Medicines Patent Pool is looking for a Drug Product Expert (Remote)

Location: Geneva, hybrid or remote

Contract Type: Consultant

Travel requirements: up to 30%

Duration: 12 months with the possibility to extend

Background

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to and facilitate the development of life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Through its innovative public health–driven licensing model, MPP works in partnership with governments, international organisations, civil society, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders to prioritise essential health technologies. MPP negotiates and manages voluntary licences and intellectual property agreements that enable local manufacturing, support the development of new formulations, and facilitate technology transfer to improve access and supply sustainability in low- and middle-income countries.

For more information, please see our website, https://medicinespatentpool.org/

Role Purpose

The Drug Product Expert will provide senior technical advice and hands-on support for drug product (DP) development and technology transfer activities across MPP-supported projects. The role focuses on supporting partner manufacturers in LMICs with the development, transfer, scale-up, validation, and regulatory readiness of aseptic injectable drug products, including biologic (both vaccines and bio-therapeutics) and non-biologic products, from development through to commercial readiness.

Unlike an internal CDMO role, this position does not own manufacturing operations, but acts as a technical expert, advisor, and integrator, working across multiple partners, sites, and stakeholders to ensure robust, GMP-compliant, and sustainable product development technology transfer outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Technology Transfer & Manufacturing Support
  • Evaluate products and manufacturing requirements based on due diligence of potential sending units. Evaluate capabilities of potential receiving units, identify the potential gaps and propose an action plan for readiness.
  • Lead and coordinate drug product technology transfer activities from development through first commercial launch for MPP-supported products.
  • Support new product introductions (NPI) and lifecycle management (LCM) changes at partner manufacturing sites.
  • Provide technical oversight and guidance during process implementation, scale-up, line characterisation, engineering runs, PPQ, and validation.
  • Support partners with aseptic manufacturing processes, including formulation, sterile filling, lyophilisation, freeze–thaw operations, filtration, mixing, and vial, ampoule, and/or prefilled syringe manufacturing.
  • Provide technical input into facility design and readiness, including single-use processing and filling technologies, where relevant.
• Process Development, Validation & Troubleshooting
  • Support the development and review of DP processes covering formulation, filling, visual inspection and packaging in relation to:
    • Process characterisation and engineering studies
    • Validation strategies and PPQ protocols
    • Electronic or paper batch records
    • Technology transfer and process description documentation
  • Troubleshoot DP manufacturing challenges, including formulation issues, protein stability, freezing/thawing, filling, inspection, storage, and transportation of parenteral products.
  • Support deviation investigations, root-cause analysis, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Quality, GMP & Regulatory Support
  • Ensure all activities are aligned with cGMP, HSE, and applicable regulatory standards (FDA, EMA, WHO, and other international authorities).
  • Support GMP change management strategies, including review and technical assessment of change controls and non-conformances.
  • Contribute to CMC sections of regulatory filings, variations, and responses, in collaboration with partners.
  • Support product quality assessments and process flow documentation.
• Stakeholder & Partner Engagement
  • Act as a technical focal point for drug product development and transfer projects, liaising with:
    • Partner manufacturers
    • Technology providers and licensors
    • Quality, QC, regulatory, and operations teams
    • External experts
  • Communicate effectively across multiple sites, organisations, and cultures.
  • Support capacity building and knowledge transfer to strengthen long-term manufacturing sustainability in LMICs.
• Innovation & Knowledge Sharing
  • Contribute to the evaluation and implementation of new manufacturing methods, technologies, and platforms relevant to LMIC contexts.
  • Support innovation projects, technical strategy initiatives, and, where appropriate, contribute to publications, presentations, or shared technical learnings.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Advanced degree (PhD or Master's) in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutical engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, or related discipline; or equivalent industry experience.
• Extensive experience in biotech or pharmaceutical drug product development and manufacturing.
• Demonstrated expertise in drug product technology transfer, from development to commercial scale.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP requirements and global regulatory expectations.
• Proven ability to work independently as a senior technical expert across multiple projects and organisations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Desirable

• Hands-on experience with aseptic biologics manufacturing, including:
  • Lyophilisation
  • Vials, Ampoules, and Prefilled syringes
  • Sterile processing and validation
• Experience supporting commercial biologics (vaccines and/or biotherapeutics) drug product manufacturing and process validation.
• Knowledge of virus and protein biochemistry related to chemical and physical stability.
• Experience working with or supporting manufacturing in LMIC settings.
• Familiarity with WHO prequalification or similar regulatory pathways.

Skills

Essential

• Strong technical problem-solving and risk-based decision-making skills.
• Project management capability, including planning, prioritisation, and management of multiple workstreams.
• Ability to lead and influence cross-functional and cross-organisational teams without direct authority.
• High-quality technical writing and documentation skills.

Desirable

• Experience in Quality Assurance
• Experience supporting regulatory submissions from a CMC perspective.
• Experience acting as an external technical advisor or consultant.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.

Personal Qualities

MPP's richness lies in its highly qualified, dynamic and multicultural team.

To flourish in our team, you should recognise yourself in our values of Respect, Courage, Generosity, and Commitment.

Moreover, as DRUG PRODUCT EXPERT you will be proactive, resourceful, and comfortable taking initiative in a fast-paced environment. You will bring energy, creativity, and resilience to your work, while respecting diverse cultures, perspectives, and ways of working. The ideal candidate demonstrates:

• A genuine personal commitment to MPP's public health mission.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work independently under tight deadlines or in new areas.
• Creativity and the capacity to think outside the box.
• Energy and stamina to engage and unite a diverse range of stakeholders around challenging ideas.
• Comfort collaborating within a team while thriving with minimal supervision.
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for different approaches, backgrounds, and work styles.
• A friendly, approachable personality that contributes to a positive and inclusive team culture.

What we offer

At the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), you will join a mission-driven, international organisation working to improving access to life-saving medicines and technologies worldwide.

As part of our team, you will benefit from supportive and flexible working environment, along with a competitive non-profit compensation and benefits package, including generous paid time off, flexible working arrangements, comprehensive social security and insurance coverage, a monthly contribution toward health insurance, public transport or parking and relocation support for eligible international recruits. Clear objectives, regular performance reviews, continuous learning, and employee well-being are central to how we work and grow together.

How to Apply

We respect all individuals regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, HIV status or disability. All qualified applications are welcome.

If you recognise yourself in this profile, please send your C.V., and other relevant documentation (references, work samples portfolio, list of past assignments) to [email protected] including "Drug Product Expert" as reference in the subject line by 20 April 2026.

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