Head of Liason Office
Role objectives
MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors without Borders) founded DNDi after they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. DNDi is now funded by more than 30 donors, including JICA and GHIT in Japan, MSF, DFID, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private and bilateral donors.
After 13 years of sustained growth, DNDi has built a team of approximately 200 full-time employees working across nine offices (Geneva, Rio de Janeiro, Kinshasa, Nairobi, New Delhi and Patna (India), Kuala Lumpur, New York and Tokyo).
DNDi began working in Japan in 2004, supporting the development of discovery projects and building its profile and donor relationships. Based in Tokyo, the DNDi Japan Liaison Office exists to develop relationships and collaboration with academia, pharmaceutical companies, the media and the Japanese government to support the mission of DNDi.
DNDi has recently released a new business plan announcing its intention to develop activities in new disease areas, including an initiative dedicated to anti-microbial resistance (GARDP: Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership). The DNDi regional offices will play an increasing role in delivering this strategy, particularly in Japan, to further engage public and private partners in the field of global health R&D.
DNDi is seeking a talented and highly motivated leader to head its Japan Liaison Office, build on existing successes and take on new challenges in the interest of neglected patients. The Head will report to the Director of Operations, based in Geneva, and participate as a member of the DNDi Leadership Team.
About you
You have global health policy and advocacy experience, developed through a career with an international health NGO or donor or within the private sector, likely through a leadership position in market access or public affairs. If you come from the private sector, you share DNDi’s mission of expanding access to treatments to the world’s poorest people and can advocate with conviction with government, pharmaceutical companies and funders to support DNDi’s programs.
You’ve worked abroad or with an international company and you are used to working in multinational teams. You’ve developed senior-level relationships within the Japanese government, private sector health companies and bilateral/multi-lateral health funders and are used to collaborating in multi-stakeholder partnerships. You’ve managed a small team and enjoy motivating and developing people and are comfortable taking initiative. Fluent Japanese is required; non-Japanese nationals must have fluent language skills and a full understanding of the Japanese business context.
Essentials
- University graduate, with a post-graduate degree in public health and/or life sciences and/or senior level management training.
- At least 15 years’ management experience global/public health, much of it in an international context.
- Gravitas and diplomacy.
- A self-starter who is comfortable taking initiative and can work autonomously.
- Excellent communication skills. A track record of working successfully with a remote headquarters organization is an advantage.
- Experienced people manager. Collaborative working style. Able to motivate others.
- Able to travel internationally 20%.
- Fluency in Japanese and English.