Job Description:

ABOUT US

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific nonprofit organization that sets standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed, and consumed worldwide. USP’s drug standards are enforceable in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration, and these standards are used in more than 140 countries. USP’s focus on global public health extends to lower and middle-income countries with work in over 20 countries through donor-funded programs. Our programs are focused on building the capacity of regulatory authorities and manufacturers in ensuring patient access to quality-assured essential medicines by providing: 1) Technical assistance to manufacturers to increase the supply of quality-assured priority medicines for malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) products; and 2) capacity-building activities to regulatory authorities to fulfill their function in ensuring the supply of quality-assured medical products.

PQM+

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific nonprofit organization that sets standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicines, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed, and consumed worldwide. In Pakistan, Promoting the Quality of Medicines Plus (PQM+) Program is a Cooperative Agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and USP. This cooperative relationship supports the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for regulatory reforms, quality assurance systems, and strengthening the quality control laboratories in Pakistan. Moreover, PQM+ also provides technical capacity building in close coordination with DRAP and provincial health authorities.

ACTIVITY OBJECTIVE

PQM+ plans to hire the services of a Pharmaceutical Policy and Quality Assurance consultant. The consultant should have extensive experience in the development of pharmaceutical policy. The consultant will conduct analysis and oversee efforts to elevate the pharmaceutical policy and quality assurance agenda in Pakistan. Consultant will play a lead role in driving the development of policy positions and strategies related to antimicrobial medicine quality. This highly visible role requires extensive collaboration across government ministries, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), and pharmaceutical companies.

• Conduct a scientific review of data on the quality of medical products, including antimicrobials based on draft national medicines policy (NMP)
• Present findings to a consultative group of pharmaceutical scientists and other stakeholders
• Facilitate engagement around the quality of medical products (including antimicrobials) among relevant sectors
• Develop and propose guidelines for implementation of quality assurance components of the NMP
• Assist in drafting annual monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan for NMP implementation
• Develops and implements coordination and collaboration mechanism within the federal and provincial bodies other partners on medical product quality aspects of NMP
• Develops and disseminates findings from national situational analysis of medicines quality in health
• Work closely with the country team to support the development and deployment of strategies in pharmaceutical sector policy
• Hold Consultative Meetings with stakeholders

MANDATORY DELIVERABLES

• Desk review of scientific evidence and experiential data on the implementation of strategies related to medical product quality assurance, with special emphasis on priorities identified in the National Action Plan on AMR-Pakistan
• Develop drat NMP implementation plan with an M&E plan focusing on quality assurance of medical products
• Organize Consultative workshop on the draft implementation plan
• Draft quality assurance guidelines related to the NMP, including antimicrobial quality.
• Draft quality assurance steps/SOPs & guidelines for supply chain up to health facility/distribution and pharmacy.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

• Preferably Ph.D. or master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences, or equivalent discipline is required
• Minimum of 10 + years of experience in quality assurance/quality
• Having experience and a good understanding of antimicrobial quality 
• Ability to provide strategic counsel, often under pressure, to senior leaders on policy and government affairs.
• Proven contact network, involvement, and success in influencing the development of legislation and/or regulatory policy.
• Proven ability to understand and clearly communicate complex and technical topics simply and succinctly.
• The successful candidate will have strong analytical, written, presentation, and communication skills in English, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the policy process in Pakistan.
• A track record of successful development of policy or regulatory strategies within the pharmaceutical sector.
• Strong written (especially technical writing) and oral communication skills
• Willingness to travel at least 30% of the time.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE 

The scope of the work defined herein should be implemented before 30th September 2021. The assignment will be required 35 Working Days Level of Effort (LOE).

GEOGRAPHIC AREA

The selected individual will work in consultation with the USP Pakistan

REPORTING

Selected individuals will report to the PQM+ Chief of Party.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

1. Previous Experience - 30%
2. Qualification and Education - 40% 
3. Financial Proposal- 30% 

IMPORTANT NOTE

The Consultant is required to have the aforementioned professional and technical qualifications. Only the applicants who hold these qualifications will be shortlisted and contacted.

Please send CV/Profile, 3-References, and Daily Rate by downloading the following ANNEX – D (Template):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SNQftPHB25vpRZTcznnsDrFRB8d2r7d1/view?usp=sharing

The Quoted Per Day Rate should be inclusive of all applicable taxes, traveling and any other associated costs.

Kindly send all Technical and Financial Proposals to ATTN:  USP Pakistan Procurement at [email protected] before the closing date (June 21^st, 2021). When submitting your application, write "QA & Pharma Policy Consultant" in the email Subject Line.