[Ip-health] Job Announcement: Essential Action's Pharma Transparency and Monitoring Project

[robert weissman]

JOB AVAILABILITY

PROJECT COORDINATOR
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY TRANSPARENCY AND
MONITORING PROJECT,
ESSENTIAL ACTION

Controversies over high prices, unsafe products and a failure to
innovate products to treat diseases in developing countries have shaken
the pharmaceutical industry in recent years.

The industry has responded by leveraging its economic and political
power to protect its privilege and fend off health-based reform policies.

Much of the industry's success in influencing the policymaking process
reflects its raw power. But much is also due to its sophisticated
stealth maneuvering. For example, the industry defends itself publicly
and invests heavily in image advertising, but it also relies on a
network of industry-supported organizations -- which present themselves
as independent public interest groups -- to advance Pharma's narrow
mercantile interests in the guise of assisting the broad public
interest. To take another example, various rich country and
intergovernmental agencies provide extensive technical assistance to
poor countries, often employing private consultants that urge these
countries to adopt Pharma-friendly policies that work against public
health and the countries' national interest.

Some of the ways the industry has sought to leverage influence are
known. But many are not; or, if known, are not widely understood by the
public, media and policymakers.

Essential Action's newly launched Pharmaceutical Industry Transparency
and Monitoring Project will both undertake monitoring activities and
carry out an advocacy program to put in place new transparency
mechanisms for Pharma-related policymaking.

Our initial but not exclusive emphasis will be on policymaking around
intellectual property issues, particularly those related to access to
medicines in developing countries. Over time, we intend for the project
to broaden, and to devote more attention to domestic U.S. concerns.

This project is an outgrowth of our Access to Medicines Project. For
more on our work on access to medicines, see
<www.essentialaction.org/access>. For an overview of Essential Action's
overall work program, see <www.essentialaction.org>.

We are now seeking a project coordinator to advance the Pharmaceutical
Industry Transparency and Monitoring Project objectives.

JOB OVERVIEW

The project coordinator will be supervised by Essential Action's
director. Among other duties, the coordinator in association with
Essential Action's director will:

* Coordinate a series of strategy meetings to work with allies to
develop an industry transparency and monitoring agenda;

* Campaign for industry disclosure of its political investments around
the world -- in electoral campaigns, lobbyists and advocacy groups --
and promote policies for mandatory disclosures;

* Encourage journalists, globally, to undertake expanded coverage of
Pharma leveraging of its political influence, and to rely on balanced
and genuinely independent sources for comment on industry practices;

* Commission, author and distribute evidence-based papers to respond to
misleading industry claims on various topics;

* Research and analyze how Pharma is leveraging its political power in
rich countries, intergovernmental agencies and developing nations, and
elaborate appropriate remedial policies; and

* Explore how various governmental and inter-governmental agencies are
providing technical assistance on intellectual property and other
pharmaceutical industry-related matters, and advocate for technical
assistance programs that encourage countries to prioritize their health
interests over narrow commercial concerns.

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must be passionate about advancing global public health
efforts and corporate accountability. They must be hard-working,
energetic and strategic minded. We are seeking applicants who have an
advanced degree or at least five years campaigning/advocacy experience,
though we will review all applications.

We are looking for applicants who are:

* Able to work independently, with moderate levels of supervision;
* Ready to creatively experiment with new advocacy approaches;
* Highly organized;
* Willing and able to undertake extensive international travel;
* Effective advocates; and
* Able to write and communicate effectively and persuasively, including
through media interviews and public speaking;

Ability to speak and write fluently in Spanish or other second (or
multiple) languages is desirable, but not required. History of working
on transparency initiatives is desirable. Demonstrated commitment and
past work on corporate accountability projects is highly desirable.

This position will be based in Washington, D.C.

To apply:

E-mail cover letter, resume including references, and short (up to 5
pages) writing sample to Sarah Lazare (lazare@essential.org).
Applications will be considered as received. The position will remain
open until filled. Follow-up inquiries by e-mail only please.

Please forward as appropriate.

Posted: January 17, 2007