Technical Specialist (Oxygen) P-3, FT (Two positions), SD, Copenhagen, Denmark

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

 

For every child, an Education

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

 

Strategic office context:

Access to essential products for children and their families is an overarching goal for the work of UNICEF Supply Division. As one of the largest United Nations procurement agencies, UNICEF SD is uniquely positioned to leverage its reach, supply expertise and purchasing power to support governments across 150 countries to deliver results for children.

Oxygen is a life-saving therapeutic medical gas used for the management of hypoxaemia, a major predictor of mortality in young children. Medical oxygen can reduce case fatality rates from childhood pneumonia by 35%, when implemented as part of a broad-based quality improvement package. Children in 30 highest burden countries are 60 times more likely to fall ill with and die from pneumonia compared to children in high income countries. Scaling up key interventions for pneumonia control could save an additional 8.9 million lives (3.2 million from pneumonia) by 2030.

In addition, to respond to the increased demand from countries seeking COVID-19 Outbreak response for oxygen systems and services through SD, UNICEF has been working to urgently expand access to oxygen systems in different contexts and has established a global PD-SD strategy to expand oxygen support to complex sources.

 

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the P4 Technical Specialist, acts as material owner for a portfolio of medical devices, consumables, and equipment to provide and monitor respiratory support.

Applies specialized product knowledge, and in collaboration with counterparts in field offices and Programme Division, establishes technical specifications, standards and guidelines for procurement of clinical medical devices, consumables and equipment used in MNCH requisitioned by UNICEF programmes and specialized UN agencies, governments and non-governmental organizations on a procurement services basis. Supports UNICEF’s strategies to strengthen country capacity in the area of supply of products providing and monitoring respiratory support, emergency response, and fostering innovation.

 

You will be accountable for: 

• In collaboration with UNICEF Programme Division, Regional Advisers, WHO and other key partners, contributes to the formulation of policy guidelines in the area of expertise.
• Reviews, develops, and maintains technical supply specifications and requirements to ensure completeness and appropriateness of a portfolio of medical devices, consumables, and equipment designed for the provision and monitoring of respiratory support included in both the UNICEF database and catalogue.
• Technical adjudication of procurement tenders for medical devices, consumables, and equipment designed for the provision and monitoring of respiratory support.
• Advises programmes and partners on technical matters relating to the commodity of specialization. Reviews programmatic needs and clarifies inadequate specifications, proposing substitute or alternative items as necessary.
• Manages a portfolio of UNICEF’s health supplies. Conducts market research, horizon-scanning for innovations, provides analysis, background information, recommendations for improving the suitability and range of products within specialized area, with special emphasis on suitability of commodities low resourced settings, resulting in more appropriate equipment, better delivery , and lower costs.
• Supports Procurement Services Centre in preparing cost estimates for special projects on medical devices and related services through contributions of technical knowledge of products, quality standards and performance of technologies in the field.
• Supports UNICEF country offices and government partners by assisting in needs assessments in programs or projects aimed at improving access to medical devices, consumables, and equipment designed for the provision and monitoring of respiratory support.
• Contributes to technical capacity building in UNICEF Offices and implementing partners to ensure access to essential medical supplies.
• Any other duties or assignments as requested by supervisor.

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

  

Education

• Completed a master’s degree biomedical engineering, medical technology, or relevant discipline. Specialized training in biomedical medical technology and knowledge of quality assurance for in oxygen delivery products and devices is required.

*A first University degree may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree with seven years of relevant work experience.

 

Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressive relevant professional experience, including biomedical products, supporting program implementation and scale up of such products.
• Field experience in developing countries and knowledge of quality assurance issues related to in oxygen delivery products in low resource settings is a strong asset.

 

Languages

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

 

The core competencies required for this post are;

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and
• ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Works collaboratively with others
• Nurtures, leads and manages people

 

The technical competencies required for this post are;

• Specialist knowledge of oxygen systems, medical equipment, medical devices, and biomedical engineering is required.
• Hands-on working experience in medical device development, procurement, evaluation, commercialization, or scaling environment, particularly oxygen delivery systems is considered a strong asset.
• Experience in producing detailed technical guidance for use of medical devices is considered a strong asset.
• Current knowledge of the latest developments and technology in the field of in biomedical products.

 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

 

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF 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 at: http://www.whed.net/

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.