Technical Officer (Medicines and Health Products Policies and Standards)

* 15 août 2026 * 100% * Durée indéterminée * Geneva Job Description - Technical Officer (Medicines and Health Products Policies and Standards) (2602237) Technical Officer (Medicines and Health Products Policies and Standards) - (2602237) Grade: P4 Contractual Arrangement: Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4 Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 1 year : Aug 14, 2026, 11:01:55 AM : Sep 6, 2026, 9:59:00 PM : Switzerland-Geneva : HQ/HPS Medicines and Health Products Policies and Standards : Full-time IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME The objectives of the Department of Medicines and Health Products Policies and Standards (HPS)are to support Member States in improving access to safe, effective, quality-assured, and affordable medicines and health products and promote their rational use in line with WHO Road map for Access to safe, effective and quality-assured health products and technologies 2025-2030 (WHO Access Roadmap). In alignment with WHO's General Programme of Work and the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the programme engages a broad range of stakeholders, including UN agencies, international partners, expert networks, and WHO Collaborating Centres, to enhance policy coherence and foster coordinated action at the global, regional, and country levels. The immediate strategic objective is to develop and implement policies and standards that enhance access to these essential medicines and health products, thereby improving public health outcomes. The programme also aims to strengthen capacity and sustainable mechanism for improving equitable access to affordable medicine and health products through promoting technology transfer and fair pricing policy, building production capacity in LMIC, establishing supply chain management system, pooled procurement system and other comprehensive inter-related services in alignment with WHO Access Road map. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES Under the supervision of the Director HPS, the incumbent performs the following duties: Provide technical and executive support to HPS leadership and WHO senior management through the preparation of policy briefs, normative guidance, technical documents, talking points and analytical materials on priority cross-cutting issues related to access to health products, including governance of the pharmaceutical ecosystem. Coordinate the development, revision and implementation of departmental strategic framework and organization-wide strategic documents (e.g. access roadmap), including research, analysis, and collation of inputs to ensure technically sound, coherent and aligned outputs with WHO priorities. Take a lead role in the coordination and communication across the three levels of WHO, monitor key developments related to access to health products and supporting inputs into organizational strategies and plans. Analyze and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the workflow of the department's initiatives and policies and recommend adaptations or new approaches, as required. Facilitate the management of projects, consultations and working groups involving WHO technical units, regional and country offices and external partners, including planning, timelines, deliverables and documentation of outcomes. Support WHO governance and institutional processes related to engagement with non-State actors, including coordination of FENSA-related activities and provision of technical support to staff. Serve as a point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, responding to queries and facilitating coordination across the Organization to promote policy coherence, effective governance practices and coordinated actions. Keep abreast of developments in access to medicines and health products and contribute to informed decision-making; respond to complex and non-routine requests by collecting, analyzing and synthesizing information and coordinating inputs. Perform other related duties as assigned in support of departmental objectives. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Education Essential: An advanced university degree (master's level) in business administration, management, pharmacy, medicine, biomedical engineering or closely related field. Desirable: Experience Essential: A minimum of seven years professional experience working in development of policies and strategies and/or project management as related to access to medicines and other health products. Experience in managing complex projects and working with a range of stakeholders. Experience with WHO or another organization of the UN system. International exposure in areas directly relevant to the position. Desirable: Experience in supporting management decision-making or providing support to management on access to medicines and other health products. Skills The duties require an understanding of WHO policies, the UN system and general managerial practices, and depend on establishing collaborative and effective relationships with a wide range of staff across the three levels of the organization. Up-to-date knowledge in the fields of access to medicines and other health products throughout the value chain. High level skills in organization, effective oral and written communication including drafting and editing concise reports. Skills in working independently and in coordinating and managing complex schedules and multiple projects. Capacity to exercise sound judgment and discretion. Ability to anticipate risk/problems and take preventive or remedial action as required. Concrete skills working independently in multi-tasking situations and in the coordination of large-scale meetings; strong skills in project management and developing presentations. Excellent interpersonal skills. Personal attributes include integrity, tact and discretion. High level of judgement, responsibility and initiative. WHO Competencies Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Moving forward in a changing environment Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Use of Language Skills Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of UN Language. REMUNERATION WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 86,027 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 6502 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Staff members separated due to the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will receive special consideration according to the applicable regulatory framework. This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review. According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment. WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to E-Mail schreiben with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request. WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates. Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members o