Chief Executive Officer Position at The Kenya Biovax Institute

Job Description

Job Purpose:
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for strategic leadership, fostering linkages and
steering the institution in manufacturing and commercialisation of specialised health products and
technologies including vaccines, therapeutics and other biomedical products for commodity
security in response to national, regional and global health needs.
The Director General/Chief Executive Officer is an ex-officio member of the Board and is
responsible for the implementation of the Board’s decisions, and effective management of the
company’s physical and human resources to maximize profits
Requirements:
(i) At least fifteen (15) years of proven relevant work experience in a multi-national
pharmaceutical manufacturing and commercialisation organization, five (5) years of which
must be in a senior management position in either the private or public sectors;
(ii) Master’s degree (MSc) in any of the following: Pharmacy, Medicine, Biomedical Science,
Business Administration, Business Management or its equivalent from a recognized
institution;
(iii) Bachelor’s Degree in any of the following Life Sciences: Pharmacy, Medicine, Bio-medical
Sciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or its equivalent qualification from a recognized
institution;
(iv) Professional qualification and membership to a professional body where applicable;
(v) Leadership course lasting not less than four (4) weeks from a recognized institution;
(vi) Demonstrate a clear understanding of local, national, and international policies and
regulatory frameworks governing the pharmaceuticals manufacturing and
commercialization sectors;
(vii) Ability to conceptualize and operationalize projects including start-ups in manufacturing
and commercializing health products and technologies (HPTs);
(viii) Knowledge related to molecular biology and microbiology, and demonstrable capabilities
in scientific communications; and
(ix) Fulfill the requirements of Chapter six (6) of the constitution.
Key Competencies and skills
(i) Strong leadership and people management skills for both projects and people
Demonstrate high integrity;
(ii) Be a team player and leader and successfully lead high-performance teams in a multicultural, fast-paced, and highly-productive work environment;
(iii) A track record in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships;
(iv) Ability to drive change, effectively prioritize activities, and provide solutions to complex
problems;
(v) Good judgment, intellectual curiosity, and genuine interest in pharmaceutical manufacturing and commercialization, especially for vaccines and other biological
medicinal products;
(vi) Strategic, innovative, and entrepreneurial thinking with an ability to work independently;
(vii) Ability to mobilize and efficiently utilize targeted resources;
(viii) Strong decision-making, analytical and detail-oriented skills;
(ix) Effective communication, persuasion, influencing, and negotiation skills; and
(x) Good understanding of the public service and corporate processes and procedures.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
1. Articulate, embody, build and shape the organisation’s strategy, vision and mission, building
confidence and momentum in the Institution and among strategic partners;
2. Oversee the manufacturing of human vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, and such
other routine and emergency vaccines to serve the people of Kenya and beyond;
3. Spearhead the manufacturing of other biomedical products including, among others,
biosimilar anti-cancers, snake anti-venoms, insulin, medical infusions and such other
biomedical products that can use the same platform as that of production of vaccines;
4. Steer the manufacturing of pharmaceutical diagnostics and Health Products and
Technologies (HPTs) including Rapid Diagnostic Test kits, assistive devices and specialized
HPTs for cancer and gene therapy;
5. Advanced skills and technology transfer in pharmaceutical and biomedical manufacturing;
6. Guide the commercialisation of research outputs from the Institute, research institutions,
colleges, and universities;
7. Create and operationalise a collaboration framework with local pharmaceutical industries
in the development and production of quality and affordable products;
8. Initiate and maintain strategic partnerships and collaborations with relevant stakeholders
and community engagement;
9. Enforce compliance to global industry and statutory standards, procedures and regulations,
and legal obligations;
10. Initiate development, implementation and review of policies, strategies, and internal control
systems;
11. Provide strategic direction on business-related proposals and resource mobilization for the
Institute activities;
12. Lead in the development of the Institute’s strategic plan, business plan and submit to the
Board for review and approval;
13. Guide the development of the Institute’s annual work plans, procurement plans, budget and
monitor their implementation;
14. Articulate Board decisions and resolutions to management and oversee their proper
implementation;
15. Provide leadership and foster teamwork among employees and play a key role in managing
and motivating staff;
16. Manage corporate risk;
17. Foster a culture that promotes ethical practice within the Institute;
18. Inculcate succession management, employee growth and development and mentorship;
19. Contribute to current innovation, technical and operational knowledge on matters affecting
pharmaceutical industry through publications, editorials, among others;
20. Lead in resource mobilisation and fund-raising for optimal execution of the Institute’s
activities;
21. Oversee the preparation, implementation and review of the Institutional Performance
Management System in compliance with State Corporations regulations and International
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers quality management systems;
22. Spearhead resource mobilisation – locally and internationally;
23. Revenue generation; and
24. Provide leadership in forecasting and development of the Institute’s budget and work plan.

Terms of Service
The successful applicant will be appointed for three (3) year term and may be eligible for
reappointment as per the Kenya BioVax Human Resource Policy and Procedures Manual.
Applications should include the following:
1. Letter of Application (Indicate Vacancy Number)
2. Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae with telephone number and e-mail address
3. Three letters of professional reference with contact telephone numbers and e-mail
addresses
4. Copies of Academic Certificates and Transcript
Interested and qualified persons are required to make their applications ONLINE through the Kenya
BioVax E-recruitment link: https://recruitment.biovax.go.ke so as to reach the Institute on or
before 18
th March, 2025 latest 5.00 pm East African Time.