Consultant for Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS)

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. With over 7,000 employees and operations in more than 150 countries, WHO works to combat diseases, improve health systems, and ensure access to essential health services. The organization is committed to achieving universal health coverage and addressing health emergencies, while also promoting healthier populations through various initiatives and partnerships.

Job Overview:
The Consultant will play a crucial role in supporting Member States in the prevention, detection, and response to substandard and falsified (SF) medical products, including in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and other medical devices. This position involves enhancing the Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) reporting, incident management, risk communication, and risk-based post-market surveillance (rbPMS) activities. The consultant will also be responsible for enabling Quality Control Laboratories (QCL) to strengthen the overall response to SF medical products. The role requires a deep understanding of public health challenges posed by SF medical products and the ability to engage with various stakeholders to enhance regulatory frameworks and laboratory systems across the Western Pacific Region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Consultant will be expected to deliver a comprehensive set of outputs, including: 1) Providing technical support to Member States by conducting rapid assessments of national market surveillance systems, supporting policy development, and advising on incident response pathways. 2) Coordinating regional networks and partnerships by maintaining collaboration with national regulatory authorities and laboratory networks, facilitating FP engagement, and supporting joint activities with WHO partners. 3) Managing the GSMS data cycle and analytics by coordinating regional reporting and producing localized threat assessment reports. 4) Leading training and capacity-building initiatives by adapting global risk communication tools to regional contexts and developing training materials for SF medical products. The consultant will also be responsible for ensuring timely documentation of activities and outcomes, contributing to regional planning processes, and providing surge support during incidents.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, regulatory sciences, public health, or a related health or life sciences field from a recognized university. An advanced university degree (Master’s level) in relevant fields is desirable. Essential qualifications include strong analytical and communication skills, information technology/data literacy, risk-communication competencies, and stakeholder engagement abilities. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to ethical standards and integrity in their professional conduct.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in a relevant field such as pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, regulatory sciences, or public health. An advanced degree at the Master’s level in these areas is highly desirable and will enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of professional experience in medical product market surveillance, post-marketing control, or pharmaceutical quality assurance. This experience should include demonstrated involvement in strengthening regulatory systems and laboratory systems, as well as experience in coordinating regulatory-laboratory interfaces. Practical knowledge of risk-based pharmaceutical quality surveillance and coordination with national quality control laboratories is also desirable.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English (reading, writing, speaking) is essential for this position. Basic knowledge of other languages spoken within the Western Pacific Region is considered desirable, as it may facilitate communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy position is based on-site at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines. The expected duration of the contract is six months, with remuneration set at a payband level B, ranging from USD 7,000 to 8,000 per month, along with living expenses of USD 2,100 per month. The consultant may be required to travel to selected countries within the Western Pacific Region. The WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Candidates should be prepared to provide evidence of their educational qualifications and may be subject to a written test as part of the selection process.