PAHO is searching for a senior public health expert to serve as:
Director, Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies
The Department of Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies (IMT) is responsible for promoting, coordinating, and implementing the Organization’s technical cooperation in innovation, access and rational use of quality medicines and other health technologies. IMT works across all categories of medicines and health technologies, including medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, medical equipment, blood products and organs for transplantation. It provides technical cooperation to countries, addressing barriers to access within health systems and throughout the medical product life cycle, strengthening regulatory capacity and supporting evidence-based decision making and rational use through health technology assessment processes. It leads efforts in innovation through the regional platform to advance the manufacturing of vaccines and other health technologies, increasing regional capacity and supporting the generation of enabling ecosystems. It coordinates actions of the Regional Platform to Increase Manufacturing Capacity of vaccines and other health technologies and supports the Regional Revolving Funds in the selection and continuous assessment of quality products for priority public health programs in the Americas.
The successful candidate will have:
• A university degree in a health or social science and a master’s degree in public health, health economics or any other field related to the functions of the post from a recognized institution.
• Fifteen years of combined national and international experience in progressively challenging managerial positions in health systems, including the development and evaluation of policies and programs to support innovation and equitable access to quality medicines and other health technologies.
• Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
Salary range: US$ 180,876 – US$ 198,360 Conditions of employment in the Organization conform to those established by the International Civil Service Commission for employment in the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Benefits include 30 working days paid annual leave, comprehensive health insurance coverage and participation in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The conditions of employment, while not governed by national laws, promote gender equality, flexible work schedules (for many positions) and a supportive work environment.
Qualified candidates are invited to complete a profile online at www.paho.org (Select: Employment/PAHO Vacancies), look for Director, Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies by 12 October 2025
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) is the specialized international health agency for the Americas. It works with countries throughout the region to improve and protect people's health. PAHO engages in technical cooperation with its member countries to fight communicable and noncommunicable diseases and their causes, to strengthen health systems, and to respond to emergencies and disasters. To advance these goals, PAHO promotes technical cooperation between countries and works in partnership with ministries of health and other government agencies, civil society organizations, other international agencies, universities, social security agencies, community groups, and other partners. PAHO promotes the inclusion of health in all public policies and the engagement of all sectors in efforts to ensure that people live longer, healthier lives, with good health as their most valuable resource.
Under the leadership of its 51 member countries and territories, PAHO sets regional health priorities and mobilizes action to address health problems that respect no borders and that, in many cases, jeopardize the sustainability of health systems. From its Washington, D.C. headquarters, 27 country offices and three specialized centers in the region, PAHO promotes evidence-based decision-making to improve and promote health as a driver of sustainable development.
