Executive Director
29 June 2026
About QUAMED
QUAMED is a small, well-established non-profit organization incorporated in Belgium that has a vison of “living in a world where everyone benefits from quality medicines and other health products.”
The organization’s mission: “QUAMED partners with diverse networks of stakeholders to improve access to quality medicines and other medical products, to strengthen pharmaceutical systems, thus reducing exposure to sub-standard and falsified medical products.” Find more information at: quamed.org
QUAMED offers services in five distinct areas:
- Assessments: We conduct assessments for our members and other customers. These include Good Storage and Distribution Practice (GSDP), Model Quality Assurance System (MQAS) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) audits, GSDP technical visits and finished pharmaceutical product dossier reviews.
- Quality Certification Program (QCP): We manage our QCP certification program for suppliers that are ready to invest in obtaining a QUAMED QCP certificate.
- Database: Maintaining a subscriber-only database with our reports.
- Training: We develop and offer training directly or indirectly related to our core activities.
- Technical assistance and support: We offer technical advice and support services with an emphasis on support for regulatory authorities and our associative organizational members.
In addition, we advocate and work on awareness for quality medicines and access to quality medicines through various communication channels, including webinars, our online learning platform as well as participating in Quality Assurance and Humanitarian fora.
Administrative Framework
Job title: Executive Director
Reports to: Board of Directors
Direct Reports: Operations and Finance Manager, Technical Team (covering Assessments, Technical Assistance and Learning) and Quality Compliance Coordinator.
Virtual Headquarters (HQ): QUAMED does not have a physical HQ which means all employees work remotely from their home countries and in field countries. Working hours for virtual HQ staff mostly track with regular working hours in the country of residence.
Contract terms permanent contract / fixed term contract): This employee will have a two-year contract, which will be renewable. More information on potential types of contracts will be provided during the interview process. QUAMED has a policy of offering minimum renumeration packages regardless of where employees are based. There is an adjustment up to 20% for employees that live in higher cost-of-living countries. There is also a very significant allocation in lieu of social charges for individuals that are not on employee contracts.
Full time/part time: This is a full-time position.
QUAMED band classification: QUAMED has six salary bands. This position is on band 6. More detailed salary range and system of calculation will be provided to candidates during the interview process.
Special requirements (travel etc.): The Executive Director will be expected to travel for team meetings (the team gathers periodically to ensure face-face interaction) 2-3 times per year and do other business travel. Total travel time is from 10-15 percent.
Purpose of the position
The Executive Director (ED) reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for leading the organization. The ED manages the QUAMED team, ensures technical excellence and consistency across all activities (assessments, technical assistance, training, research) and represents QUAMED with all its partners including members, donors, regulatory bodies, clients etc."
Since we are recruiting someone with significant technical expertise in quality assurance it is important to mention that the Operations and Finance Manager who reports to the ED, has significant responsibility for operations including HR, finance, and legal compliance. The technical staff (Quality Assessment Lead and the Project Staff for technical assistance and Learning) and the Quality & Compliance Coordinator report directly to the ED. The ED also participates in QUAMED’s two technical advisory forums: The Technical Advisory Group and the Internal Certification Commission (ICC).
Responsibilities and duties
1. Organizational Leadership
- Manage the QUAMED team in line with the agreed organigram; and with significant support from the Operations and Finance Manager (OFM), develop annual reports, annual plans, strategic plans. Monthly financial reports will be developed by OFM and validated by the ED.
- Monitor financial performance and take corrective actions as necessary
- With the support of the OFM, conduct regular in-person meetings for the virtual headquarters/secretariat and project management teams.
- Serves as an ex officio, non-voting member of the Board of Directors.
- Support Board meetings including development of documents to help Board making strategic decisions; organize the content of the General Assembly.
- Foster a culture of quality, technical excellence, learning, and continuous improvement.
- Create a positive work culture so that the team collaborates effectively and feels empowered.
- Ensure alignment between technical and business strategy and organizational resources (in coordination with the OFM).
