Grade: P5
Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment
Contract Duration: 2 years
Primary Location: Hungary-Budapest
Organization: HQ/SUP Procurement and Supply Services BOS
Schedule: Full-time

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The Department of Procurement and Supply Services aims to ensure high-quality, consistent and responsive supply services through a collaborative approach that supports the efficient delivery of WHO programmes. The Department is dedicated to enhancing the quality and efficiency of supply services for WHO programmes through collaborative approaches and manages corporate procurement, global agreements, procurement policies, emergency health kits, and global shipping. In addition, the Department is leading a supply strategy focused on operational excellence, a key emphasis of which is on improving quality assurance in health procurement, working in close alignment with WHO technical and standard setting departments.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The incumbent is a senior professional expert on quality assurance matters, particularly as they pertain to procurement and supply chain, and liaises with WHO Prequalification unit, Legal, Finance, Emergency, Compliance, Risk Management and Ethics and regional counterparts within the Organization. The Quality Assurance lead will build a wide range of partnerships with UN agencies, donor institutions, counterparts in WHO technical units and Collaborating Centres, public health institutions, and other stakeholders in the development of QA related solutions to public health issues.

Provide leadership, strategic guidance and technical support on quality assurance for the sourcing and monitoring of health products procured and supplied by WHO with the following key responsibilities:
- Oversee the implementation, revision, update of the WHO QA Manual Model Quality Assurance Policy for procurement and any other related documents (including, standard operating procedures, working instructions and training documents) in collaboration with other WHO programmes, regions and offices.
- Facilitate effective collaborative work planning and implementation processes for the application, monitoring, oversight and review of QA practices.
- Lead and coordinate the quality assessment of health products sources procured by WHO with appropriate documentation, and coordinate the creation and updating of WHO database of qualified suppliers and health products.
- Lead and coordinate the development, revision, creation of the WHO Emergency Health kit (EHKs), in collaboration with the technical units and ensure the quality of the EHKs along the supply chain.
- Participate in the adjudication of tenders for health products for QA aspects, performance review of suppliers and distributors, including audits and technical visits.
- Direct and monitor quality complaints and recall and provide technical advice and guidance for the selection of quality control laboratories for long term agreements.
- Technically guide the strategy for ensuring sustainability aspects in health procurement without compromising quality, in close collaboration with WHO Environment, Climate Change and Health unit.

Provide advisory and technical support services WHO Country Offices, Regional Offices and headquarter unit staff on quality assurance related issues, with the following key responsibilities:
- Provide high-level advisory and technical advice and guidance to WHO procurement and supply chain managements staff on technical issues related to the quality of health products and monitoring of suppliers for all quality assurance aspects.
- Support the audit and investigation process (internal, external), including supporting the timely and effective implementation of QA recommendations.
- Lead on the identification of QA issues, challenges and risks and provide constructive solutions in the handling of health products at country level (storage and distribution), including preparing operating procedures and process documentation.
- Ensure WHO staff training and the availability of training materials and technical updates and contribute to information sharing across the organization.

Ensure collaboration and communication with quality assurance experts from international, regional and local levels, with the following responsibilities:
- Manage and lead the communication with WHO, other UN agencies, non-governmental agencies, and other key actors for all matters related to QA of health products and providing technical support to respond to queries from media, donor and partners.
- Represent WHO in relevant technical meetings with partners, working groups and work towards harmonization and update of the QA Policy and other relevant QA matters (e.g. substandard/falsified health products).
- Contribute substantially to information sharing on quality of sources and quality complaints with other agencies/partners at the global, regional and local level.
- Actively participate in WHO and other relevant external networks to promote the QA function and its implementation in relevant forums.