Advisor, Pharmaceutical Regulatory Systems Development

Organizational Context

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Job Purpose

Advance strong, effective, and harmonized pharmaceutical regulatory systems across the Americas by driving strategic cooperation, regulatory convergence, and capacity strengthening to improve access to quality, safe, and effective health technologies.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for regional technical cooperation and support Member States in strengthening pharmaceutical regulatory systems. Lead and provide technical guidance on the implementation of the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) and Institutional Development Plans. Serve as Technical Secretariat of PANDRH and guide engagement with regional and global regulatory harmonization and convergence initiatives. Promote alignment between regulatory strengthening activities, PAHO Regional Revolving Funds, and regional programs. Build strategic partnerships, mobilize resources, and foster collaboration among regulatory authorities and stakeholders. Provide high-level technical and policy advice, generate evidence, prepare technical reports and policy documents, and support informed decision-making.

Work Experience

Nine years of combined national and international experience in the implementation and administration of programs and projects related to the regulation of pharmaceuticals. Desirable: Substantive and progressively responsible professional experience in pharmaceutical regulatory systems, including regulatory functions, bioequivalence and bioavailability, and the quality, safety, and efficacy of medical products. Demonstrated experience at national and international levels in regulatory systems strengthening, harmonization initiatives, and the application of the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) to assess regulatory capacities and support institutional development planning.

Skills

Extensive expertise in pharmaceutical regulatory systems, policies, programs, and regulatory capacity strengthening. Strong leadership and strategic advisory skills in medicines regulation and regulatory decision-making. In-depth knowledge of regulatory convergence, reliance principles, harmonization initiatives, and international regulatory frameworks. Specialized expertise in bioavailability and bioequivalence assessment and medicines quality control laboratories. Strong program and project management skills, including budget planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Ability to analyze complex technical and policy issues and develop evidence-based recommendations. Proven partnership-building, stakeholder engagement, resource mobilization, and financial management skills. Strong data analysis, research, problem-solving, and information-sharing capabilities. Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary and multicultural teams while providing leadership and monitoring progress. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the preparation of reports, presentations, and technical and policy documents. Demonstrated ability to effectively use current technology and software, spreadsheets and presentations, as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and management information systems.

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