Vacancies at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

POSITION BACKGROUND

The management of risk and insurances is done nationally by MSF entities and internationally by the International Insurance Steering Committee (ISC). Its purpose is to identify and propose insurance solutions to improve the management of risks and to manage the international insurance portfolio.

MAIN PURPOSE

The overall purpose of the position is to provide legal advice, guidance and support to the ISC and review legal materials and contracts related to its mandate. The position has an active role in preparing and reviewing insurance contracts and other legal agreements or documents. It guides insurance contract negotiations and advises on and monitors legal compliance in relation to the policies in the international portfolio.

The legal advisor is main lead for a number of designated insurances in the Committee’s portfolio.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Give accurate and timely counsel to the ISC on legal issues affecting the international insurance portfolio

Day-to-day management of the international insurance portfolio (in collaboration with the International Insurance Commercial Advisor)

• Ensure the administrative management of existing international insurance contracts and revise the appropriate legal documentation
• Communicate and negotiate with relevant external parties, creating relations of trust
• Upon request from an MSF entity, check the compliance of the existing portfolio with the applicable legal framework and provide legal advice on the insurance strategy

Act as main lead for the following international insurance policies:

• Medical malpractice
• Directors & Officers
• Clinical trials
• Support the Operational Centers and other entities upon request on medical and liability claims

Draft and solidify agreements, contracts and other legal documents to ensure the MSF’s full legal rights

• Within the frame of the ISC portfolio, negotiate new insurance contracts, participate to renegotiation of existing contracts and renewal processes, and proactively check the content of the existing policies (legal wording)
• In case of a tender, act as lead on the legal part of the tender
• Advise on policy drafting and compliance issues including focusing on risk reduction strategies.

Internal communication, documentation and knowledge management

• Draft the ISC meeting minutes
• Manage the ISC Sharepoint including regular updates and document archiving
• Contribute to the communication strategy of the ISC
• Identify & contribute to topics for ISC newsletter
• Draft relevant guidelines and memos for MSF internal use and inform MSF stakeholders on the content of the insurance policies

Job requirements

• Legal advisor / Lawyer, holder of a higher education (Master 2) in Commercial/Business Law
• Solid experience in the insurance and re-insurance sector
• Strong analytical, research and synthesis skills
• Rigor and keen sense of organization
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work well within a team and individually

Deadline for applications: 31 August 2022

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OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

The general objective is to improve and to ensure the quality assurance of the medicines supply for MSF programmes. This includes several aspects:

• Lead the implementation of the objectives agreed under the 3 years strategic plan, and specifically for 2023.
• Maintain the MSF Quality Assurance System and pursue securing of international procurement through continued implementation by all sections.
• Support securing local purchase where there is no other option or for valid operational reasons.
• Closely liaise with other areas, mainly Supply, to continue supporting joint efforts to improve quality assurance in MSF throughout the full supply chain.
• Maintain collaboration with external partners to improve the quality of medicines at global, international and local level.
• To achieve these objectives, the MSF Pharmacist Network was developed. It is coordinated by the IPC, and supported by a pool of external experts (GMP, bioequivalence, API, etc.).

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

General:

• Participate in the definition of the 2023 Pharma Network Plan of Action, within the 2022- 2024 strategic plan, in consultation with the IO QA Pharmacist and the IO Operational Pharmacist, the medical directors and other stakeholders (mainly supply) and taking into account operational needs and priorities.
• Ensure implementation of the priority objectives for 2023.
• Ensure the overall coherence of the work of the different subgroups of pharmacists composing the network.
• Maintain the Pharma Network organisation and coordinate relevant meetings between the network members.
• Ensure the link with other QA coordinators (for Medical Devices and for Specialised Medical Food), together with the Deputy International Medical Coordinator.
• Organize internal trainings. Brief/train newcomers on relevant topics according to the profile.

