Technical officer – Routine Immunization (SSA)

Overview

Provide technical expertise for enhancing immunization programs

You have:

• Basic degree of Medicine/Nursing with master’s degree in Vaccinology/public health/epidemiology.
• At least 7 years of extensive and practical experience in strengthening immunization programmes at senior level at national and international levels.
• Excellent knowledge in analysing vaccine preventable diseases and EPI-related data.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of principles, practices, methodology and techniques of planning of immunization programmes at senior level.
• Good level of computer literacy; familiarity with eHealth tools including epidemiological and statistical software.

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

To reduce childhood morbidity and mortality attributable to vaccine preventable diseases and achieve immunization targets through implementing routine immunization and supplementary immunization activities, expanding immunization beyond infancy, and introducing new and underutilized vaccines with ensuring equitable access of all communities and individuals to vaccines of assured quality.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Provide technical expertise to member states, particularly the GAVI eligible ones, in developing/updating their EPI comprehensive multi-year plans (cMYP) using WHO and UNICEF format, in line with the national health sector strategy and national immunization policy, and follow up on country implementation of their EPI cMYP;

2. Provide technical expertise to the countries for developing annual immunization operational workplans for implementation of planned activities, in line with the cMYP

3. Develop work plans and budgets including resource mobilization for the work programme and follow up on the implementation of planned activities

4. Design appropriate strategies for delivering immunization services in countries with large number of unvaccinated children

5. Provide technical expertise to low coverage countries for developing and implementing locally suitable strategies and plans of action for improving access to and uptake of immunization services for hard to reach and chronically under-reached populations.

6. Conduct periodic review of national immunization programmes in low coverage countries, identify gaps and missed opportunities for vaccination and develop plan of action to address them.

7. Guide immunization data collection, data analysis, interpretation and using the data for identifying gaps in immunization services and for advocacy and resource mobilization.

8. Develop training material and conduct training activities to relevant staff on appropriate strategies for delivering immunization services to hard-to-reach populations.

9. Collaborate with the partners and stakeholders to harmonize recommendations on policies, strategies, planning and implementation of activities related to strengthening immunization systems in countries with large number of unvaccinated children and seek funding for new projects and work programmes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Basic degree of Medicine/Nursing with master’s degree in Vaccinology/public health/epidemiology.

Desirable: Training in EPI planning, health economics, operational research, data management in EPI-related fields. Professional training in biostatistics and data analysis

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of extensive and practical experience in strengthening immunization programmes at senior level at national and international levels. Excellent field experience in developing comprehensive multiyear plans, EPI operational plans, strengthening immunization programmes in low coverage countries

Desirable: Strong experience in immunization data analysis, interpretation and using data for advocacy, planning and improving programme performance

Skills

1. Excellent knowledge in analysing vaccine preventable diseases and EPI-related data, synthesizing information and presenting clear and concise conclusions and recommendations for decision making

2. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of principles, practices, methodology and techniques of planning of immunization programmes at senior level

3. Excellent capacity for conducting training and advocacy

4. WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Moving forward in a changing environment

Other Skills (e.g., IT)

Good level of computer literacy; the ability to analyse and manage electronic information; and familiarity with eHealth tools including epidemiological and statistical software; excellent writing skills.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: who.int