2. Strategic Technical Leadership & Development
- Provide strategic guidance to the Board on further development of QUAMED’s technical activities.
- Identify and explore technical opportunities and research partnerships.
- Support the development, implementation and supervision of all technical activities of QUAMED: Assessments and QCP, Training and Learning Platform, Technical Assistance, Research, etc.
- Take ultimate responsibility for managing all contracts and implementing all activities executed by QUAMED staff and consultants.
- Manage the technical team and ensure that projects are completed according to internal SOPs and donor requirements (in close coordination with the Operations and Finance Manager).
- Guarantee technical consistency in all activities (assessments, technical assistance, training material, research).
3. Business Development strategy and implementation
- Develop and implement a business development and fundraising strategy aligned with the strategic plan and financial sustainability objectives.
- Identify and assess emerging opportunities for growth in assessments, QCP, technical assistance and professional learning,
- Lead the development of technical and financial proposals with strong collaboration from the Operations and Finance Manager.
- Build and maintain a diversified funding portfolio, balancing institutional grants, service contracts, technical assistance assignments and strategic partnerships.
- Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including bilateral and multilateral donors, foundations, development agencies, national governments, regulatory authorities, professional associations, and implementing partners.
4. External Representation & Advocacy
- Pro-actively reinforce QUAMED’s technical voice by initiating public discussions around pharmaceutical quality assurance.
- Represent QUAMED in international forums, donor meetings, technical working groups, and strategic partnerships.
- Strengthen relationships across the pharmaceutical quality assurance ecosystem.
- Support organizational communications, advocacy initiatives, and awareness-raising activities.
- Ensure QUAMED remains a recognized and respected voice on pharmaceutical quality assurance and regulatory strengthening.
Qualifications & Experience
1. Educational Background and Certifications and Training
- A master’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline, such as Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field.
- A management diploma would be a plus.
- Auditor credentials (e.g., GSDP/GMP auditor certification) are not required but would be an advantage.
- Training in quality assurance, regulatory affairs, or pharmaceutical supply chain is desirable.
2. Professional Experience
Technical / Quality Assurance Expertise
- Minimum 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector. For example, in quality assurance, regulatory affairs, pharmaceutical supply chains, and/or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience conducting or overseeing GSDP, MQAS and/or GMP audits, assessments, or quality assurance programs.
- Strong understanding of pharmaceutical quality management systems, regulatory requirements, and international quality standards.
- Experience providing technical assistance, capacity strengthening, or advisory services in low- and middle-income countries is an asset.
Executive Leadership and Management
- Significant senior leadership experience within an international NGO (non-profit) and/or health agency or pharma sector organization.
- Demonstrated experience managing geographically dispersed teams is a plus.
- Experience developing and implementing organizational strategies, annual plans, and performance frameworks.
- Proven experience overseeing organizational budgets, financial planning, and resource allocation.
- Strong track record in business development, fundraising, donor engagement, and partnership development.
- Experience representing an organization in public forums.
3. Skills, Competencies and Personal Attributes
- Strong leadership and team-building abilities that inspire the technical and operational teams.
- Ability to ensure compliance with QMS requirements.
- Financial management and oversight expertise as a senior manager.
- Proficiency in interpreting and applying donor and partner requirements, standards, and guidelines (WHO, etc.).
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills; ability to represent QUAMED credibly in technical and policy fora.
- Fluent in English (written and spoken); working knowledge of French is a strong asset.
- Desire to make a difference for people who are confronted by humanitarian emergencies.
- Ability to manage conflicting priorities.
- Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
Recruitment details
Opening of recruitment window: Monday 29th June
Deadline for submitting applications: 23:00 CET Monday 20th July
Application process: Candidates should apply by registering on our recruitment site (BambooHR), answering online questions and submitting a motivation letter and a CV.
Target start date: Between 1-15 October 2026
Notes:
i.inquires on this job profile, and the recruitment process can be addressed to the recruitment team via BambooHR. ii. candidates who are asked to do virtual interviews will receive more information on the salary band for this position and QUAMED’s HR policies including our system of renumeration and benefits.
