Programme/Department:

Pharmacovigilance/Regulation and Prequalification Department 

Objective of the WHO Programme/Department:

The Regulation and Prequalification Department (RPQ) works with Member States and partners to improve access to essential medicines and other health technologies of assured quality, safety and efficacy or effectiveness. RPQ works within the Access to Medicines and Health Products Division (MHP) division departments in the wider framework of Universal Health Coverage and category 4 of the General Programme of Work and cooperates with disease-oriented programmes (among others HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, reproductive health, maternal and child health, immunization, NCDs and mental health) towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The department works with a wide range of UN organizations, international partners and expert networks, and WHO Collaborating Centres. To ensure access to high quality vaccines for National Immunization Programmes through the timely and adequate establishment of norms and standards, the prequalification of vaccines for purchase by UN agencies, strengthening national regulatory capacity both in the short and long-term and the assessment of vaccine safety issues at global level.

Assignment Summary:

The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) will join the pharmacovigilance team at WHO headquarters in Geneva, within the Department of Regulation and Prequalification. The JPO’s responsibilities will include assisting with the collection and analysis of pharmacovigilance data for priority medicines and vaccines in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Additionally, the JPO will contribute to gathering existing regulatory safety data to conduct a mapping analysis of key performance indicators for pharmacovigilance activities in LMICs.

Duties, Responsibilities and Output expectations:

Under the overall supervision of the team lead, pharmacovigilance, the JPO shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Contribute to the development of indicators for measuring the performance of countries in the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring
2. Draft technical documents and scientific background materials to support the meetings of the WHO  safety advisory committees for medicines and vaccines 
3. Review safety data and information on medicinal products and prepare briefing notes during outbreaks of infectious diseases or other public health emergencies 
4. Collect regulatory information and safety updates on medicinal products and prepare first drafts of the WHO Pharmaceuticals newsletter
5. Perform other tasks that may be assigned by the supervisor. 

PART II: CANDIDATE PROFILE

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Essential: An advanced university degree or equivalent in Pharmaceutical Sciences 

Desirable: A university degree or diploma in pharmacovigilance or pharmacoepidemiology 

Work experience:

Essential: Two years of professional experience in pharmacovigilance, or other relevant area

Desirable: Work experience/work exposure in a developing country and / or in an international organization

Skills and knowledge required for the assignment:

Essential: Excellent computer skills and strong analytical and research skills. Computer skills in standard office applications. 

Desirable: Sound knowledge of safety of medical products (including medicines, vaccines and diagnostics), pharmacovigilance systems and methods, and data management systems.

Languages and level required:

Essential: Expert knowledge of English

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French

WHO competencies required for the assignment:

1. Teamwork

2. Communication

3. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

4. Moving forward in a changing environment

5. Knowing and managing yourself

Learning objectives of the JPO during this assignment

Upon completion of the assignment, the JPO will have / be able to learn how to collect/analyse safety information from countries and other various resources to evaluate the safety of priority vaccines and medicines for the WHO to make decisions and to take actions to prevent and minimize risks related to vaccines and medicines. The JPO will also learn how the safety data is reviewed at the global safety advisory committees and the recommendations are implemented by supporting countries. 

Achieving the learning objectives

The progress towards achieving the objectives will be evaluated annually by the JPO together with the first and second level supervisors.  Achievement will be against WHO's Performance Management and Development System (PMDS). 

ANNEX 1 Conditions of Eligibility (Requirements by the Donor)

1. General Requirements for candidates applying to the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea: 

a) Korean citizenship 

b) Fluency in Korean and English 

c) Completion of university with a Master’s degree 

d) Certificate of English proficiency test: Applicants should score a minimum of (i) TOEFL iBT 100 or (ii) TEPS 430 or (iii) IELTS 7 or (iv) TOEIC 900 

- TOEFL ‘Home Edition’ score is accepted while ‘MyBest Scores’ are not accepted 

- IELTS General Training and Academic test are both accepted 

- Test scores are valid for 2 years after the test date 

e) Not older than 32 years of age as of 31st December, 2025 (born after 1st January, 1993). The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended accordingly: one year will be extended for those who served for less than one year; two years will be extended for those who served for more than one year and less than two years; three years will be extended for those who served for two years or more. 

f) Male applicants shall have completed the Korean military service or be exempted from it. Those who will be discharged from military service in the year of the application may also apply.

g) Applicants can apply for a maximum of two JPO positions sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea during the year of application. 

        2. Required Documents:  

Attachments needed (please note that once the application is submitted in the system, you cannot go back to upload documents or edit information)

Documents can be uploaded either as a single combined PDF or as separate PDF/Image files.

a) A copy of CV and motivation letter in English.

b) A scanned copy of applicant’s Resident Register in English.

c) A copy of university degree (Master’s degree) certificate in English.

d) A copy of English proficiency test certificate. Please check the minimum requirements/scores above.

e) Only for male applicants who have completed the national military service: A certificate of Korean Military Service in English. The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended in accordance with the Support for Discharged Soldiers Act and the Military Service Law. 

f) Only for low-income applicants: A scanned copy of a certificate of National Basic Livelihood Security Recipients issued in Korean and its unofficial translation in English. 

g) Only for persons with disability: A scanned copy of a certificate of person with disability issued in Korean and English. 

For general information on the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea, please visit the website of the International Organizations Recruitment Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea at https://unrecruit.mofa.go.kr