OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

August 19, 2025

Closing Date:

October 31, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

IMT Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

The PAHO Department of Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies (IMT) is seeking experienced consultants to join a roster supporting its technical cooperation. Consultants will contribute technical expertise across key areas—access, regulation, production, and innovation of health technologies—to improve equitable access and strengthen health systems in the Americas. Responsibilities may include shaping policies, regulatory strengthening, market analysis, R&D support, and capacity-building initiatives. Experts will work across diverse health products such as medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and medical devices to support PAHO’s regional cooperation efforts.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Expert Innovation, Production and Access to Health Technologies Consultant Roster – Band B

Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies (IMT) Department

Terms of reference

INTRODUCTION

The PAHO Department of Innovation, Access to Medicines, and Health Technologies (IMT) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) created in 2023 is dedicated to promoting, coordinating, and implementing the Organization’s technical cooperation to improve access to medicines and other health technologies. IMT's scope encompasses a wide range of health products and related services, including medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, medical equipment, radiology, blood products, and organs for transplantation.  

The Region of the Americas faces complex challenges in ensuring equitable access to quality, safe, effective, and affordable health technologies. IMT Department works in close coordination with others at PAHO and supports countries in overcoming barriers to access by addressing challenges throughout the entire lifecycle of medical products, strengthening regulatory capacity, and promoting evidence-based decision-making and rational use. IMT plays a central role in the development of pharmaceutical and health technology-related services and leads regional innovation efforts through a dedicated platform that advances vaccine and health technology innovation and manufacturing. It works to increase regional capacity for research and development of priority health products and fosters the creation of ecosystems that support the development, production, and accessibility of medicines and other health technologies.

The department is composed of the following two units and a special program: Access to Medicines and Health Technologies (IMT/AH), Quality and Regulation of Medicines and Health Technologies (IMT/QR), and the Special Program on Innovation and the Regional Production Platform (IMT/RP).

PURPOSE

The PAHO Department of Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies (IMT) of the Pan American Health Organization is establishing a roster of experienced consultants to support its technical cooperation efforts in the Region of the Americas.  

This roster is designed to identify and engage highly qualified professionals with demonstrated technical expertise in one or more of the following areas:

Access:

• Access 1– Governmental Policies and strategies to improve access to health technologies.
• Access 2 - Rational use of medicines and other health technologies.
• Access 3 - Intellectual property, competition law and other relevant legal frameworks. 
• Access 4 - Health Technology Assessment (HTA), selection, financing and incorporation of health technologies into health systems, including EMLs/EDLs, risk-sharing agreements, and judicialization.
• Access 5 - Transparency and generation of key data and information on a variety of access inputs and priorities, including prices of health technologies. 
• Access 6 - Market analysis and market shaping strategies.

Regulatory and quality:

• Regulatory 1 - Strengthening National Regulatory Systems through the WHO Global. Benchmarking Tool (GBT) and/or the GBT+, and Institutional Development Plans (IDPs).
• Regulatory 2 - Quality assurance of pharmaceuticals, biological products, and/or medical devices, including technologies procured through PAHO Regional Revolving Funds and other procurement processes.  
• Regulatory 3 - Regional and subregional regulatory convergence and reliance initiatives, including strategic input to guide the Pan American Network for Drug Regulatory Harmonization (PANDRH) and other platforms.

Production and innovation:

• Production 1 - Research and development, technology transfer and/or manufacturing of health technologies, with specific expertise on biologics, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and/or medical devices.
• Production 2 – Governmental innovation and production policies for health technologies.

Transversal:

• Transversal 1 - Access and management of blood, transplants and tissues, including human plasma. Expertise could include access, donation, safety, regulation and/or innovation and production.
• Transversal 2 - Access and management of biologics and biosimilars. Expertise could include access, regulation and/or innovation and production.
• Transversal 3 - Access and management of medical devices, including diagnostics, assistive technologies, and others. Expertise could include access, regulation and/or innovation and production.
• Transversal 4 – Access and management of advanced therapies. Expertise could include access, regulation and/or innovation and production.
• Transversal 5 - Access and management of medical oxygen and other medical gases. Expertise could include production, storage, distribution, maintenance, and clinical use of medical oxygen and other medical gases in healthcare facilities.
• Transversal 6 - Strengthening pharmaceutical services.
• Transversal 7 - Strengthening radiological health services.
• Transversal 8 - Design and implement structured learning itineraries to strengthen institutional and individual capacity, including the conceptualization and delivery of high-level regional training programs and facilitation of technical exchanges among Member States.
• Transversal 9 - Design and implement communication and knowledge management strategies on innovation, production and access to health technologies, including documentation and dissemination of best practices through regional networks, publications, events and conferences.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants are invited to apply by submitting a full application, including a cover letter clearly indicating the specific area(s) of technical expertise for which they wish to be considered—classified above into four main categories: access, regulatory, production, and transversal—along with relevant examples that demonstrate their experience in those areas. Please note that submission of a cover letter is mandatory. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Candidates successfully included in the roster are not assured of a contract but may be considered for future PAHO consultancy assignments related to the areas outlined in the Terms of Reference (ToRs), or for similar tasks and deliverables.   Applicants will not be contacted unless a specific assignment has been identified, and a contract is offered.

REMUNERATION

When hiring a consultant from the Roster, the remuneration will be determined according to the complexity of the expected products/services and the PAHO Consultant Band B daily rates: USD $258 (Min.) - USD $314 (Max.).

TIMELINE

A consultant contract will be offered to qualified candidates from the roster when specific technical expertise is required in any of the IMT areas of work. The contract duration and associated deadlines will be agreed upon prior to signing.

LOCATION

Remote, with potential travel within the Region of the Americas as required.

SUPERVISOR

The consultant will report directly to the specific Unit Chief or technical area lead, with secondary supervision provided by the IMT Director. The consultant will also collaborate closely with other technical teams within the organization.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Essential: A university degree or equivalent in health or policy-related sciences or another relevant discipline aligned with the areas of work described, from a recognized institution.
• Desirable: A master’s degree in public health or a related field from a recognized institution.

Experience

• Essential: A minimum of seven years of combined national and international professional experience in one or more of the specified areas of work
• Desirable: At least three years of experience working with international organizations, with demonstrated knowledge of and engagement in countries across the Americas.

Languages

• Essential: Proficiency in English or Spanish, with at least working knowledge of the other language.
• Desirable: Full professional fluency in both English and Spanish. Proficiency in Portuguese and/or French is considered an asset.

Competencies:

• Commitment to PAHO mission and public health
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments
• Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results within established timelines

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables.  Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract.  There is no commitment on either side.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in the PAHO Career page is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.  Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO/WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
• For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to providing a respectful and supportive workplace for all personnel .
• PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
• PAHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.
• PAHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoings will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
• PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.  The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
• PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant.  The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.