Immunization Services Officers at the World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Immunization Services Officer

Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/16/TA112
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade: P4
Contract type: Temporary appointment
Duration of contract:  Two (2) years
Organization unit: AFRO Africa Regional Office (AF/RGO) / AF/IVD Immunization and Vaccine Development (AF/IVD) AF/FRH
 
Objectives of the Programme

• WHO's global vision for immunization and vaccines is to support all countries to deliver quality immunization services as part of an integrated, people-centered platform of disease prevention that spans the human life-course.
• Within this, the objectives are to achieve the control, elimination or eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases as stated in the Global Vaccine Action Plan, thus contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.
• The delivery of immunization services should happen in concert with other interventions and activities within the national health system.

Description of Duties

1.) Management Capacity
Strategic direction - national immunization policies and work plan:

• Promotes establishment of decision-making bodies at national level to facilitate consensus among national players and their external counterparts.
• Represents the WHO team in EPI technical working groups to provide WHO strategic and policy guidance.
• Supports the development and implementation of strategies and activities within the cMYP and annual EPI plan for strengthening service delivery and surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases.

Project/Programme management:

• Supports the WHO Representative and EPI Team Leader in overall programme coordination and resource management in the routine immunization programme, monitors programme indicators and analyses programmatic and surveillance data for use in programme management.
• Works closely with the national government to support their implementation and evaluation of immunization projects and to ensure a comprehensive approach to health interventions.

2.) Technical Capacity
Developing evidence-based policy recommendations and guidance:

• Conducts analytical studies and implementation research as needed and collaboratively develops guidelines and recommends solutions to programme concerns.
• Encourages the national immunization programme to include regional and global immunization policies and strategies in the Country Cooperation Strategy, through nationally relevant evidence and discussions with the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) and the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG)
• Solicits feedback from national technical experts on global and regional policies to strengthen recommendations made at global and regional level and ensure feasibility of implementation at national level.

Monitoring and using data for analytics:

• Monitors and evaluates national immunization policies and programmes, supporting the national immunization programme to collect, collate, analyse and use high quality data for action.
• Supports the country to investigate opportunities for internal and external information sharing and strengthen the capacity of national authorities to build and sustain national health observatories ensuring immunization data is integrated within.
• Facilitates innovation by promoting new ideas and technologies (including ICT) to make data collection, analysis and use more effective and efficient.

Support to strengthening routine immunization system:

• Provides technical support to improve routine immunization coverage and strengthen routine immunization systems, by designing appropriate regular routine vaccination services though fixed, outreach and mobile sites, and including period intensification of routine immunization, child health days and integrated child health intervention.
• Supports the management skills development of the national immunization programme team through capacity building and training.
• Assists with the development of strategic comprehensive multi-year plans (cMYPs), as well as annual operational work plans, and supports the on-going monitoring of these plans.
• Supports the national government to develop Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) applications to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi).
• Develops and implements a strategy and plan of action to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation system of the immunization programme and to improve the immunization programme at all levels.

Support to establishing and strengthening surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases:

• Implements, monitors and evaluates regional networks for laboratory-based surveillance of diseases preventable by new vaccines, including, bacterial meningitis, other invasive bacterial diseases (bacterial pneumonia and Sepsis) and rotavirus gastroenteritis surveillance.
• Reviews and provides technical support to strengthen vaccine preventable diseases surveillance data and indicators.

Supports accelerated immunization initiative activities and the introduction of new vaccines:

• Reviews, updates and provides technical support and guidance on the implementation of accelerated immunization initiative (AII) activities within the annual EPI plan as well as establishes and implements a system to monitor AII indicators.
• Supports the national government to develop new vaccine applications to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi).
• Develops new vaccine introduction activities within cMYPs and annual EPI plans and necessary guidelines to ensure smooth introduction at national and sub-national levels.

Required Qualifications
Education

Essential:

• University Degree in Medicine or Public Health or related field, and Masters' Degree in Public Health or Epidemiology or other related field from an internationally recognized university.

Desirable:

• Post graduate training in public health or epidemiology.

Verification of Educational qualifications:

• "In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/.
• Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually".

Skills:

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of principles, practices, methodology and techniques of immunization programmes
• Excellent capacity in analysing vaccine-preventable diseases and EPI-related data, synthesizing information and presenting clear and concise conclusions to foster decision-making.
• Excellent understanding of measles and rubella control and elimination strategy and introduction of new vaccines.
• Familiarity with the UN system, including knowledge of WHO country, regional and global functions. Ability to work as a team member, and sensitivity to working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Proficiency in all MS Office applications, spreadsheets and data analysis. Proficiency in epidemiology or statistical software packages would be an asset.

WHO Competencies

• Producing results;
• Communicating in a credible and effective way;
• Fostering integration and teamwork.

Experience
Essential:

• At least 7 years of relevant work experience at the national and international levels in immunization programmes, vaccine preventable diseases surveillance and data management, including demonstrated experience in low-resource environments.
• Demonstrated experience in working with development partners on the development, planning, implementation or monitoring and evaluation of immunization strategies and programmes.
• Proven experience to work to deadlines and budgets, in collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Desirables:

• Extensive training/experience in immunization, surveillance and data interpretation.
• Experience in resource mobilization and policy development.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.

Additional Information

• WHO's salaries are calculated in US dollars.
• They consist of a base salary and a post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station and exchange rates.
• Other benefits include: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, home travel, education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance (Note: to be adjusted to the standard VN for posts in the general service category).

Mobility (for international positions only):

• Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

Annual Salary: (Net of tax):

• USD 69032 at single rate
• USD 74130 with primary dependants

Post Adjustment:

• 47.2 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.
  

Application Closing Date
30th June, 2016.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidate should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• A written test and interviews may be used as a form of screening
• Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database.
• All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.