Chief, Special Program, Innovation and Regional Production Platform

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:

Chief, Special Program, Innovation and Regional Production Platform

• Join PAHO and lead regional innovation and production efforts to expand access to health technologies

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 Chief, Special Program, Innovation and Regional Production Platform to lead regional initiatives that strengthen innovation, research and development, and production capacities for medicines and other health technologies across the Americas.

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 programmatic direction for the Special Program on Innovation and the Regional Production Platform, defining objectives, strategies, and budgets aligned with organizational priorities.
• Provide policy and programmatic advice to Member States on strengthening regional capacities for the development and manufacturing of quality‑assured health technologies, including technology transfer and multisectoral policy implementation.
• Foster strategic partnerships and lead resource mobilization efforts with donors, international organizations, academia, industry, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee the administration of financial, human, and logistical resources, ensuring results‑based management and effective use of resources.
• Coordinate and collaborate with national and international partners to ensure coherence, integration, and maximized impact of technical cooperation initiatives.
• Provide leadership and guidance to supervised staff, promoting a culture of integrity, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Support the Organization’s response to emergency situations by providing specialized technical expertise in innovation and production and coordinating program actions.

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

What is required for this position?

Education

A university degree in a public health-related profession, economics or a health technology science, and a master’s degree in public health, health economics, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or in any other discipline related to the functions of the post, from a recognized institution.

Experience

At least thirteen years of combined national and international experience in technical cooperation, program development, management, planning and evaluation in the fields of innovation, research and development, manufacturing practices, production ecosystems, and policy development for medicines and other health technologies, including vaccines. Must possess at least ten years’ experience gained specifically in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. This experience should also include resource mobilization and the 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:
• Senior‑level expertise in public policy related to innovation, access, and production of medicines and health technologies.
• Strong leadership and strategic management skills in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments.
• Ability to provide authoritative technical advice on research and development, manufacturing practi