Senior Technical Advisor, Pharmaceutical Governance and Financing

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is seeking a Senior Technical Advisor, Pharmaceutical Governance and Financing for a potential one-year Health System strengthening project in Ukraine, funded by the US Government.

This position is subject to project award and funding.  

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

Senior Technical Advisor, Pharmaceutical Governance and Financing will provide strategic technical advice, guidance, and coordination support to strengthen evidence-informed priority setting, pharmaceutical governance, financing, and access to quality medicines and health technologies in Ukraine. The role will support the alignment and quality of technical assistance to the Government of Ukraine in areas related to health technology assessment, medicines selection, reimbursement, pharmaceutical regulation, and financing reforms. 

Senior Technical Advisor, Pharmaceutical Governance will:

·       Work closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH), the State Expert Center (SEC), and other national stakeholders to support further institutionalization of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and provide technical input to discussions on the future institutional model for HTA in Ukraine.

·       Coordinate and provide technical guidance on project’s support to the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) related to the Affordable Medicines Program, including program monitoring, expansion, communication, and improvements to e-prescription practices.

·       Provide technical guidance on project’s support to the MOH and national stakeholders in strengthening Ukraine’s medicines verification system and advancing the establishment and operational readiness of the National Medicines Verification Organization.

·       Facilitate technical support to the Government of Ukraine on pharmaceutical sector EU integration and the establishment and operationalization of the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical assistance to promote accountable pharmaceutical policies, regulations, procedures, and institutional systems

• Provide senior technical advice to the GOU, MOH, SEC, NHSU, and other counterparts on pharmaceutical governance, medicines selection, reimbursement, and financing reforms.
• Support development and implementation of transparent, standardized approaches for HTA, Essential Medicines List management, and evidence-informed priority setting.
• Provide technical and legal input on policies, regulations, guidelines, and procedures related to selection, procurement, reimbursement, distribution, and appropriate use of medicines and health technologies.
• Provide technical input on strengthening the HTA function, including institutional arrangements, governance, operational procedures, and sustainable financing.
• Provide technical input on pharmaceutical pricing and access policies, including international evidence, comparative policy analysis, price regulation approaches, and mechanisms to improve affordability, transparency, and availability of medicines.
• Support technical assistance related to the establishment and operationalization of the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency, including regulatory governance, EU alignment, and transition of pharmaceutical regulatory functions.
• Provide technical assistance on Ukraine’s medicines verification system, including support to the National Medicines Verification Organization, technical and regulatory requirements, stakeholder coordination, and alignment with best global practices
• Provide technical assistance to NHSU on implementation, monitoring, communication, and expansion of the state reimbursement program
• Collaborate with project team leads on cross-cutting issues related to pharmaceutical benefits, reimbursement, supply chain management, medicine quality and safety, and rational use.
• Design and support technical tools, workshops, consultations, and stakeholder engagement activities related to pharmaceutical governance, access, quality, safety, and evidence-informed decision-making.

Collaborate with partners and stakeholders

• Support stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue with MOH, SEC, NHSU, professional associations, civil society, patient organizations, manufacturer associations, and other national and international partners.
• Work with professional associations and technical partners to develop evidence-informed policy options that support transparent medicines selection, reimbursement, pricing, and rational use.
• Facilitate understanding of key pharmaceutical reforms and technical areas, including HTA, EML, Positive List, AMP, medicines verification, pricing policies, UPA establishment, and broader regulatory reform.
• Maintain regular communication with key stakeholder groups to share project updates, discuss implementation issues, and exchange technical perspectives.
• Collaborate with the MOH, local partners, patient advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to ensure that they are fully engaged in processes to the extent possible.
• Share information with stakeholders, including manufacturer associations and other key stakeholders at least on a quarterly basis to update on project activities and exchange ideas.
• Contribute to communication and knowledge-sharing activities that build understanding and support for pharmaceutical governance, access, and regulatory reforms.

Program Support and Reporting

• Contribute to the development, updating, and implementation of project work plans and budgets related to pharmaceutical governance, financing, reimbursement, regulatory reform, and rational use of medicines.
• Work with the Senior Program Manager and technical leads to track progress, identify implementation issues, and support timely follow-up on agreed activities.
• Identify key technical results, policy developments, lessons learned, and emerging issues in pharmaceutical governance and financing for inclusion in reports, success stories, briefs, and learning products.
• Lead or contribute to drafting technical documents, scopes of work, concept notes, meeting materials, and other products related to assigned technical areas.
• Provide timely technical inputs to regular and ad hoc reporting for project leadership, the donor, MSH, MOH, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support documentation of project achievements, reform progress, stakeholder engagement, and lessons learned to inform project decision-making and external communication.

Management and Supervision

• Supervise technical advisor, technical officers and consultants and provide technical leadership and guidance to foster a cohesive vision within the team and ensure timely implementation of activities and quality of technical outputs and deliverables.
• Coordinate activities with other teams on the project with a view to leverage collaborations and synergies that enhance results of the respective workstreams and achievement of overall project goals.
• Other duties as assigned by Senior Program Manager and Country Project Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED EDUCATION

• Required: University Degree in fields of public health, pharmaceutical sciences, economics, or related field.
• Preferred: Postgraduate degree in HTA, Health Economics or public health.

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REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Required:

• At least 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical-related project management and/or public health strengthening projects.
• Experience working with the MOH and national-level organizations.
• Experience and knowledge of the Ukraine health system and key actors within the system, especially on implementations of HTA, positive list, pharmaceutical pricing model, affordable medicines program.
• Documented experience in pharmaceutical sector strengthening in Ukraine with emphasis on quality assurance, market access, and pricing.
• HTA knowledge and practical application in Ukraine.
• Significant record in stakeholder engagement, including presentations in public events, facilitation and moderation of roundtables, panels etc.

Preferred:

• Experience working with USG-funded programs is desirable.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrated competence in managing and providing technical assistance in key areas of evidence-based pharmaceutical laws, policies, regulations, guidelines, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to institutionalize pharmaceutical procedures and structures and promote accountability, including but not limited to Essential Medicines List (EML) and rational drug procurement, along with key areas of medicine pricing and reimbursement policies.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector groups, USG, and other donor organizations.
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and advocacy skills
• Familiarity with public health, TB, and HIV/AIDS programming, data collection, analysis, and presentation
• Ability to provide training and make presentations to various groups, including high-level government officials.
• Professional computer skills, knowledge of appropriate methods for data analysis and reporting.
• Skills and knowledge to write cogent technical reports, documents, and power points in English and Ukrainian.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Ukrainian.

MSH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. MSH complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, as amended, and all related applicable regulations.

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