Pharmaceutical/Medical Cold Chain and Refrigeration Consultant to Support the RMS Modern Medical Warehouse Project
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, dedicated to saving children's lives, protecting their rights, and helping them reach their full potential. We are committed to our mission, offering diverse opportunities for professional and personal growth in a passionate and inclusive culture. Our work is driven by the belief that every child has the right to care.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance to the Rwanda Medical Suppliers (RMS) for the construction of a Modern Medical Warehouse and Administration Block in Kigali. The consultant will be responsible for the assessment, planning, design finalization, technical specification, procurement support, installation oversight, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness of the cold chain facilities. This includes ensuring that the proposed cold rooms, freezer facilities, and associated monitoring systems are adequately designed, integrated into the warehouse infrastructure, and meet RMS's current and projected operational needs. Additionally, the consultant will review and improve existing cold room maintenance contracts to ensure the efficient and reliable operation of critical medical supply storage.
Responsibilities
The consultant will conduct a thorough assessment of the cold chain requirements for the RMS Modern Medical Warehouse project. This includes developing detailed technical specifications for refrigeration systems, cold rooms, and freezer facilities, ensuring compliance with pharmaceutical and medical storage standards. The consultant will provide expert advice during the procurement process, review contractor designs and technical submittals, and oversee the installation, testing, and commissioning of all cold chain equipment. A key responsibility will be to review and recommend improvements to existing cold room maintenance contracts to enhance reliability and cost-effectiveness. The consultant will also ensure that temperature monitoring, data logging, and alarm systems are properly integrated and functional. Furthermore, the consultant will prepare comprehensive technical reports, conduct capacity building for RMS staff on cold chain management, and ensure that all aspects of the project align with UNICEF's commitment to child welfare and public health.
Work Experience
A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in refrigeration, cold-chain, or temperature-controlled storage systems. This includes at least 7 years of specific experience in designing, specifying, or implementing industrial or pharmaceutical cold rooms and freezer systems. Experience with pharmaceutical/medical supply storage, cooling load calculations, refrigeration system selection, monitoring systems, and preparing technical specifications is essential.
Skills
Refrigeration Engineering, Cold Chain Management, Pharmaceutical Storage Standards, HVAC Systems, Technical Specification Development, Procurement Support, Installation Oversight, Testing and Commissioning, Maintenance Contract Review, Temperature Monitoring Systems, Report Writing, Problem-Solving