Immunization Specialist (Vaccine Management), P-3, Polio Eradication Programme, Geneva - Remote, 364 days

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 140,713 USD and 184,253 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

********This position has the option for a fully remote work modality. This will be determined based on organizational needs, candidate's location, and availability to relocate. In the event a remote work modality is selected and approved, no installation to the duty station will be applicable for the duration of the appointment and relevant entitlements will be adjusted. The applicable post adjustment rate will be based on lower of the two between the remote work location and the recognized duty station******

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, Health

Polio eradication is a corporate priority for UNICEF globally. Although there are only two remaining countries where polio is still endemic, countries remain at risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) as well as wild poliovirus (WPV) outbreaks which need to be managed as a public health emergency. UNICEF has committed itself in front of partners, donors, and national governments to continue the work on polio eradication until the goal is reached. Unfortunately, the number and scale of polio outbreaks have exceeded expectations. Also, the quality and speed of immunization response activities in most of the key outbreak countries remain sub-optimal to stop transmission and avoid reseeding the virus.

The polio outbreak section of the UNICEF polio team provides oversight, quality assurance, technical assistance, and knowledge management to country offices in the field, with particular emphasis on communication for social and behavior change and vaccine management within an outbreak context. Vaccine management support to countries becomes particularly important when type 2 virus containing oral polio vaccines (OPV2--mOPV2, nOPV2, or tOPV) are used to respond to an outbreak as these vaccines need to be used under strict and unique containment procedures. As such there is a critical need for the deployment of experienced vaccine management experts to support countries experiencing an outbreak to assess the adequacy of response activities and to provide any necessary support to outbreaks as guided by the response requirements.

As a key partner in the effort to eradicate polio, UNICEF has scaled up its human resource capacity in recent years as part of a global rapid response team to provide immediate vaccine management expertise to countries that must respond quickly to a polio outbreak. The recruited temporary appointment staff member will work under the general guidance and supervision of the Cold Chain Specialist Polio Outbreaks in collaboration with the Senior Manager, Polio Outbreaks, and the regional and country teams. The temporary appointment position is created in the Geneva-based outbreak team with an expectation that there would be a high component of travel. The team member would be working as part of the polio outbreak rapid response team and would be subject to deployment to support outbreak response countries on short notice. The incumbent will travel at least 80% of their time to support outbreak response and preparedness activities where needed.

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Cold Chain Specialist in the Geneva-based Polio Outbreak response team and in collaboration with regional and country management, you will be working as a member of the polio rapid response team (RRT), and will be deployed to polio outbreak countries, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s (GPEI) outbreak response standard operating procedures and relevant technical guidelines. You will be responsible for planning, managing, monitoring, and evaluating cold chain logistics and vaccine management activities supporting the country programs, with a specific focus on OPV2 use under containment procedures. The team member will also support GPEI’s outbreak response assessments and technical support missions based on need.

Key responsibilities and tasks include the following:

1. Support to strategy design and development of VM activities in an outbreak country context

• Conduct and/or participate in Cold Chain Logistics (CCL) and Vaccine Management situation analysis using available data sources and assessment reports (e.g. Effective Vaccine Management Assessment, cold chain inventory, Cold Chain Equipment Optimization Plan application documents, temperature monitoring, and mapping study reports) in the country/region, including interviews through national/subnational logistics working groups or committees. Assess/synthesize qualitative and quantitative information, data and evidence to support the establishment of comprehensive and evidence-based information for developing and planning the CCL and VM interventions both for polio outbreak response, maintenance and routine immunization strengthening.
• Participate in outbreak response planning and reviews to contribute to discussions on the underlying and contextual issues which have led to an outbreak and need to be addressed as part of outbreak response activities. (e.g. stock management, temperature management, recording, reporting and vaccine accountability). Ensure the successful and sustainable delivery of program results and provide technical recommendations on approaches, strategies, and plans of action for VM to improve outbreak response activities.
• Together with country offices and VM focal points across the in-country partners, particularly the national authorities, prepare/update the national logistics response plan to ensure optimum impact, scale and sustainability of achievements/results.

2. Implementation of vaccine management activities

• Train staff and partners to support CCL and VM in outbreak response in accordance with the technical guidance and SOPs.
• Facilitate the distribution and optimal use of vaccines and consumables according to macro- and micro-plans.
• Ensure the proper storage of vaccines and consumables at each level of the supply chain.
• Ensure good temperature management procedures are followed.
• Collect and analyze vaccine stock and utilization status at all levels of the supply chain after each round.
• In the case of OPV2 SIAs, provide technical assistance to the MoH and GPEI partners to ensure compliance with containment procedures, such as:
  • At the end of each cycle, all open and unusable OPV2 vials are disposed and reported in accordance with WHO and/or national guidelines and all unopened and usable vials are recovered at a predetermined store in the supply chain for later use
  • Independent Vaccine Monitoring activities are well coordinated
• Provide frequent and regular reports to the Ministry of Health on all aspects of vaccine management, cold chain logistics and contribute to the drafting of SITREPS and bulletins.
• Prepare reports according to GPEI requirements.
• Support outbreak response assessment teams (OBRAs) with information related to vaccine management, logistics and the cold chain.

3. Technical and operational support

• Collaborate with UNICEF program colleagues, supply division, country offices, regional offices, and/or WHO colleagues to contribute to the development of strategies, approaches, policies and the planning of CCL and VM initiatives (e.g. CCEOP, EVMA, Temperature Mapping and Temperature Monitoring studies) in support of outbreak response.
• Provide support to the UNICEF country office to lead the development of the polio outbreak response budget planning aligned with the polio outbreak standard operating procedures and technical guidelines. Support the country office in preparing a financial plan for VM activities. Monitor/track the use of resources as planned and verify compliance with organizational guidelines, rules and regulations and standards of ethics and transparency.
• Provide support to GPEI’s outbreak response assessments and technical support missions

4. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and/or promote cooperation and alliances to achieve outbreak response goals.
• Collaborate with internal global/regional Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) initiative partners to harmonize, link and/or coordinate outbreak response activities within the global standards.
• Participate in organizational and/or inter-agency outbreak response planning and preparation discussions to inform partners and advocate for necessary vaccine management and containment activities.

5. Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking and innovative approaches and good practices for rapidly responding to outbreaks.
• Implement innovative practices, approaches and appropriate technology on cold chain logistics and vaccine management activities.
• Institutionalize/share best practices and knowledge learned/products with global/local partners and stakeholders to build the capacity of practitioners and disseminate these products to key audiences including donors and partners.
• Organize/implement capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners (government and non-government) in cold chain logistics and vaccine management planning, implementation, and evaluation in support of programs/projects including in humanitarian settings.

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

• A first University Degree in combination with experience in immunization supply chain management (iSCM), or Effective Vaccine Management (EVM). Additional training in Pharmaceutical Logistics, Cold Chain, Immunization Supply Chain Management related areas is an asset.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in Immunization Supply Chain Management or Effective Vaccine Management or Cold Chain Management.
• Experience working in polio or other outbreak response activities such as Measles, Ebola, COVID-19 is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in both English and French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.