PV concepts, use of PV reporting tools (paper-based and electronic), initiatives and interventions supported by bilateral agencies, such as USAID, and international agencies, such as WHO, and GFATM World Bank, required.
• Knowledge and understanding of regulatory systems especially PV systems of low and middle-income countries
• Experience in supporting PV policy and guidelines development, including stakeholder engagement and consultative processes
• Demonstrated experience with PV data analysis and interpretation, use of electronic tools and use of PV data for regulatory decision making
• Experience in conducting PV system assessments in LMICs and working with stakeholders to identify priorities and improvement strategies,
• Demonstrated experience in engaging stakeholders to implement relevant PV strategies such as through stakeholder consultations, facilitation of multistakeholder workshops.
• Demonstrated experience working in/with low- and middle-income countries at country and regional levels.
• Demonstrated competence to assess priorities and manage a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English are essential.
• Proficiency in French is will be an added advantage,
• Ability to travel internationally and domestically as required.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and supervising technical staff.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, sound judgment, communication skills, training experience, ability to identify and resolve policy and operational constraints.

Core Job Competencies
Functional Competencies:

• Highly motivated, resourceful, dealing with ambiguity, results driven and persistent. Ability to think strategically, gather and analyse information in order to make appropriate decisions.
• Willing to take responsibility for defined and agreed tasks and ensure compliance with agreed timelines and timely deliverables.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Ensuring Delivery of Results:

• Functional/Technical skills, Client Focus, Managing through systems, Managing and Measuring work, Negotiating, Information Sharing, Process Management, Priority Setting, Problem Solving and Timely Decision Making.

Leading with Credibility:

• Managing others: Building Effective Teams, Conflict Management, Managing Vision and Purpose, Integrity and Trust, Motivating others, Approachability and Developing direct reports and others.

Core Personal Competencies:

• Ethics and Values, Integrity and Trust, Listening, Written Communication.

Core MSH Competencies:

• Adaptability, Communication, Problem Solving, Creativity and Innovation, Timeliness of Work, Quality of work and Team Relationships, Resource Utilization

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.