The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has announced a job vacancy for a Technical Advisor for R&D and Skills Development under the PharmaVax Ghana programme.
The programme aims to enhance Ghana’s pharmaceutical ecosystem, particularly in areas of vaccine research, pharmaceutical skills development, and industry capacity building.
This article provides full details of the role, responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedures.
About the PharmaVax Ghana Programme
PharmaVax Ghana is co-financed by the European Union and German Cooperation, with the goal of promoting:
-
Stronger pharmaceutical governance and regulation
-
Improved R&D capabilities
-
Advanced skills development
-
Private sector growth in the vaccine and pharmaceutical industries
The programme supports Ghana’s ambition to build a resilient pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
Role Overview: Technical Advisor for R&D and Skills Development
The Technical Advisor will support components 2 and 3 of the programme, specifically focusing on:
-
Strengthening pharmaceutical and vaccine research institutions
-
Enhancing skills development and pharmaceutical engineering training
-
Coordinating R&D grants and collaborations
The advisor will work closely with partner institutions, manufacturers, and international research bodies, and will represent the programme in Kumasi and northern Ghana.
Key Responsibilities
1. Support for Research Institutions
-
Coordinate support for Ghanaian pharmaceutical and vaccine research institutions
-
Manage laboratory equipment support and testing services
-
Enhance use of intellectual property systems
2. R&D Grants and Project Monitoring
-
Oversee grants to research institutions
-
Monitor joint research projects between academia and manufacturers
3. Strengthening Skills Development
-
Support higher education institutions in pharmaceutical engineering
-
Coordinate skills development initiatives across partner institutions
4. International Collaboration
-
Support management of international vaccine research collaborations in Kumasi
-
Liaise with global technical partners
5. Programme Management
-
Prepare analyses, operational plans, concept notes, and reports
-
Ensure compliance with GIZ procedures
-
Coordinate procurement, logistics, budgeting, and quality control
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
-
MSc or Doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences, life sciences, or related fields
Professional Experience
-
Minimum 5 years’ experience in pharmaceutical or vaccine research
-
Experience in R&D, academia–industry collaboration, and laboratory operations
-
Consulting, coaching, and capacity-development skills
-
Strong project management experience
-
Knowledge of GIZ or donor agency processes is an advantage
Skills
-
Excellent communication (written and verbal)
-
Strong English proficiency; French or German is an asset
-
IT proficiency, including MS Office and digital communication tools
-
Strong interpersonal, analytical, and organisational abilities
Work Location
📍 Kumasi, Ghana
How to Apply
Interested applicants should submit:
-
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
-
One-page cover letter detailing motivation and added value
Send applications to:
📧 recruitment-ghana@giz.de
Subject Line: Job Code 2025/R&D-Pharma/11/17
Deadline: 30 November 2025
Applicants who do not receive a response within four weeks after the deadline should consider their application unsuccessful.
