The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a global public/private partnership dedicated to raising and disbursing large amounts of finance to prevent and treat the three pandemics.  The Global Fund has so far committed more than US$10 billion to over 524 programs in 136 countries.

The vacancy is in the Secretariat of the Global Fund. The Secretariat manages the grant portfolio, including executing Board policies, disbursing money to grant recipients and implementing performance-based funding of grants. The Secretariat is also tasked with resource mobilization; providing strategic, policy, financial, legal and administrative support and overseeing monitoring and evaluation. It is based in Geneva and has no staff located outside its headquarters. 

Building upon the success achieved so far, the Global Fund is adapting its structure and creating new management positions to meet the challenges of growth and expansion in the period 2008-2010.

Job Purpose Summary
& Reporting Relationships

The Pharmaceutical Procurement Unit is located within the Finance and Pharmaceutical Procurement Cluster.  This Cluster is responsible for the Global Fund’s finance and related functions as well as pharmaceutical procurement and, subject to Board approval, may host the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm) Unit.  AMFm, through a co-payment mechanism and related interventions, seeks to greatly reduce malaria mortality by making artemisin-based combination therapies widely available at prices similar to those of cheaper, less effective medicines.  The Finance, Pharmaceutical Procurement and, potentially, AMFm Units are each led by a Unit Director.

The Unit Director – Pharmaceutical Procurement Services reports to the Director of the Finance and Pharmaceutical Procurement Cluster and is responsible for the management of the Global Fund’s pharmaceutical procurement and support services units currently comprising 16 staff managed through 3 Teams: Pharmaceutical Management Advisory Services, Pooled Procurement and Quality Assurance.    

The Global Fund does not itself procure pharmaceuticals; it finances, through its grants, the pharmaceutical and health commodity needs of its grantees, which account for a third of total grant funding.  The Unit plays a key role in promoting grant effectiveness by reviewing the pharmaceutical procurement and supply management plans of grant recipients.  It oversees compliance with quality assurance policies and monitors cost-effectiveness of procurement through the Global Fund’s reporting mechanism that captures prices paid for pharmaceutical purchases.

Key Responsibilities,
Accountabilities and Duties.

The Unit Director will provide technical expertise, leadership and management of the Global Fund’s work in areas of responsibility and will:

Lead the Unit in providing mission-critical input throughout the grant management cycle, through value-adding reviews of grantees’ procurement and supply management plans, and the monitoring and interpretation of price and quality criteria and PSM operational activity

In conjunction with colleagues in other Units who manage grants, lead and manage the implementation of voluntary pooled procurement and capacity building services, including the selection of service providers/agents, establishment of service level agreement and performance measures;

Provide expertise to the development and implementation of processes for  the Affordable Medicines Facility for Malaria (AMFm), if approved by the Global Fund Board; 

Review and update procurement-related policies, procedures and guidelines and ensure integration with other Global Fund guidelines and processes, in accordance with Board policy and best practice;

Enhance the functionality of and manage the high profile Price Reporting Mechanism, including compliance with the Global Fund’s Quality Assurance Policy, data analysis and reporting; and

Collaborate with technical and bilateral partners on matters relating to quality assurance and data analysis.

As a senior manager of the organization, the Unit Director will:

Contribute to organization-wide development through active participation in cross-Cluster/Unit working groups and projects;

Participate as a key member in the Cluster’s management team and take on Cluster-wide initiatives; actively promote cross-Unit collaboration and teamworking; and

Represent the Director, Finance and Pharmaceutical Procurement Cluster as appropriate, in high level meetings.

In providing strategic management and leadership to the Pharmaceutical Procurement Unit, the Unit Director will:

Translate the Cluster’s strategic vision into an operational plan for the Unit that is aligned with Cluster objectives and Global Fund goals that include well defined activities, milestones and performance indicators;

Provide technical and managerial leadership in the implementation of the Unit’s operational plan to achieve the targeted outcomes;

Provide technical and strategic leadership to Unit staff, ensuring the attainment of expected outcomes as well as the continued development of the Unit’s staff members;

Manage the Unit’s budgetary resources based on agreed Cluster needs and priorities; and

Oversee, co-ordinate and monitor the work of the Unit teams to ensure Unit cost effectiveness and performance against results.

Academic Qualifications
(essential/desirable)

Essential

• Advanced academic qualifications in pharmacy, procurement, management, public health or administration or a related field.

Desirable

• Post graduate training in management or public health.

Experience
(essential/desirable)

Essential

• Extensive senior professional experience at the management level in international procurement systems;
• Extensive experience in the management and delivery of complex procurement services, quality assurance and data analysis including responsibility for policy and strategy development, ideally including their application to pharmaceutical and health products; and
• Experience in managing staff from diverse backgrounds

Desirable

• Experience in health and/or international development;
• Solid track record working with the international/national donor community including bilateral development agencies, foundations, private sector, national governments, NGOs and UN agencies;
• Knowledge of private and public sector procurement policies/practices, especially with regard to pharmaceutical and health products;
• Experience in developing and implementing innovative health initiatives in health financing; and
• Knowledge of the three pandemics: AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

• Leadership and management capabilities leading diverse teams in relevant area;
• Ability to work effectively with procurement systems at all levels of complexity; and
• Sound knowledge of procurement planning, modelling techniques and relevant IT tools

• Sound decision making:  Ability to identify alternatives or options in planning and decision making whilst weighing up the risks for the organization;
• Communicating effectively:  Use appropriate communication techniques effectively both verbally and in writing to communicate at all levels up to Board level;
• Developing own and staff capability, encouraging diversity and fostering teamwork; and
• Results-oriented:  Ability to structure and prioritize individuals’ and the Unit’s objectives against organizational goals. 

Languages
(essential/desirable)

An excellent knowledge of English and preferably a good working knowledge of French or one of the following: Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish.  Knowledge of other languages an asset.

A covering letter not exceeding one and one half pages must accompany all applications. The letter should describe your ability to meet the essential requirements set out in the vacancy notice.

THE GLOBAL FUND HAS RETAINED RUSSELL REYNOLDS TO ASSIST WITH THIS APPOINTMENT. FOR MORE DETAILS ON QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIREMENTS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND HOW TO APPLY, PLEASE VISIT: WWW.RRAPUBLICSECTOR.COM

The position will have an attractive, internationally competitive compensation package at least equivalent to a director level position in accordance with the WHO/UN salary scales; the final remuneration level to be determined in accordance with the selected candidate’s qualifications and relevant experience.

The current arrangement under which Global Fund Secretariat employees have the status of WHO staff will terminate on 31 December 2008. After that date, all staff of the Global Fund will be covered under a new contractual arrangement directly with the Global Fund.