Vaccine Centre's (VC) at UNICEF Supply Division work in the iMCM pandemic preparedness partnership with WHO, Gavi and CEPI is continuing, while the response to the Mpox outbreak is requiring resources from VC and SD overall. The consultant provides analytical and partnership support to both VC's collaboration in the iMCM partnerships in addition to coordinating and participating in ACDC, WHO and Gavi meetings and fora. The consultant will also support VC in the Vaccine Stockpiling Project.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to life

The Vaccine Centre (VC), located within Supply Division (SD), continues its engagement in the iMCM pandemic preparedness partnership with WHO, Gavi, CEPI, and regional entities. At the same time, the ongoing response to the Mpox outbreak is placing additional resource demands on both the VC and SD overall. The Pandemic and Outbreak Coordination and Management Support Consultant will provide analytical and partnership support to both VC's collaboration in the iMCM partnership in addition to coordinating and participating in ACDC, WHO and Gavi meetings and fora. The consultant will be supporting the establishment of a closer collaboration between UNICEF Divisions i.e. Supply Division, PG Immunization and Public Health Emergencies in the area of pandemic preparedness. The consultant also supporting VCs efforts in bringing the Vaccine Stockpiling project to conclusion.

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will support VC in three areas of work related to pandemic and novel disease preparedness and response; coordinating preparedness and response with UNICEF Divisions, coordinating with partners, and provide VC surge support for Mpox response coordination. Under the consultancy manager supervison, the consultant will be responsable of the deliverables:

1. Pandemic preparedness and vaccine preventable novel disease outbreak response coordination (30% - 33 days)      

• Support VC’s link to UNICEF’s overall pandemic preparedness and response work, for stronger integration of SD/VC into discussion, analysis and follow-up of early outbreak signals (e.g. through participation in the daily signals meeting and participation in the preparation of a respiratory disease SIMEX)

• Contribute to UNICEF meetings as applicable to strengthen coordination and information sharing for pandemic preparedness and support proactive and targeted engagement of VC with UNICEF RO and CO in early outbreak response preparation, including on country readiness, demand planning, vaccine and ancillary pipeline. 

• Manage VC’s link into the iMCM partners group, including participation in working sessions, simulation exercises, the preparation of management and leadership meetings, and the management of supply-related preparedness activities as part of the partnership work plan. 

• For a set of defined priority diseases and in coordination with relevant counterparts in UNICEF SD, across UNICEF and with key partners (Gavi, CEPI, WHO), maintain an overview of UNICEF SD readiness status to respond, and track key actions required to strengthen preparedness. 

• Support coordination of UNICEF contributions to triggers identification and alignment for supply-related aspects; coordinate with focal points in UNICEF Programme Group for end-to-end alignment and for proactive identification of areas of overlap or interdependency, including through UNICEF or partners’ SIMEX exercises.

2. Support to Vaccine Centre Vaccine Stockpiling Project (40% - 44 days)

• Support information gathering through desktop reviews and interviews with internal and external stakeholders and informants.

• Support project management, sequencing of fact finding and analytical work.

• Analytical support to identify knowledge gaps, risks and mitigation identification.

• Support the drafting of intermediate deliverables and recommendations and management’s basis for decision making.

• Drafting of check list for future business case development.

3. Pandemic and outbreak response coordination (30% - 33 days)

• In case of a novel vaccine response to an outbreak (e.g. Mpox), provide surge support and support the coordination across UNICEF teams and ensure timely coordination through the infectious disease outbreak response cell. 

The consultant is expected to travel to Geneva and Copenhagen as needed during contract period, approximately every 2 months, e.g. 6 times. The travel will be to attend face-to-face XVAX and iMCM partners meetings and for working meetings with VC and wider SD stakeholders. The estimated travel costs will be discussed with the contract manager at the appropriate time.

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

Requirements:

  • Education: Advanced degree in one of the following fields: development, economics, business, or management

  • Work Experience: At least 6 years of relevant work experience in project management, including demonstrated involvement in
    COVID-19/ public health emergency response, preferably related to access to health products in a UN agency or a partner (Gavi, the Global Fund, Gates Foundation, or a global health strategy consultancy). Operational and strategic experience is particularly desired.

  • Skills:  

- Experience in managing complex, multi‑stakeholder partnerships in the global health sector.
- Experience conducting analysis of emergency operational processes in a large international organization.
- Strong ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and develop consensus‑driven, technically sound outputs.
- Knowledge of the global COVID‑19 response and key lessons learned.
- Experience working in international contexts and collaborating effectively with diverse colleagues

  • Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

  1. Cover letter/application.
  2. All-inclusive fee for this consultancy (financial proposal).
  3. At least 3 Reference contacts.
  4. A copy of your highest diploma.

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

The 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 

[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.