Business Development Manager (BDM 5)-The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP)

Location:  Geneva, Switzerland

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is an independent public health foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland, established with the support of UNITAID. The mission of the MPP is to increase access to medicines and technologies for HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C, and facilitate development of better-adapted medicines and technologies, such as fixed-dose combinations and special formulations for children, by creating a pool of relevant patents for sub-licensing and product development.

For more information, please see our website, www.medicinespatentpool.org

Context:

While MPP’s work in HIV is well developed, the field of tuberculosis (TB) is new for the organisation. After a long period in which no new drugs for TB were approved, the pipeline has some interesting new candidates and regimens in development. MPP would like to enter into collaboration with partners to bring these potential treatments to patients in low- and middle-income countries.

Further, MPP’s work in HIV has generated considerable interest in the applicability of the model to different technologies in our current areas of work as well as to new therapies.

The MPP aims to utilise the opportunity from these developments to maximize its public health impact. This new position will focus on the above two crucial areas for the MPP.

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

The Business Development Manager (BDM) will be a key member of the Business Development team, and will help develop MPP’s work in its new area of tuberculosis and help the organisation keep abreast and act swiftly on developments/opportunities that may affect its work. Responsibilities include:

1. Help develop licensing/engagement/entry strategies, business cases for TB compounds: approved and pipeline, both drug sensitive and drug resistant TB;
2. Help initiate and participate in negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry for TB compounds;
3. Engage with external stakeholders: industry and non-profits to help further development of TB medicines;
4. Develop forecasts for TB treatments in collaboration with partners and experts;
5. Develop models to estimate MPP’s likely economic and public health impact due to its work in TB;
6. Manage Management Intelligence System to keep abreast of and provide early visibility into trends and industry developments that may affect the work of MPP or present opportunities for the MPP.
7. Identify new potential technologies in current and other therapy areas of MPP as well as new potential partners for MPP, including for new technologies.

Experience/Background/Knowledge:

The Business Development Manager should have:

• Good understanding of the field of TB, treatments for drug sensitive and resistant TB, and drug pipeline;
• Deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry;
• Understanding of multiple technology and therapy areas of the pharmaceutical industry;
• Good pharmaceutical industry network;
• Strong analytical skills including ability to handle quantitative and qualitative information; creativity to leverage non-traditional data sets;
• Good strategy development skills;
• Excellent professional writing skills;
• Good blend of long term, visionary thinking and execution orientation;
• Knowledge of public health and issues related to access to medicines and intellectual property.

Personal Qualities: 

• Organised, autonomous, and able to work within short timelines and new areas;
• Meticulous and excellent attention to detail;
• Collaborative and supportive approach to teamwork;
• Ability to work with relatively senior and more experienced people especially those outside the direct sphere of influence;
• Sensitivity to different cultures and work styles.

Education and special training:Advanced university degree in medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, public health, business administration or related field.

Experience (length and nature):At least 10 years’ relevant experience.

Use of Languages:Native proficiency in English is required.

MPPs ValuesThe MPP respects all individuals regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, HIV status or disability.

Please send a cover letter and C.V. in English to: gro.looptnetapsenicidem@tnemtiurcer by 21 July 2016 indicating “BDM5” as reference in the subject line.

When applying for the position, please indicate whether you currently have Swiss employment authorisation.

 Only short-listed candidates will be contacted