Quality Assurance Specialist

Location: Any MSF office*

Contract: Permanent - full-time

Starting date: as soon as possible

Deadline to apply: 10.03.2025

Compensation and benefits: MSF practice is to offer the C&B package current in the MSF entity establishing the contract.

*By default, the successful candidate will be offered a contract in the MSF office of their country of residence at the time of application.

I. MSF INTERNATIONAL

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural disasters. MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

MSF International is the legal entity that binds MSF’s 24 sections, 27 associations and 18 branch offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested.

II. POSITION BACKGROUND

One of the objectives of the Pharma Platforms is to assure the quality of medicines in MSF projects. The Pharma Platforms is mainly composed of pharmacists working in the medical departments of the operational centers (section pharmacists, pharmacy advisors), pharmacists in Supply CentresSC, and regional/intersectional pharmacists.

Coordination of these platforms is done by the International Pharmacist Coordinator (IPC) who has a permanent position within the International Office.

Main activities of the International Pharmaceutical Coordination team (from an International Quality Assurance perspective) are:

• To maintain the coherence of the network (organization, meetings, proactive follow-up and support)

• To coordinate the implementation of the MSF Qualification Scheme for international procurement and all related activities with the support of external experts

• To facilitate and ensure that common specifications and procedures are implemented and used in all sections and Supply Centres

• To participate to external networks/meetings with other key international actors (UNICEF, WHO, ICRC…) sharing the objectives to improve quality of medicines on the international market.

Coordination of the Quality Assurance (QA) activities is done by the Drug Quality Assurance Lead. The QA Specialist Pharmacist supports the work of the Drug QA Lead in the search of potential new sources for supply, in product evaluations and in the consolidation of MSF QA system as well as ensuring the systems and tools in place to capture this information are functional and remain useful. S/he will also be the focused pharmacist for HIV and Hepatitis (HBV & HCV).

Additionally, the QA Specialist Pharmacist has a second main objective within its scope of work, which is to coordinate and support the work of the MSF pharmacists in quality of care and more specialized pharmaceutical care, as needed.

III. PLACE IN THE ORGANISATION

The QA Specialist position is under the direct responsibility of the Drug Quality Assurance Lead.

S/he will be in close contact with the Pharma Platforms and particularly the IMES (International Medicines Evaluation Session) group involved in product evaluations and the OC pharmacists in relation to the pharmaceutical care and clinical aspect. In addition, s/he is in close touch with other stakeholders such as the ESCs, Spinco, the Global Procurement Unit, etc.

IV. OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

The purpose of the position of the QA Specialist Pharmacist is double:

• to actively support the IO lead role on QA of medicines on behalf of the movement, including QA disease focused.

• to coordinate and facilitate the uptake of an intersectional approach towards pharmaceutical care.

This includes:

• Be the disease focused pharmacist and focal point for HIV, Hepatitis (HBV & HCV) and opportunistic infections (such as CMV retinitis, Cryptococcal meningitis and Kaposi Sarcoma).

• Be the IO Medicines focal point for Uniquality (Database) discussions.

• Coordinate the uptake of pharmaceutical care within MSF in collaboration with operational centers (OCs).

• As part of the IO Pharma coordination, provides input to the plan of action of the Pharma Platforms and contributes to transversal discussions, such as supply transformational topics.

VI. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for maintaining the information of validated sources (product / manufacturer) for HIV, Hepatitis (HBV & HCV) in MSF’s Database (Uniquality).

• Follow up on developments within WHO prequalification and contact potential new suppliers for HIV, HBV & HCV products. Be responsible for product dossiers evaluation in coordination with the Drugs QA Lead, if needed.

• Be the MSF QA focal point with manufacturers for these specific products (for regular contacts and technical visits).

• Monitor procurement, including tenders, of HIV and Hepatitis products in coordination with the Medical Platforms leaders, the Supply Centers SCs and possibly with external stakeholders.

• Participate and provide pharmaceutical input to HIV and Hepatitis working groups meetings and their projects. Support the WG leader in all pharmaceutical related issues and keep section pharmacists and SCs’ pharmacists informed on relevant HIV and Hepatitis related issues and provide necessary support in this area.

• Represent the Pharma Platforms in MSF Medical Platforms meetings, when required. For Medical Platforms which do not have a dedicated pharmacist, IO represents the Pharma Platforms on the clinical and supply perspective.

• Revise, from the pharmaceutical perspective, medical guidelines and protocols, on behalf of the Pharma Platforms, when requested by medical referents/Medical Platforms.

• Support the QA lead in product dossier assessments, if needed.

• Support the QA lead in SOP revision and quality risk assessments, if needed.

• Be the IPC focal point in the discussions related to Uniquality development. Represent the IO vis-à-vis Spinco, UQ Project Manager, UQ Product Owner, UQ Data Steward and SCs.

• Contributes to the GPU priorities for medicines, in terms of specific discussions linked to categories or strategies, as needed.

• Taking the consultation on pharmaceutical care conducted on the topic as starting point, develop roadmap on key intersectional priorities to work on, in agreement with OC focal points.

• Coordinate the uptake practical actionable points within pharmaceutical care/clinical component within the Pharma Platforms, liaising with the OC referents.

• Liaise with PV unit as needed to further increase uptake of SAE reporting and understanding of tools.

• Represent Pharma voice in discussions with other internal stakeholders.

• Undertake other duties as required by the IPC or QA Lead.

• Pharmacist with degree/diploma in pharmacy

• Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles and challenges of MSF

• Minimum of 5 years professional experience, including some experience in developing countries, with MSF or another international organisation.

• Experience with medicines quality assurance.

• Experience in Clinical pharmacy.

• Knowledge or experience on infectious diseases is an asset.

• Strong team member able to collaborate, share and cooperate with others, working together towards a common goal.

• Good analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.

• Mature with strong interpersonal and organisational skills.

• Has the drive and tenacity to achieve defined objectives and to implement efficient solutions within a set timeframe.

• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.

• Ability to work and report independently.

• Able to represent MSF.

Specific Requirements:

• Fluency in English. Knowledge of French is an asset.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

At MSF, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.