Unit Chief, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies

Grade:

P-5

Salary - Annually:

Step I - 103,165.00 USD

Post Adjustment - Annually:

56,328.09 USD

Contractual Agreement:

Staff - Professional Post

Job Posting:

April 15, 2026

Closing Date:

May 6, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Washington, D.C.

Organization:

IMT Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies

Schedule:

Full time

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Unit Chief, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies

• Join PAHO and lead efforts to advance equitable access to essential medicines and health technologies across the Americas

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), is seeking a highly experienced, strategic, and results‑driven Unit Chief, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies to lead regional efforts to promote equitable access to quality medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and other health technologies.

Under the general supervision of the Assistant Director (AD), and the direct supervision of the Director, Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies (IMT), the selected candidate will:

• Lead and provide technical, policy, and strategic direction for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the regional program of work related to access to medicines and health technologies.
• Coordinate the delivery of technical cooperation at regional and country levels, providing authoritative advice on policies covering the full life cycle of medicines and health technologies.
• Foster strategic partnerships and lead resource mobilization with multilateral and bilateral donors, NGOs, collaborating centers, and other partners.
• Oversee the Unit’s financial, human, and logistical resources, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and results‑based management principles.
• Coordinate and collaborate with national and international partners to ensure coherence, integration, and effective use of resources across the Organization.
• Provide leadership and guidance to staff, promoting a culture of integrity, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Contribute to the Organization’s response to emergency situations by providing technical expertise and coordinating unit actions as required.

For a complete list of functions, please see the post description.

What is required for this position?

Education

A bachelor’s degree in a health-related profession, health economics, health technology science, or other field related to the position and a master’s degree in public health, public policies, public administration, health technology science, or other field related to the functions of the post, from a recognized institution.

Experience

Thirteen years of combined national and international experience in program development and implementation, management, planning and evaluation in areas related to policy development for medicines or other health technologies. Experience should also include resource mobilization and implementation of international development projects, preferably in an international organization.

Languages

Fluency in English or Spanish with a working knowledge of the other language.

IT Skills

Demonstrated ability to effectively use current technology and software, spreadsheets, and presentations, as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and management information systems. Other IT skills and knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Word are considered essential.

Competencies and Skills

For a complete list of competencies and skills, please refer to the post description.

The skills required are:
• Extensive senior‑level expertise in policies, regulation, and management of medicines and other health technologies.
• Strong leadership and strategic management skills in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments.
• Ability to provide authoritative technical advice on access to medicines, health technology assessment, and rational use.
• Proven experience in program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Strong resource mobilization, partnership‑building, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including executive‑level reporting and presentations.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams