Consultant – Strengthening quality local production of vaccines and biotherapeutic products

Purpose of consultancy

To contribute to the Local Production & Assistance (LPA) Unit activities in strengthening local production and technology transfer for improving access to quality-assured, safe and efficacious vaccines and biotherapeutic products.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a concentration of global production capacity of essential health products in a few regions/countries and vulnerabilities in global supply chains. For low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that rely largely on importation of medical products to meet public health demands, they are at greater risk for lack of access to quality-assured medical products. The LPA Unit has been receiving requests from Member States for support in strengthening quality local production and technology transfer as many LMICs look to technology transfer and strengthening local manufacturing capacity to improve timely access and strengthen national health security, particularly during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Local Production and Assistance (LPA) Unit in the Innovation and Emerging Technologies (IET) Department, Access to Medicines and Health Products (MHP) Division, is responsible for supporting Member States in strengthening local production and technology transfer of quality-assured essential health products to improve access under the context of WHA74.6 on Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access and other WHA resolutions and decisions related to local production and access to health products. The focus of work is on promoting sustainable quality local production and technology transfer in a holistic manner, such as conducting feasibility assessments for sustainable local production, developing strategies, roadmaps and tools, providing capacity building and specialized technical assistance and facilitating technology transfer.

Deliverables

Under the supervision and overall guidance of the Unit Head, Local Production and Assistance (LPA) Unit, the incumbent will work with relevant colleagues to:

• Organize and/or provide WHO PQ/EUL-related specialized technical assistance for up to 5 manufacturers with on-site/virtual training and/or technical assistance on the quality/CMC, non-clinical and/or clinical aspects, post-marketing safety obligations including RMP and collection of AEFIs, and dossier of vaccines and other biotherapeutic products and prepare the relevant materials (e.g. reports, concept note, agenda…).
• Contribute with technical input for standard operation procedures for provision of WHO PQ-related specialized technical assistance to manufacturers of vaccines and other biotherapeutic products, or other LPA-related activities (e.g. organizing training) and prepare the relevant documents (e.g. SOP documents).
• Facilitate organizing and/or conducting on-site reviews of dossiers of vaccines and/or biotherapeutic products for compliance with current WHO/international on standards and requirements of quality, non-clinical, clinical and/or post-marketing safety, including for WHO PQ/EUL, to up to 2 countries and prepare the relevant documents, materials (e.g. reports…).
• Organize and conduct at least 1 capacity building activities and technical assistance activities, for relevant stakeholders in the areas of CMC/quality, non-clinical, clinical and/or post-marketing safety documentation etc. of vaccines and/or biotherapeutic products with the relevant documents (e.g., concept note, agenda…) and prepare the relevant documents (e.g. concept note, agenda…).
• Facilitate the preparation of training materials related on the quality/CMC, non-clinical, clinical and/or post-marketing safety aspects of vaccines and/or other biotherapeutic products and delivery of relevant training materials
• Contribute with technical inputs on the technical products of the LPA Unit, such as” frequently asked questions” documents, with collaboration from relevant colleagues and prepare of relevant documentations (e.g., FAQ…).

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in pharmacy, health sciences, life sciences, or other science or health related fields.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree related to development, production, safety profile and/or clinical performance assessment of vaccines and/or biotherapeutic products, such as public health, vaccinology, immunology, biochemistry, cellular biology or biotechnology.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least seven years of relevant experience, some of which at the international level, in the production, CMC, quality control, non-clinical and/or clinical development, post-marketing safety documentation and dossier preparation for vaccines and/or biotherapeutic products under current international quality standards.

Desirable:

• Relevant professional experience in the manufacturing industry of medical products or their regulatory control including:
  • Experience in a national regulatory authority as a CMC/quality, non-clinical, clinical and/or pharmacovigilance assessor of vaccines/biotherapeutic products.
  • Experience with the WHO Prequalification and/or Emergency Use Listing procedures.
  • Experience in organizing and/or providing capacity building/training for development, manufacturing, and regulation of medical products in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Experience in technology transfers.
  • Experience in an international organization.

Skills:

Essential:

• Strong knowledge of the manufacturing processes, CMC, non-clinical and/or clinical development, post-marketing safety documentation and product dossier requirements of vaccines and/or biotherapeutic products in accordance with WHO and/or internationally recognized standards.
• Knowledge of current WHO and other internationally recognized quality assurance standards, WHO emergency listing and/or prequalification procedures and/or health product regulation for vaccines and/or biotherapeutic products.
• Ability to review, revise or develop technical documents and activities in the area of local production of medical products.
• Ability to design, plan and implement activities to achieve the goal(s).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong planning and organizational skills and ability to use a range of IT tools (Word, Excel, presentation software, databases and web navigators).
• Demonstrated ability to interact with all stakeholders with tact and diplomacy, upholding the reputation of the Organization at all times.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of current WHO and/or other internationally recognized standards of GMP and/or quality management systems of manufacturing facilities of vaccines and/or biotherapeutic products.
• Knowledge of technology transfers for vaccines and/or biotherapeutic/pharmaceutical products.
• Knowledge of the CMC, non-clinical and/or clinical development, post-marketing safety, GMP and/or product dossier requirements of medicines in accordance with WHO and/or internationally-recognized standards.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of another WHO official language.

Location

Off site: Home-based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B – USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

2-11 months.
Applications for both full-time and part-time roles will be considered. For part-time roles, the expected deliverables will be adjusted according to the proportion of the full-time equivalent for which the incumbent is contracted, i.e. 50%.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for 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.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• 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.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html