Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS Ethiopia Multi-Country Office (ETMCO) exciting career opportunity.

UNOPS-ETMCO is recruiting for this position: Project Management Support Officer - Food and Medicine Regulatory System Strengthening, Public Health (Retainer) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Qualified females and candidates from underrepresented groups in UNOPS are highly encouraged to apply.

Organizational Context

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. 

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. 

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it. 

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Ethiopia Multi-country office (ETMCO) sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Addis Ababa which manages a portfolio of engagements in four (4)  Horn of Africa countries  (Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan and South Sudan).  ETMCO focuses on Infrastructure, Procurement, Project Management, HR and Transactional Services, and Fund Management services across a wide range of sectors including Health, Education, Agriculture, Resilient infrastructure among others.  

Our goal is to support countries, help people in need and enable our partners through  delivering on our mandate of infrastructure, procurement and project management in the countries in the Horn of Africa.  Building on our global experience successfully delivering projects in complex operating environments, a healthy pipeline of engagements are at various stages of discussion with our priority partners.  

Project Background

UNOPS has signed a project agreement with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the Capacity of the Ministry for the Realization of Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP-II) on selected priorities. This project will be implemented in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the overall objective/purpose is to contribute towards the realization of selected strategic priorities of the Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP-II) which is more on project management focusing on institutional capacity building, technical assistance etc. UNOPS is selected to manage and implement the project by creating a project management unit (PMU).

This unit will be formed by a group of experts and specialists in the relevant matters that will be in charge of delivering the outputs.

The Project Management Support Officer will report to the UNOPS Project Manager, and will be working day-to-day in close and collaboration with the client institution, particularly the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) Director General Office. The PM will also gather feedback from the client to manage and assess the deliverables.

Strategic Initiative:  

• Improve Regulatory Systems

• Improve access to pharmaceuticals and medical devices and their rational and proper use

 Scope of Work/ Objective

The Project Management Support Officer will provide support to the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (Director General Office ) on the implementation of FHRSTP II focusing mainly  on objectives and strategic initiatives related to medicine and medical devices regulation sectors(such as boosting of medical product marketing authorization and combating of substandard and falsified medical product etc.), matters related to attainment of WHO maturity level 3 and establishment of quality management system in the health  regulatory sector, capacity building of regulatory workforce. The officer will also prepare regulatory tools (such as standards, guidelines, checklists etc. ) which help for  standardization of regulatory requirements and coordination among EFDA main office, branch offices, and regional regulatory bodies; and matters related to cGMP compliance of local pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Functional Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of the 3-year EFDA transformation  plan (FHRSTP II) and co-develop monitoring and evaluation tools for 3-year transformation plan of the Authority; 

  • Prepare/revise IDP tools (legal document, guidelines, manuals, SOPs, checklists, forms) which help EFDA for attainment of WHO maturity level 3 based on recommendations  issued by WHO auditors; 

  • Participate in conducting EFDA internal audit and management review meeting on progress of CAPA implementation of non conformances identified by WHO auditors; 

  • Support the development and revision of standards, guidelines checklists which help for  standardization of regulatory requirements and coordination among EFDA main office, branch offices, and regional regulatory bodies;

  • Analytical support in developing/revising tools which helps medical product marketing authorization  and system requirements for upgrading of the electronic regulatory information system;

  • Engage in supporting establishment and implementation EFDA quality management system; 

  • Support the development of tools and meeting that support cGMP compliance of the local pharmaceutical manufacturers;

  • Support in preparing protocols, guidelines, checklists for the conduct of inspections and post marketing surveillance of medical products; 

  • Support the development of tools on combating of antimicrobial resistance and enforcement of rational medicine use

  • Engage in strategic and flagship activities of EFDA; 

  • Coordinate with and facilitate and arrange capacity building interventions in the areas of medicine registration, WHO maturity level, inspection of GMP and GXP inspection of medicine distribution channel, and the overall regulatory system;

  • Liaise between EFDA and different stakeholders including National Ethics Committee (MoE) in relation to clinical trial conducted in the country and other agencies in relation to EFDA priority areas stated in the scope of the assignment;

  • Other related assignments as given by the Director general Office  for operation.

 
Expected Deliverables

• Technical support provided to the director general office  on the implementation of the Food and health product regulatory  sector transformation plan with respect medical product sector regulation

• Number of regulatory tools developed and/or revised

• Regulatory workforce supported on specific regulatory areas 

• EFDA own staff are coached and mentored in different regulatory activities 

• Monthly and quarterly  progress report submitted

The above deliverables are only indicative and are subject to change within the scope of role.

Job Requirements

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• A first University Degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in  Public Health, Pharmacy or other related fields is required. OR

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in  Public Health, Pharmacy or other relevant fields is desirable.

Experience 

• At least two (2) years of proven experience of work  directly related to management positions in the health systems strengthening and program management is required

• Ability to demonstrate in-depth understanding and analytical capacity across issues related to medicine regulatory system strengthening (including medicine marketing authorization) evidence-based planning, prioritization and monitoring is desirable

• Experience working with development partners, the food and medicine regulatory system, strong understanding of GMP compliance of pharmaceutical manufacturing  and Ethiopia’s health system is an added advantage

• Ability to promote teamwork between EFDA and DPs is an asset

• Good communication and negotiation skills is desirable

Language 

• Fluency in spoken, written and reading English is required.

• Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should use the link below to apply. CLICK HERE