Director - Innovation and Emerging Technologies

**Grade**: D1

**Contractual Arrangement**: Fixed-term appointment

**Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days)**: 2 years

**Job Posting**: Nov 12, 2024, 12:26:32 AM

**Closing Date**: Dec 3, 2024, 4:59:00 PM

**Primary Location**: Switzerland-Geneva

**Organization**: HQ/MHP Access to Medicines and Health Products

**Schedule**: Full-time

**OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME**:
Access to affordable, quality-assured health technologies remains a key priority and mission of the WHO. Addressing this gap is essential to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health by all citizens. WHO through the Innovation and Emerging Technologies (IET) Department is enhancing collaboration with Member States and international stakeholders for developing policies and best practices, strengthening capacity and establishing sustainable mechanisms for improving equitable access to affordable medicines and health products, transfer of technology and development and production capacity that will form the long-term foundation of health security, both in the face of pandemics and in addressing ongoing health priorities. This will be done by fostering synergies with complementary programs within WHO and with other international agencies/partners with same goals/objectives in order to achieve a coordinated and integrated approach. IET will offer a comprehensive range of inter-related services for addressing key areas of work such as pricing, affordability, procurement and supply chain management; the management of Intellectual Property including through the Global Strategy on Public Health, Innovation and IP (GSPA-PHI) and the collaboration with WTO and WIPO; the specialized technical assistance to manufacturers including through the WHO World Local Production Forum (WLPF) as a platform for building consensus and collaboration, the workforce development through the WHO Biomanufacturing Workforce Training Initiative, the large-scale dissemination of know-how and platform technologies through the multilateral technology transfer model that characterizes the mRNA technology transfer programme, and the newly launched Health Technology Access Programme (HTAP) that provides an adaptable, overarching framework and process for securing, sharing and expanding the manufacture of technologies that address important access gaps.

**DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES**:
Under the guidance of ADG/MHP, the incumbent will carry out the following duties in line with the described purpose of the position above: Generic duties:

- Ensures effective direction, management, and accountability of the Department and/or the specific programme managed by the incumbent in delivering its objectives through managing and inspiring a diverse workforce and peer communities to optimize the department's financial resources, deliverables and mandate.
- Leads the Department in developing evidence-based policies and strategies for dissemination and implementation in Regional and Country Office programmes.
- Provides highest level technical advice and expertise to Management in the respective area of work in order to position the Department and Organization as a leader in the respective area of work.
- Leads the establishment and development of the Department's evidence-based policies and strategies for roll out and delivery for Regional and Country Office implementation.
- Ensures the management of the monitoring and evaluation as well as reporting of the Department's area of work of key performance indicators and global reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize performance of Department deliverables.
- Serves as the scientific/technical reference among UN Agencies and other key players in the respective area.
- Builds new or strengthens existing partnerships with External Partners, Member States, UN Agencies, Donor, research institutions and other stakeholders to position the technical area of work and implementation into National and/or Global policies.
- Represent the Department area of work in global fora to position the area of work in the global health community.
- Performs all other related duties as assigned.
- Specific duties: Ensure effective resource mobilization and management of human and financial resources for programmes under his/her direct supervision.

**REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS**:
**Education**:
**Essential**: An advanced university degree in medicine, pharmacy, pharmacology, health technology and other health or social sciences matters related to the functions of the position.
**Desirable**: A PhD in public health, health policy, health economics, industrial policy.

**Experience**:
**Essential**:

- At least 15 years of professional experience in management and ensuring access to medicines and health products or related areas such as product development, product manufacturing, health policy and public health at national and international levels combined.
- Experience providing senior level advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision Makers, m