Essential Drugs Manager, P-4, Harare

Purpose:

Under the direct guidance of the Chief of Health, you will be accountable for formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of Vital and essential Medicines, project(s) to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the project management, delivery and accomplishment of project goals and objectives. You will manage the supply and logistics operations of a complex nature with significant impact on programme delivery, services, supply and logistic, processes and systems, requiring advanced professional technical mastery and expertise in support of operations and programme objectives. You will be accountable for effective planning, contracting, procurement, distribution, inventory management of UNICEF's supplies, in support of the Country Programmes.

Qualification:

Advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines: Pharmacy, Public Health, Business or public Health Administration, Medicine, Social Sciences or a field relevant to international development assistance in Health Supply sector. Equivalent educational qualification in relevant areas (transport or logistics operations/management, supply management, etc.)* Eight years of relevant professional work experience. Both national and international work experience in supply, logistics, purchasing, contracting, administration and/or other related fields. Work experience in emergency duty station. Fluency in English and another UN language.

*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Key Expected Results:

1. Project Planning, Development and Management. In collaboration with the MoHCW, determine appropriate results for the essential medicines programme, lead project design and develop systems and procedures to ensure access to essential medicines. Responsible for logistics/supply planning through coordination with Operations/Programme Sections. Develops Supply/Logistics component of the Programme, including systems for storage and distribution of supplies to all project sites. Provides technical advice on specifications, supply and logistics arrangements facilitating cost-effective efficient procurement, customs clearance, inventory management and distribution of supplies and equipment, in support of the country programme implementation

2.Project Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting.

Ensure project, sectoral or inter-sectoral efficiency and delivery by UNICEF, MoHCW, NatPharm and other partners for health commodities through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation. Participation in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts. Ensure the preparation of annual Health sector status reports.

3.Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals

Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue through active engagement in communication, networking with relevant stakeholders (UN Agencies, MoHCW and other supply chain management partners) and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes.

4.UNICEF and Government Accountability.

Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability. Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.

5.Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership.

• Ensure exchange of information, experience; identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve delivery of services with MoHCW, NatPharm and other stakeholders to achieve Health supply programme requirements and objectives. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and conduct periodic programme reviews with Government counterparts and other partners.

• Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts for rational use of and access to health commodities.

• Coordinate with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Project or Programme Officers to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other sectors.

• Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of Health projects or sectoral planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability.

• Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of Health Supply programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations. Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve Health programme goals.

Any other duties as requested by the supervisor

Competencies:

Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.

Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.

Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.

Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.

Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.

Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.

Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities.

Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation. If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2011-001632. Applications must be received by 13 October 2011. Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.