Vaccine Manufacturing Specialist (AfCDC) at African Union

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Vaccine Manufacturing Specialist (AfCDC) 

Requisition ID: 2894
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reports to: Local manufacturing Coordinator
Directorate/Department: Local Manufacturing of Health Commodities 
Division: Vaccines and Biologicals Manufacturing 
Number of Direct Reports:0
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade: P4
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Fixed Term.

Purpose of Job

• The Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) was established by the African Union in 2021, under the Africa Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) to deliver on the goal of enabling the Africa vaccine manufacturing industry to increase its capacity to meet local demand from its current level of 1% to 60% by 2040.
• To do this, the PAVM will support partnerships in the creation of an environment fully conducive to the emergence of a thriving private sector manufacturing base.
• It will also steward a continental strategy that efficiently maintains both scale and cost- competitiveness and avoids vaccine nationalism when future demand surges emerge on the continent.
• The continental strategy was developed and published as the PAVM Framework for Action (FFA), laying out the key interventions required across 8 bold programs.
• The PAVM will identify the enablers, or absences and shortcomings thereof, of this conducive environment across the continent.
• It will outline possible remedies – whether the expansion of existing programs and initiatives or the provision of new solutions – and set out how to implement them over the next 20 years through the activities of both members and non-member stakeholders. It will play the role of convener, orchestrator, and advocate.
• The PAVM taskforce defined 8 bold programs to support the vaccine manufacturing ecosystem and continental strategy this include regulatory strengthening, market design and demand certainty, access to finance, tech and IP, infrastructure, Research & Development hubs, and talent development. At the 37th African Union Assembly, in February 2024, the mandate of Africa CDC was expanded to include the manufacturing therapeutics, and diagnostics, and other health products.
• Thus, PAVM has transitioned into Platform for Harmonized African Health products Manufacturing (PHAHM).
• Africa CDC  is seeking to recruit a Vaccine Manufacturing Specialist to support the work on developing and implementing a strategic approach to support vaccine manufacturing in Africa.

Main Functions
This job involves the following main functions that are generally applicable for this category:

• Provide technical expertise on vaccine or pharmaceuticals manufacturing in the areas of technology transfer & intellectual property, regulatory, R&D and manufacturing talent development.
• Ensure that the PHAHM activities are implemented in a coordinated manner across the different PAVM Bold Programmes. 
• Ensure smooth coordination of PHAHM activities with other Africa CDC divisions, where relevant (ex: with Research and Development team)
• Facilitate the coordination of partners and stakeholders across Bold Programmes.
• Support the work of the Talent Development bold program.

Specific Responsibilities

• Facilitate programme management, especially by ensuring that the operational plans of bold programmes are linked and contribute to achieving interim milestones and objectives.
• Report on implementation progress to PHAHM leadership and stakeholders
• Foster and take lead in activities related to coordinating PHAHM vaccine manufacturing activities on the African continent.
• Ensure that PHAHM activities are contributing to the overall Africa CDC’s agenda.
• Provide technical advice to vaccine manufacturers, Member States and National Regulatory Authorities as needed.
• Identify synergies and collaboration across PHAHM’s bold programs.
• Review, evaluate papers, concepts and proposals related to vaccine manufacturing.
• Provide training on manufacturing as needed.
• Coordinate the drafting of key documents (e.g., presentations, technical design document, proposals, briefing notes, and progress monitoring) for internal and external meetings and publications.
• Represent PHAHM and Africa CDC and the vision for local manufacturing at continental and international vaccine conferences and events, as needed.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with members states, manufacturers, international organizations, and other partners, which will support the strategic and operational priorities of Africa CDC.
• Build and maintain effective and action-oriented partnerships with the private sector, especially manufacturing companies, and donors.
• Contribute to resource mobilization from donors, and partners for the implementation of PHAHM bold programs.
• Identify best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to resource mobilization and partnerships.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Masters Degree in Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Sciences, or related field, and 10 years of relevant experience across areas of vaccine manufacturing, vaccine market analysis, technology transfers, regulatory frameworks, or any other relevant topic and OR Bachelor degree in Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Sciences, or related field, and 12 years of relevant experience across areas of vaccine manufacturing, vaccine market analysis, technology transfers, regulatory frameworks, or any other relevant topic 
• A Ph.D will be an added advantage.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of the African manufacturing sector ecosystem.
• Sound understanding of the health product manufacturing industry, including regulatory frameworks, technology transfers and  talent development and market shaping.
• Familiarity with fostering a network of regional entities to assist vaccine production.
• Good knowledge of proactive multi-actor partnership building / coordination and knowledge management / sharing.
• Excellent technical writing skills, and skills in translating highly technical information into presentations, briefings and report and funding proposals for both technical and high-level audiences.
• Demonstrated programme management skills.
• High level of autonomy, self-motivation and strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills with pragmatic approach.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills and ethical standards.
• Excellent computer skills, including word-processing capabilities, proficiency with e-mail and internet applications, experience in using office software applications such as MS Excel, Power Point and Word.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrable experience in consulting and practical experience in vaccine manufacturing, biological manufacturing and or pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Demonstrable technical expertise and experience in the development of policies, processes, technology transfers, regulatory frameworks, within the vaccine or pharmaceutical sector.
• Coordination and management abilities and experience. Being pro-active and solutions- oriented with initiative to achieve desired outcomes.
• Ability to apply effective leadership and interpersonal skills through use of strategic thinking, team and project leadership, decision-making skills and personnel development 
• Experience in talent development, training and workshop organization, organizational development and master a leadership culture.
• Proven experience in presenting oral communication in international congresses, conferences, and seminars in the vaccine sector. 
• Work experience in the field in an African country is an asset.

Leadership Competencies:

• Managing Risk
• Change Management
• Developing Others
• Strategic Insight.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship
• Fosters Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation.

Remuneration

• The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 110,951.49 (P4 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 92,867.97 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union.

Tenure of Appointment:

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

Application Closing Date
16th January, 2026; 11:59 PM EAT.

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