Cold Chain Officer, NO-B, Monrovia, Liberia, TA) - (for Liberian Nationals Only

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up!

For every child, immunization is a must!!

How can you make a difference? UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children to save their lives, to defend their rights, to help them fulfill their potential!

Purpose of the Post:

The Cold Chain Officer, NO-B is expected to provide technical support to install new solar refrigerators, manage the cold chain maintenance and logistics system and to build the capacity of the technicians at national, regional stores and county depots level.

The incumbent, under the Cold Chain Specialist, P-3, will be responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting the progress on the cold chain strengthening projects of the Government of Japan, USAID and ACT-A HAC through which funding for this post has been secured for an initial contract of one year with possibility of extension. The Cold Chain Officer is expected to complement the technical capacity of the Health Section to support the Government during the installation of over 175 solar refrigerators across the country. The Cold Chain Specialist at UNICEF basically undertakes administrative functions and supports the Government in the development of plans and policies at the National Level while the Cold Chain Officer will be expected to complement the human resource capacity of the Health Unit and support the Government at the Operational Levels (Regional Stores, County Depots and Health facilities) to install and repair solar refrigerators.

He/she provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results-based management (RBM) principles and established standards of performance and accountability. The ideal candidate will be accountable for ensuring that UNICEF’s support to the Government of Liberia in terms of strengthening its cold chain is carried out in a timely and efficient manner throughout the duration of the post.

Basic Objectives of Assignment:

1. Provide technical support to MOH for the procurement and installation of new refrigerators based on the MOH cold chain replacement plan/schedule.
2. Provide on-job training on the installation, proper use and preventive maintenance of cold chain equipment for users at the national, regional and county vaccine stores.
3. Provide technical support to MOH to implement activities related to effective vaccine management (EVM) improvement plan as related to the EVM Assessment such as temperature mapping, etc.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide technical support to MOH for the procurement and installation of new refrigerators based on the MOH cold chain replacement plan/schedule.

• Support the forecast of Solar refrigerators and spare parts.
• Support the update of the national cold chain inventory.
• Update the national operational deployment plan for all solar refrigerators.
• Support the custom clearance, transport and storage of solar refrigerators at the national, regional, county and health facility levels pending installation.
• Conduct field visits to installation sites to assess readiness and update the ODP.
• Develop standardized checklists for installation and commissioning of CCE.
• Support the installation and commissioning of all Cold chain equipment procured under the USAID, Govt of Japan and ACT-A HAC.

2. Provide on-job training on the installation, proper use and preventive maintenance of cold chain equipment for users at the national, regional and county vaccine stores

• Develop capacity building and training plan for cold chain officers on the installation and preventive maintenance of CCE at all levels of the immunization supply chain (iSC).
• Conduct on-site trainings for cold chain officers at all levels of the iSC while observing IPC measures for Covid-19.
• Compile capacity building and training report for cold chain officers.

3. Provide technical support to MOH to implement activities related to effective vaccine management (EVM) improvement plan as related to the EVM Assessment such as temperature mapping, etc.

• Update the EVM Improvement plan based on the level of implementation of recommendations from 2015 and the 2020 EVM self-assessment.
• Support the temperature mapping of the Central Medical Store and the National Vaccine Stores.
• Support the capacity of the national logistics team to conduct custom clearance.

4. Networking and Partnership Building:

• Build and sustain effective working partnerships with immunization supply chain sector government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity and exchange knowledge/expertise to facilitate the achievement of program goals.
• Work and collaborate with other Sectors within UNICEF to ensure health system strengthening.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (NLWG) discussions and planning on iSC and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on cold chain strengthening.

5. Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:

• Apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results.
• Keep abreast and conduct research to provide evidence for implementation of best and cutting-edge practices in iSC.
• Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on iSC, specifically cold chain strengthening.
• Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively performed.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

• University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Education, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Social Sciences, Medicine, Health, Public Health, International Development, or a field relevant to technical assistance in immunization Supply Chain and Logistics (iSCL).

Experience:

• At least five years previous relevant and proven experience in immunization supply chain strengthening, specifically solar refrigerators installation
• Ability to produce technically sound, well-written reports in English.
• Experience with Liberian populations or similar development/programming context would be an asset.
• Prior experience with UN and other international organizations and exposure to UNICEF’s work.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

Core Competencies

• Builds & Maintains Partnerships.
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness & Ethical Awareness.
• Drive to Achieve Results for Impact.
• Innovates and Embraces Change.
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity.
• Thinks and Acts Strategically.
• Works Collaboratively with others-Establish.
• Nurtures, Leads & Manage People

To view our competency framework, please visit here. Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.