[Hiring] Consultant - Quality Control Laboratories @Pan American Health Organization

Role Description

Provide specialized technical cooperation to strengthen national and regional quality control laboratories (QCLs) for medicines, vaccines, and other health technologies within the framework of the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT), contributing to improvements in regulatory maturity, the development and implementation of Institutional Development Plans (IDPs), and the articulation of regional initiatives on reliance, capacity-building, and laboratory networks — in alignment with CSP30.R12 and PAHO's BWP Outcome 2.3.

Qualifications

• University degree in pharmacy, chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, biomedical sciences, or a related field.
• Postgraduate training in a relevant area (regulatory affairs, quality management, public health) is desirable.
• Minimum thirteen (13) years of progressive experience in quality control laboratories for medical products, in an official or equivalent capacity (NRA laboratory, WHO reference laboratory, or international organization laboratory).
• Demonstrated experience in at least three of the following technical areas:
  • Quality management systems (ISO/IEC 17025 or equivalent).
  • Analytical method validation, verification, and transfer.
  • OOS/OOT management and CAPA.
  • Trend analysis and data management.
  • Equipment management and calibration.
  • Reference standards management.
  • Documentary management in regulatory environments.
• Experience in providing technical support to regulatory authorities or laboratories in capacity assessment or strengthening processes, preferably under the GBT or comparable frameworks (ISO/IEC 17025, WHO prequalification, GLP).
• Solid technical writing skills and demonstrated ability to facilitate workshops and applied training processes.
• Professional proficiency in Spanish and working knowledge of English (bilingual or equivalent).
• The candidate must be based in the Region of the Americas.

Requirements

• Experience in WHO prequalification processes for laboratories or in accreditation by internationally recognized bodies.
• Experience in international technical cooperation and work with regulatory authorities in low- or middle-income countries.
• Knowledge of regulatory reliance frameworks applied to laboratory testing (recognition of analytical results, proficiency testing programs, regional or international reference laboratories).
• Familiarity with the PANDRH network, the former Latin American Network of Official Medicines Control Laboratories (OMCLs), or equivalent regional networks.
• Previous work experience in the United Nations system or multilateral organizations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Familiarity with virtual collaboration tools (Teams, SharePoint, or equivalent).

Benefits

• Total value of the contract is US$ 84,000 with an estimated dedication time of 80%.
• Payments will be made in installments upon submission and acceptance of deliverables by the supervisor.
• Travel, daily subsistence allowances, and related mission costs are governed by applicable PAHO policies and are not included in the consultancy fee.

Deliverables, Remuneration and Payment Schedule

• Inception report: detailed work plan and activity schedule for the 12-month period; preliminary mapping of prioritized countries and baseline status of the Laboratory Testing function; proposed mandate, structure, and membership of the two technical working groups. (Due: 18-Dec-26, Payment: $14,000)
• First progress report: early advances in technical assistance to at least two prioritized countries; kick-off documentation of both working groups (meeting summaries and agreed workplans); initial mapping of regional reliance practices in laboratory testing. (Due: 26-Feb-27, Payment: $14,000)
• Second progress report: advances in IDP laboratory components (minimum two countries); Reliance WG — preliminary regional technical guidance on reliance in laboratory testing (for consultation). (Due: 26-Apr-27, Payment: $14,000)
• Third progress report: consolidated mid-year review — technical assistance outcomes (minimum three countries), IDP status, and results of technical missions and partner activities; Reliance WG — revised guidance document incorporating consultation feedback. (Due: 26-Jun-27, Payment: $14,000)
• Fourth progress report: Training WG — at least two finalized learning resources (courses, modules or technical guides) ready for publication on the PAHO Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH); documentation of good practices and lessons learned in laboratory strengthening. (Due: 26-Aug-27, Payment: $14,000)
• Final consolidated report: full systematization of 12-month results (country technical assistance, working groups, laboratory networks, partner activities, training resources produced); lessons learned; recommendations for program continuity; proposed work plan for the following period. Includes finalized versions of all outstanding products. (Due: 26-Oct-27, Payment: $14,000)

Contract Period

The consultancy will cover an initial period of twelve (12) months, from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, with the possibility of an extension for up to an additional six (6) months (for a total 18 months), subject to fund availability, operational needs of IMT/QR, and satisfactory performance evaluation.

Work Modality and Travel

The work modality is remote. The consultant must be based in the Region of the Americas. Occasional travel to prioritized countries in the Region may be required for technical missions, GBT assessments, workshops, or meetings with strategic partners. Travel and daily subsistence allowances will be governed by applicable PAHO policies and are not included in the consultancy fee.

Supervision

The consultant will report to the Advisor, Regulatory System Strengthening for Medicines & other Health Technologies, and will work in close coordination with the IMT/QR technical team and, as appropriate, with PAHO country offices. A minimum of monthly check-in meetings will be held to review progress, in addition to operational coordination as needed.

Link to PAHO's Biennial Work Plan (BWP)

This consultancy contributes directly to PAHO's BWP Outcome 2.3: "Access to health technologies, innovation, and production", through the strengthening of the Laboratory Testing regulatory function, the development of NRA technical capacities, the promotion of reliance in laboratory testing, and the fostering of regulatory harmonization and convergence in the Region of the Americas — in implementation of the mandates of resolution CSP30.R12.