International procurement and supply:

• Update and consolidate regularly the MSF Qualification Scheme.
• Coordinate the implementation of the MSF Qualification Scheme for international medicines procurement/supply.
• Overview the UniMeds system further development.
• Lead the priority setting for sourcing from quality perspective taking into account operational and ESCs’ needs.
• Facilitate development, harmonization an update of intersectional quality assurance procedures.
• Plan and coordinate manufacturing site audits, technical visits and monitoring visits, according to priority analysis and budget.
• Coordinate the input of external consultants.
• Ensure documentation is kept centralized.
• Coordinate and support the continued development of UniQuality.
• Support the Regulatory Affairs pharmacists working under the three ESCs on importation requirements (including internal follow up with OCs and externally with WHO PQ)

In-country drug procurement (with support from Operational Pharmacist under the IPC):

• Ensure coordination and adequate priority setting for section pharmacists/intersectional pharmacists country visits to assess supply strategies and provide where appropriate guidance on local purchase (i.e. importation not possible or for valid operational reasons).
• Overview the Pharma Management Guidelines development.
• Overview the UniLocal development, providing technical input linked to UniQuality and Quality Assurance principles when needed.
• Provide guidance and support to OCs in operational blockages linked to importation restrictions and coordinate on negotiations with countries, when needed.
• Follow and regularly evaluate the regional pharmacists currently based in Amman, Beirut, Nairobi and New Delhi.

Good pharmaceutical practices

• Work in collaboration with supply and logistics actors to improve pharmacy management.
• Coordinate the management of quality complaints based on agreed procedures.
• Support the pharmacovigilance (PV) unit.

Access Campaign:

• Work in close collaboration with the Access Campaign Pharmacist Coordinator on quality and pharmaceutical policy related issues and to ensure the link to operational needs and field experience (regular meetings and exchanges, link with the Access Campaign pharmacists).

External collaborations/representations:

• Promote the MSF quality assurance of medicines (presentations, articles…).
• Participate to initiatives that share the objectives to improve quality. of medicines on the international market, mainly QUAMED, Inter-Agency Pharmacist Group (IAPG).
• Link WHO PQ and with other organizations with similar Quality Assurance systems. Particularly relevant with ICRC and UNICEF in operational contexts.
• In connection with the Access Campaign Pharmacist Coordinator and team, continue lobbying major funding agencies (Global Fund, World Bank, WHO etc.) for continued increased access to quality medicines in the global markets. Particularly closely follow up on the WHO Listed Authorities initiative.
• Represent MSF in international pharma-related forums.

Team leader of the IO Pharma Team:

Closely follow up and support each member ensuring they have what they need to perform their duties. The IO Pharma team is composed of:

• The Admin/Technical Officer (also working for the two other International QA Coordinators of Medical Devices and Specialized Medical Food)
• The IO QA pharmacist
• The IO Operational Pharmacist
• The TB and Neglected Tropical Diseases focused pharmacist
• The two Pharmacovigilance Officers working in the PV unit
• The four Intersectional Pharmacists located in different regions
• The additional short/term support hired to fulfil specific needs

Other:

• Maintain (and incorporate additions if needed) participation in relevant Steering Platforms: MSPP different projects (SEEAP, LTO), Supply different projects (SNEA; Med/Supply WG and coordination), A2M Roadmap and others as needed.
• Maintain the coordination of current on-going platforms: Section Pharma meetings, SNEA QMS development, Resp. Pharmacist, and ad hoc as needed.
• Implementation will be done in coordination with the medical directors and the International Deputy Medical Coordinator.

Job requirements

Education:

• Pharmacist with degree/diploma in Pharmacy.

Essential experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience, with at least 3 years with MSF in HQ functions and active intersectional involvement
• Good knowledge of MSF quality and procurement policies.
• Experience in quality evaluation.
• Knowledge of developing countries and emerging markets mandatory.

Additional requirements:

• Fluency in English mandatory (French and Spanish added-values).
• Mature with strong interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Ability to work and report independently.
• Able to represent MSF in relevant meetings.
• Willingness to travel regularly in Europe.

Deadline for applications: 5 August 2022