Associate Specialist, Health Products Management / Grade Level C

Remuneration:

Corresponding annual salary 92,537 Swiss Frs. (CHF) Salary and allowances are generally tax-free. In addition, the Global Fund operates a tax equalisation policy.

Benefits:

The Global Fund offers a comprehensive package of benefits. Click here to see more details.

Vacancy Number:

IRC1829

Closing Date:

12 December 2014

Contract Type:

Open

Reporting to:

Department Head / Health Products Management Hub Manager

Work Division or Department:

Grant Management

Role Summary:

The Associate Specialist, Health Products Management (HPM) contributes to ensuring the effective use of Global Fund funding through the provision of professional expertise and support to the Country Team on all aspects of health products management during the grant life-cycle.  Embedded in the Grant Management Division, the Associate Specialists work in coordination with the HPM Hub in the Grant Management Support Department to ensure consistent application of the Global Fund Procurement and Supply Management (PSM) policies and operational procedures across the portfolio of grants.  The Associate Specialist, Health Products Management plays a key role in ensuring value for money in the management of health products, and in identifying risks that may compromise adequate health product management and adequate use of health products purchased with grant resources. He/she also contributes to on-going quality improvement of grant related PSM processes, tools and technical advice for informed decisions to achieve value for money in the procurement and supply management of health products with grant funds. As part of the Country Team (CT), the Associate Specialist, Health Products Management ensures the provision of adequate technical expertise and support to analyse risks and propose solutions for the effective and efficient implementation of pharmaceutical management and supply chain management activities for health products by grant recipients.

Responsibilities:

The main responsibilities of the Associate Specialist, Health Products Management include: Contributing to the Country Dialogue, Concept Note, Grant Making development and grant implementation as member of the CT to ensure adequate investments and value for money from a health product management perspective. Validate the PSM arrangements and procurement plan, including forecasting and related budget for health products for each disease component for each country and adequate mitigation measures, including short-term and longer-term solution and pharmaceutical systems strengthening investment. Provide timely and proper review of relevant grant documentation including, but not limited to concept note, health products management arrangements, procurement plans, and LFA Assessment Reports, procurement reviews, On-Site Data Verification (OSDV) and Rapid Services Quality Assessment (RSQA) reports, Progress Update and Disbursement Requests (PU/DR), risk assessment, and provide solution-oriented recommendations to the Country Team and Grant Recipients to support seamless grant management. Review the effectiveness of PSM activities conducted by implementing entities and partners during grant implementation and monitor implementation of PSM related recommendations; and provide input and support to new or innovative in-country health product related initiatives to improve PSM systems and impact . Contributing to risk management: Identify risks related to health product management and PSM arrangements and ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are in place for the effective and efficient implementation of activities related to the management of health products throughout the grant life cycle to prevent essential service disruption, use of substandard health products and effective use of grant funds. Escalate any PSM, quality of services related risks to CT, Regional Manager and/or the HPM Hub, as necessary. Participate to Operational Risk Committee review of their assigned portfolio as CT member during grant implementations or following an OIG investigation or review. Ensuring adherence to the Global Fund policies and operational procedures and reviewing instances of non-compliance and proposing remedial actions; pro-actively identifying ways to streamline processes to improve country access to health products and facilitate rapid start-up of grants through efficient mechanisms and supporting grant implementation through training and other capacity building initiatives. Review LFA cost proposals and provide feedback on LFA PSM deliverables, performance and LoE required for specific assignments. Participating to cross cutting work: Contribute to PSM related initiatives, operational guidance and tools development as coordinated by the HPM Hub Contribute to regional initiatives as coordinated by the Regional Manager or Department Head Associate Specialists are expected to provide back-up support in case of absence or duty travel of their regional counterpart, and to participate in on-going training, technical updates organized by the HPM hub, when relevant.  International duty travel should not exceed 25 percent of the time, except in exceptional circumstances, and should be based on a six-month planning conducted by country teams that prioritize key deliverables where in-country presence is required Subject to change by the Executive Director at any time at his sole discretion

Qualifications:

Essential:          Advanced university degree in pharmacy, medicine or public health.

Experience:

Essential: Minimum of 7 years professional experience working in procurement and supply-chain management of health products, including in developing countries. Some experience in developing partnerships on PSM issues at country, regional or international level Knowledge of pharmaceutical systems. Desirable: Experience in both demand and supply side activities related to pharmaceutical management and in particular related to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Some experience in developing policies, tools, and guidance in HPM.

Competencies:

Languages: An excellent knowledge of English and Spanish is required for this position. Knowledge of other languages would be an asset. Technical Competencies: Health Product Management: Demonstrated sound knowledge and understanding of pharmaceutical procurement and supply chain good practices to support effective implementation of health product management activities in all phases of grant management and directs actions to develop and correct deviations from Good Management Practices. Policy Acumen: Demonstrates ability to understand and apply policies and procedures related to grant management cycle and apply these effectively in works with a variety of stakeholders. Core Competencies: Personal Effectiveness Working with Others Core Expertise Global Fund Mind-set For more information please visit: http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/employment/vacancies/Associate_Specialist_Health_Products_Management_Grade_Level_C/