License Manager Medicines Patent Pool

Geneva, Switzerland

ABOUT THE POOL

The Medicines Patent Pool (“the Pool”) was created to improve the health of people living in low- and middle-income countries. Our goal is to increase access to quality, safe, efficacious, more appropriate and affordable medicines, focusing on HIV/AIDS. We do this by negotiating with patent holders to share their intellectual property with the Pool, and then licensing it to other manufacturers to facilitate the production of affordable generic medicines. In addition to reducing the prices of medicines, the Pool aims to facilitate the development of HIV medicines that are better-adapted for resource-limited settings: examples include medicines that do not require refrigeration, special formulations for children, and ‘fixed-dose combinations’ that combine multiple medicines into one pill and ease treatment for patients and treatment providers alike.

The Pool is an independent legal entity based in Geneva, Switzerland, established with the support of UNITAID. UNITAID is an innovative global health financing mechanism, whose mission is to contribute to scaling up access to treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in low- and middle-income countries.

For more information, please see our website, www.medicinespatentpool.org

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The License Manager will report to the Business Development Director and serve as the primary contact point and relationship manager with the sub-licensees. The License Manager shall be responsible to ensure the Pool’s sub-licensees deliver on their commitments and that their projects result in measurable impact of the Pool’s work.

Responsibilities include:

• Manage the Pool’s relationships with sub-licensees as their day-to-day contact and maintain close and harmonious working relationships;
• Conduct research on and propose potential new sub-licensees for the Pool;
• Understand sub-licensee’s business plan for manufacturing licensed products, monitor execution against the proposed timelines and raise issues, as appropriate;
• Monitoring out-licensing progress, issues and risks on a regular basis, including conducting market analyses and reviewing royalty audit reports from sub-licensees;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Business Development Director.

EXPERIENCE/BACKGROUND

The License Manager should have:

• 4-5 years experience working in licensing or alliance management in the pharmaceutical industry. Familiarity with the global generics industry is a plus;
• Deep understanding of pharmaceutical development process;
• Strong project management skills;
• Excellent communication, writing and presentation skills.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Organised, autonomous and able to work with short timelines and new areas;
• Collaborative and supportive approach to teamwork;
• Ability to work with relatively senior and more experienced people especially those outside direct sphere of influence;
• Sensitivity to different cultures and work styles;
• Excellent attention to detail;
• Ability to travel extensively;
• Demonstrable personal commitment to the public health goals of the Patent Pool.

EDUCATION AND SPECIAL TRAINING

Advanced university degree in business administration or equivalent.

USE OF LANGUAGES

Fluency in English is required. Oral and written proficiency in a second language is strongly preferred.

APPLICATION

Women and candidates from developing countries are encouraged to apply.

When applying for the position, please indicate whether you currently have Swiss employment authorisation.

Please send a cover letter and C.V. to recruitment@medicinespatentpool.org by 22 January 2012.