Organisation Overview

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is an independent public health foundation working to increase access to HIV, hepatitis C and tuberculosis treatments in developing countries through voluntary licensing and patent pooling initiatives. The foundation works with a broad spectrum of partners — industry, civil society organisations, international organisations, among others — to prioritise, forecast and license medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of novel formulations.

Since its creation in 2010, the MPP has signed licensing agreements with nine patent holders for 13 HIV antiretrovirals, two hepatitis C antivirals and an investigational tuberculosis treatment. Leading pharmaceutical companies have signed licences with the foundation, and the MPP has signed sublicences with 20 generic manufacturers and product developers to produce these treatments. The MPP’s generic network has distributed more than five billion doses of World Health Organization-recommended and new medicines to low- and middle-income countries and is managing more than 130 projects to develop active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulations. To date, the MPP estimates that it has saved the international community US $391million in low-cost medicines through its licences.

The MPP also has forged valuable partnerships with universities, international donor agencies, and governments in support of access to medicines objectives. In 2017, the MPP launched a feasibility study on the potential expansion of its licensing activities into other patented essential medicines with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The MPP is currently developing its five-year strategic plan to further its standing as the world’s only patent pool and voluntary licensing mechanism in the public health space.

The MPP’s model has received positive endorsements from the World Health Organization, the Access to Medicine Index, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), UNAIDS, the Lancet Commission on Essential Medicines for Universal Health Coverage, the United Nations High Level Panel on Access to Medicines, the governments of Belarus, France, Morocco, South Africa, Ukraine, the United States, and others.

The MPP was founded by Unitaid and the organisation continues to fund its HIV, hepatitis C and tuberculosis activities.

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Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Main Duties / Responsibilities

The Executive Director leads the MPP and reports directly to the Governance Board.

Responsibilities include:

• Guiding overall strategic direction of the organisation and ensuring execution of the MPP’s overall strategy;
• Overseeing licence negotiations with licensors and sub-licensees;
• Building strong collaborations and relationships with both public and private sector stakeholders, including national governments, United Nations agencies, corporations and civil society;
• Advocating for and representing the organisation in a range of settings worldwide;
• Leading donor relations and fundraising activities;
• Liaising with the Medicines Patent Pool’s two governance bodies – the Governance Board and the Expert Advisory Group;
• Managing the organisation’s staff members;
• Managing the organisation’s operations and finances.

Experience and background

The Executive Director must have:

• Minimum 15 years of experience in access to medicines and/or intellectual property in the public and/or private sectors;
• Extensive experience in, and/or engagement with, the pharmaceutical industry;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in international settings ranging from high-level diplomatic, including national governments and the United Nations, to corporate to grass-roots settings;
• A strong network of relevant contacts;
• Track record of forming strong external collaborations;
• Experience in donor relations;
• Experience in managing teams and budgets;
• Experience in pharmaceutical licensing negotiations with the private sector would be an advantage.

Personal Qualities

• Leadership skills including setting strategic directions, managing external relations, managing staff, and facilitating meetings
• Strong negotiation skills
• Good advocacy skills
• Superior oral, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Willingness to travel – approximately 30% of the Executive Director’s time
• Sensitivity to different cultures and work styles
• Demonstrated commitment to public health and to the goals of the Medicines Patent Pool

Education

Advanced university degree in a related field required.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Oral and written proficiency in a second UN language is strongly desirable.

It is the policy and practice of the Medicines Patent Pool to provide equal employment to qualified individuals (employees and applicants) regardless of their race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic origin, marital status, disability, and to conform to all applicable laws and regulations.

Salary is commensurate with experience. The Medicines Patent Pool offers a competitive compensation package, including social benefits.

When applying for the position, please indicate whether you currently have Swiss employment authorization.

Please send a cover letter and C.V. to recruitment@medicinespatentpool.org.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.