Principal Technical Advisor, Pharmaceutical Governance and Financing

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is seeking a Principal Technical Advisor, Pharmaceutical Governance and Financing for a potential one-year Health System strengthening project in Ukraine, funded by the US Government.

This position is subject to project award and funding. 

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

The overall objective of Principal Technical Advisor position is to perform strategic technical leadership, oversight, management, and guidance to improve priority setting for enhanced access to medicines and other technologies guided by evidence-based medicine and health technology assessment, while providing high-level support to improving access to quality medicines. This role covers the strategic oversight and alignment of the SAFEMed technical support to the Government of Ukraine on health care priority setting, governance, policy setting, and financing.

• Closely work with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the State Expert Center (SEC) to lead the efforts for building up the institutionalization of Health Technology Assessment (HTA), and strategically facilitate establishment of an independent HTA Agency.
• Oversee project support to the National Health Services of Ukraine (NHSU) on improving the Affordable Medicines Program, its monitorization and expansion, communication efforts, as well as improvement of e-prescription practices.
• Provide leadership in continuation of technical support to the MOH on improving verifications system for high quality medicines and further lead the efforts towards establishment of the national medicines verification organization.
• Facilitate project support to the Government of Ukraine (GOU) on establishment of a pharmaceutical regulatory agency.
• Hold a key role for stakeholder engagement and dialogue, develop positive working relationships with various domestic and international stakeholders working in Ukraine, including the Verkhovna Rada, MOH, SEC, NHSU, SMDC (UPA – after establishment), civil society, and other partners.
  
  

Main Responsibilities

Technical Assistance to promote accountability through pharmaceutical policies, regulations, guidelines, and standard operating procedures, institutionalizing pharmaceutical procedures and structures

• Responsible for providing pharmaceutical policy and governance technical support to the GOU, MOH, SEC and NHSU to strengthen its institutional capacities in order to ensure the sustainability of the EML process. Ensure that effective, efficient, standardized, and transparent methods are implemented for HTA, management of the EML, with the support of the MOH and other stakeholders.
• Provide legal and technical support to the MOH, Cabinet of Ministers, and other counterparts to enable transparent, effective, and efficient selection, procurement, distribution, and use of medicines.
• Provide legal and technical support to the MOH and civil society organizations to establish a specialized mechanism for selection of medicines for reimbursing/procuring innovative and high-cost drugs outside of the EML, working in close collaboration with key stakeholders. To the MOH to advance legislation for the organizational development and sustainable funding of the HTA Agency.
• Provide Technical Assistance to the NHSU for implementing, monitoring, and expanding the reimbursement program, also known as the Affordable Medicines Program (AMP).
• Collaborate with SAFEMed Principal staff on crosscutting issues related to the pharmaceutical benefits program, supply chain management, and other issues.
• Design and implement technical approaches, tools, workshops, and advocacy events related to the promotion of medicine quality, safety and rational use.
  
  

Collaborate with partners and stakeholders

• Provide information and increase understanding of HTA, AMP, EML and positive list nationwide, for relevant stakeholders, including health professionals, government and civil society counterparts, patient advocacy organizations and other stakeholders.
• Work with professional associations to develop policy options based on best practices that support evidence-based decision‐making for medicines selection and rational use.
• Collaborate with the MOH, local partners, patient advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to ensure that they are fully engaged in processes to the extent possible.
• Share information with stakeholders, including manufacturer associations and other key stakeholders at least on a quarterly basis to update on project activities and exchange ideas.
  
  

Program Support and Reporting

• Participate with the Senior Program Manager in the development of project work plans and budgets as they relate to pharmaceutical policy and governance, and rational drug use activities.
• Provide input for updating and implementing the annual work plan and budget, as necessary.
• Identify key areas in pharmaceutical policy and governance to highlight for technical reports, success stories, and/or operational research.
• Take the lead in drafting documents, scopes of work, and contribute, as requested, to regular and ad hoc reporting to project leadership, USG, MSH, the Ukrainian MOH or other relevant agencies.
  
  

Management and Supervision

• Supervise technical advisors and consultants and provide technical leadership and guidance to foster a cohesive vision within the team and ensure timely implementation of activities and quality of technical outputs and deliverables.
• Coordinate activities with other teams on the project with a view to leverage collaborations and synergies that enhance results of the respective workstreams and achievement of overall project goals.
• Other duties as assigned by Senior Program Manager and Country Project Director.
  
  

Qualifications

REQUIRED EDUCATION

• Required: Degree in medicine or pharmaceutical sciences
• Preferred: Masters’ degree or above, in public health or life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, (health) economics; preferably with a postgraduate degree in Epidemiology, Pharmacology, HTA, Health Economics, public health, or (bio) statistics. Record of trainings in the HTA would be an advantage.
  
  

Required

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• At least 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical-related project management and/or public health strengthening projects.
• At least 3 years managing teams.
• Experience working with the MOH and national-level organizations.
• Experience and knowledge of the Ukraine health system and key actors within the system, especially on implementations of HTA, positive list, pharmaceutical pricing model, affordable medicines program
• Documented experience in pharmaceutical sector strengthening in Ukraine with emphasis on quality assurance, market access, and pricing.
• HTA knowledge and practical application in Ukraine.
• Significant record in stakeholder engagement, including presentations in public events, facilitation and moderation of roundtables, panels etc.
  
  

Preferred

• Experience working with USG-funded programs is desirable.
  
  

Knowledge And Skills

• Demonstrated competence in managing and providing technical assistance in key areas of evidence-based pharmaceutical laws, policies, regulations, guidelines, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to institutionalize pharmaceutical procedures and structures and promote accountability, including but not limited to Essential Medicines List (EML) and rational drug procurement, along with key areas of medicine pricing and reimbursement policies.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with Principal-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector groups, USG, and other donor organizations.
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and advocacy skills
• Familiarity with public health, TB, and HIV/AIDS programming, data collection, analysis, and presentation
• Ability to provide training and make presentations to various groups, including high-level government officials.
• Demonstrated computer skills, knowledge of appropriate methods for data analysis and reporting.
• Skills and knowledge to write cogent technical reports, documents, and power points in English and Ukrainian.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Ukrainian.
  
  

MSH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. MSH complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, as amended, and all related applicable regulations.

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