Quality Assurance Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, established to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote humanitarian activities by its member National Societies. With a network of 191-member National Societies, IFRC aims to prevent and alleviate human suffering, contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace globally. The organization operates under fundamental principles such as humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. IFRC is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has five regional offices across Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas, along with various country delegations and cluster delegations worldwide. The organization maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding conduct that contradicts its humanitarian mission, including issues related to sexual exploitation, abuse, and discrimination. The Supply Chain Department is a vital component of IFRC's humanitarian efforts, ensuring the delivery of essential goods and services to vulnerable populations during crises.

Job Overview:
The Quality Assurance Officer will report to the Global Lead, Procurement, and will be responsible for ensuring effective Quality Assurance and compliance with Good Distribution Practices (GDP) and WHO Model Quality Assurance for Procurement Agencies (WHO MQAS) procedures in line with the IFRC’s Procurement Manual. This role is crucial in supporting the localization strategy for medical procurement, ensuring that medical supplies meet the necessary quality standards. The officer will work closely with regional procurement teams, health departments, and operations to ensure compliance with IFRC supply chain standards related to medical supplies globally. The position requires a proactive approach to quality management and collaboration with various stakeholders to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Quality Assurance Officer will support operations related to the quality assurance of medical supplies, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Key responsibilities include:

• Implementing revised Procurement and Quality Assurance procedures for medical supplies in accordance with IFRC quality requirements and Good Distribution Practices.
• Assisting National Societies and requesters in reviewing medical supply lists for compliance with National Essential Medicines Lists or WHO model EML.
• Supporting the development of specifications and quality standards for medical supplies.
• Conducting technical and regulatory assessments of offers submitted for QA review from regional offices and recommending compliant offers for procurement.
• Participating in the prequalification of potential suppliers and maintaining the Approved Vendor/Supplier List.
• Ensuring compliance of medical donations and maintaining the QA database of medical supplies.
• Developing training materials related to quality assurance for pharmaceutical and medical products and disseminating them organization-wide.
• Collaborating with relevant IFRC Health units and executing tasks delegated by the Global Lead, Procurement.
• Engaging with other organizations such as UNICEF, WHO, and MSF in the pharmaceutical field. 1
• Managing complaint files related to pharmaceutical products and producing regular reports. 1
• Representing IFRC at seminars, workshops, and presentations in the pharmaceutical field. 1
• Actively working towards achieving the Federation Secretariat’s goals and adhering to Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a degree in pharmacy, health science, or a related field, with a Master’s degree in drug regulatory affairs or pharmaceutical quality assurance being mandatory. Candidates must possess an in-depth understanding of pharmacology, humanitarian pharmacy issues, and the pharmaceutical industry. Knowledge of Good Distribution Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, and Regulatory Affairs is essential. The ability to synthesize and analyze complex data is also required, along with a broad understanding of humanitarian issues and disaster recovery.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a degree in pharmacy, health science, or a related field. A Master’s degree in drug regulatory affairs or pharmaceutical quality assurance is required for this position, ensuring that the candidate has the necessary academic background to fulfill the responsibilities effectively.

Experience:
The Quality Assurance Officer should have a minimum of 5-8 years of relevant experience in managing pharmaceutical operations within the humanitarian or commercial sector. Experience in pharmaceutical markets, particularly in low to medium-income settings, is preferred. Familiarity with Red Cross/Red Crescent operations and knowledge is also required, as it will enhance the candidate's ability to navigate the organization's specific context and challenges.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this position. A good command of spoken and written French is preferred, as well as proficiency in another IFRC official language, such as Spanish or Arabic, which would be advantageous in facilitating communication within the organization and with external partners.

Additional Notes:
This position is likely to be full-time, and while the specific contract duration is not mentioned, candidates should be prepared for a role that may involve international collaboration and travel. The position may also offer competitive compensation and benefits, reflecting the importance of the role within the humanitarian sector.