Strategic Pharmaceutical Advisor

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Dakar, Nairobi, Brussels, or Kuala Lumpur

Contract: Permanent - Full time

Starting date: ASAP

Deadline to apply: 05.01.2025

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

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, 26 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

Access to Products for Healthcare (APH) is critical to MSF's Social Mission. It refers to the accessibility, availability, affordability, appropriateness, and quality of products for healthcare for the populations MSF assists and their communities. MSF has been engaged in a wide variety of ways to improve APH in past decades.

In 2023, the MSF International Board approved the set-up of a new organisational model for APH work in MSF. A central part of this model is the creation of an international Structure that supports the APH agenda and is overseen by an Executive Board.

MSF pharmacists working in the medical departments of MSF’s operational centres, its European Supply Centres, and those who are based in regions close to MSF’s medical activities, are all part of the MSF Pharmacists Network. Its objectives include assuring quality of medicines used in MSF projects, facilitating access to treatments, and providing other pharmaceutical support. The International Pharmacist Coordinator (IPC) ensures coherence and collaboration of the network; provides strategic guidance and ensures implementation of international guidelines and procedures at all levels and sections.

III. PLACE IN THE ORGANIZATION

The Strategic Pharmaceutical Advisor is part of the Analysis Department of the newly formed access team, reporting to the Head of Analysis. S/he works in a multidisciplinary team of the Analysis Department consisting of experts on medical, pharmaceutical, legal and policy issues related to access to health products and technologies.

The Strategic Pharmaceutical Advisor will be in close contact and collaboration with the MSF Pharmacists Network, MSF European Supply Centres, with relevant team members and other pharmacists of the APH structure, representing APH works on pharmaceutical issues in the Network.

IV. OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION

• Provides advice and support on pharmaceutical related strategic development, planning, and activities of the APH structure on priority dossier and products.

• Lead the strategy and plans for the development of market landscaping analysis for the identification of barriers and potential solutions on key pharmaceutical products and technologies.

• Strategize and engage with pharmaceutical companies, product developers and key funders in relation to addressing access needs on pipelines and existing products and technologies.

• Maintains an overview of the key trends and developments related to pharmaceutical industries, pharmaceutical policies and practices at global, regional and national levels relevant to priority dossiers and products.

• Supports the development and implementation of advocacy strategies to overcome access problems of priority dossiers and products.

• Provides strategic and technical support and advice to pharmaceutical issues of other APH related projects and activities in MSF, when required.

V. MAIN REPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES

1. Lead strategy for research and analysis on pharmaceutical and regulatory policies and practices and global market landscaping relevant to research and development, pricing, manufacturing sources and accessibility for priority dossiers and products/technologies

• Support the Head of Analysis in developing the overall strategy and plan for pharmaceutical related research and analysis on agreed priority dossiers and products of the APH’s Annual Plan 2025 and strategic plan 2026-2031.

• Leading the strategy and plans for market landscaping analysis to identify barriers and potential solutions on priority products and technologies.

• Strategizing and advising the engagement with pharmaceutical companies, product developers and key funders in relation to addressing access needs on pipelines and existing products and technologies.

• Lead monitoring, analysis and provide strategic advice on major global, regional and national trends of pharmaceutical policies and practices in relation to research and development, regulatory framework, pricing and quality assurance -- in collaboration with MSF International Pharmaceutical Coordinator and other relevant MSF entities.

• Contribute to analysis of intellectual property licensing and technology transfer agreements and their impact on access to priority products and technologies, and where relevant – technical parameters necessary for tech transfer.

• In collaboration with APH colleagues and relevant MSF medical referents, provide technical and strategic advice on identification and prioritization of pipelines representing optimal choices for treatment and prevention.

• Maintain an overview, documentation and regular update of pharmaceutical related activities, including research, analysis, strategies and technical supports, in line with the Knowledge and Information Management Guidelines.

• Maintain an external and internal network of relevant stakeholders related to the main responsibilities.

2. Strategic support the development and implementation of advocacy strategies in relation to priority dossiers, products and pharmaceutical issues.

• Provide strategic support to the development and implementation of targeted advocacy strategies in relation to pharmaceutical issues.

• Prepare and give presentations for internal and external meetings, including international and regional conferences related to access to medicine/vaccine issues.

• Prepare documentations for MSF and external use on priority dossiers and products.

• Provide technical input and review for APH publications, presentations, communication deliverables.

Qualification and knowledge

• Senior pharmacist with degree/diploma in pharmacy.

• Additional qualification related to global health policies, public health, regulatory policies and practices, and / or pharmaceutical and biological product development and technology transfer an asset.

• Knowledge of regulatory framework and practices, including those related to research and development, biologic products including vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and biosimilars, medical devices and emerging technologies at international level and in developing countries as an asset.

• Solid knowledge of global health policy and the key actors/stakeholders in the global health arena.

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

• Knowledge of access to medicines debates and political context around pharmaceutical issues.

Work experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience directly relevant to the responsibilities of the position.

• Proven experience with strategic research and analysis, and advice on pharmaceutical and regulatory matters related to the main responsibilities of the position, preferably related to products and technologies for tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes, antimicrobial resistance, vaccines, reproductive health products.

• Experience working in resource-limited settings, ideally with MSF at field and/or HQ levels.

• Excellent communication and team working skills; and willingness to speak at public events when required on behalf of MSF.

• Appreciation of cultural and gender diversity, and strong commitment to equity and inclusion

• Proficiency in spoken and written English, other languages an asset.

• Frequent international travel.

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.