General Manager

EMVO - European Medicines Verification Organisation

Brussels, Belgium

Introduction

Patient health and safety is of the utmost importance to the pharmaceutical industry (EGA, EFPIA, and EAEPC), wholesalers (GIRP) and pharmacies (PGEU). The introduction of falsified medicines in the European supply chain is a real concern for the abovementioned supply chain stakeholders. In order to try to address the problem, the European Commission has released a new Directive on Falsified Medicines (FMD or Directive 2011/62/EU amending Directive 2001/83/EC), which aims to protect patients by mandating the aforementioned stakeholders to put in place a system which would prevent falsified medicines being dispensed to patients. This system should allow the verification of the authenticity of medicines.

In line with the European Commissions’ Delegated Act on the Unique Identifier, the abovementioned EU stakeholders have designed the most cost-effective repository system, where manufacturers can upload the unique identifiers via a pan-European hub, and where verification of medicines can take place according to national verification systems. This system is required to be managed by a non-profit organisation: Established by the stakeholders in early spring 2015 in Luxembourg with operational offices in Belgium. The European Medicines Verification Organisation (‘EMVO’) will govern the European hub and support the implementation and management of national blueprint systems. The EMVO board is currently looking for a General Manager.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day business affairs for EMVO which is in line with the strategic directions of the EMVO Board;
• Organizes internal meetings including, but not limited to, general assemblies, board of director and other internal meetings;
• Oversee political and legislative monitoring that impacts medicine verification systems;
• Manage membership matter and ensure members are adequately informed;
• The General Manager will provide the Board, in a timely manner, with all information necessary for the Board to carry out its duties;
• Write up of reports and to be accountable to the Board;
• Represent EMVO vis-à-vis authorities and other third parties, including national medicines verification organisations;
• Ensure cooperation with the European Commission, the European Parliament and Member States, as well as with national stakeholder organisations in Member States carrying out similar tasks to those of EMVO at national level;
• Propose long-term goals and strategy to EMVO Board, e.g. regarding the extent of service provision to national stakeholder organisations and potentially other parties;
• Recruit and supervise EMVO Secretariat staff;
• Manage EMVO's human resources effectively and efficiently, and foster a good team spirit and working environment with a view to establish sustainable fulfilment of EMVO's tasks;
• Manage EMVO organisation, including the definition and control of policies and procedures that allow sustainable operation and compliance with applicable legislation (Luxembourgish, Belgian and European);
• Prepare and execute EMVOS's budget in line with Financial Framework Regulation for non-profit organisations and ensure that it is managed efficiently and in accordance with the principle of sound financial management;
• Authorise purchase orders and payments within the limits set by the Board of Directors;
• Supervise operation and long term development of the European Hub;
• Support national stakeholders in the implementation of their national systems with a view to cost efficient solutions, i.e. the use of Blueprint systems;
• Provide strategy and material for communication to third parties and the wider public;
• Represent EMVO and communicate with stakeholders and the public on all matters within EMVO's remit.

Experience & Skills

Management experience, and in particular:

• Capacity to lead an organisation of the size of EMVO (5-10 people) both at a strategic and at operational management level;
• Excellent capacity to develop and implement a strategic vision, to set objectives and to motivate and lead teams in a multicultural environment;
• Very good decision-making skills, including the capacity to take decisions in a complex political environment and in emergency situations;
• Proven experience in budgetary, financial, and human resources management in a national, European and/or international context;
• A demonstrable appreciation of promoting EMVO's guiding principles of openness, transparency, independence, and scientific excellence.

Subject matter expertise:

• Experience and practice in one or more of the following areas: pharmaceutical sciences, information technology, pharmaceutical distribution chains;
• Good understanding of the European/Member States' institutions related to supply chain security and how they operate and interact;
• Good knowledge of coding and serialisation processes.

Communication and negotiation skills, and in particular:

• Ability to communicate efficiently and fluently in a transparent and open manner with stakeholders, including press, the public, European, international, national and local authorities, international organisations, etc.;
• Solid experience of negotiating in an international environment and playing an active role in seeking compromised;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain appropriate relations with EU institutions, Member States' competent authorities and international/national supply chain stakeholders to ensure the proper functioning of the EMVO.

Applicants Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must have either:

• A University degree, master’s degree, or PhD. A degree in business administration will be considered a strong additional asset;
• A level of appropriate professional experience which corresponds to completed university studies demonstrated by previous work experience.

Applicants must have at least 15 years' postgraduate experience of which at least 5 years should have been gained in a management function leading people.

Applicants must have a thorough knowledge of English and a satisfactory knowledge of at least one other of the official European Union languages, ideally German or French.

Applications

Applications (CV and letter of motivation) should be sent electronically addressed to the attention of ”EMVO Board Members” by email to the following email address HR@emvo-medicines.eu, not later than 30 October 2015 COB.