Temporary Appointment: Health Specialist (Vaccine Management) Polio Outbreak Response, P-3 Geneva Switzerland (6 months) #111381

Under the general guidance of the Vaccine Management Specialist in the Geneva based Polio Outbreak response team and in collaboration with regional and country management, the incumbent will be working as a member of the polio rapid response team (RRT) and S/he will be deployed to polio outbreak countries, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s outbreak response standard operating procedures and relevant technical guidelines. The incumbent will be responsible for planning, managing, monitoring and evaluating cold chain logistics and vaccine management activities in support of the country programmes, with a specific focus on Monovalent Oral Poliovirus Type 2 (mOPV2) use under containment procedures. The team member will also support Global Polio Eradication Initiative's (GPEI) outbreak response assessments and technical support missions based on need.

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, a future

The expertise and leadership of this temporary appointment will significantly improve the GPEI’s efforts on eradication and the overall UNICEF child survival and development agenda across outbreak affected countries and regions. The efficacy and efficiency of the support provided by the position in terms of logistics, cold chain and vaccine management will assure usage of high quality vaccines with minimized commodity losses and vaccine wastage.

This will ultimately contribute to enhancing the leadership, credibility and ability of UNICEF in immunization in general and polio eradication as critical components of its efforts in improving child survival and development.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

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 programme 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 a 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 mOPV2 supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and GPEI partners to ensure compliance with procedures, such as:

1. the end of each cycle, all open and unusable mOPV2 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;
2. 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 Situation Reports (SITREPS) and bulletins.
• Prepare reports according to GPEI requirements.
• Support outbreak response assessment teams Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRAs) with information related to vaccine management, logistics and the cold chain.

3. Technical and operational support

• Collaborate with UNICEF programme 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 to prepare 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 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 programmes/projects including in humanitarian settings.

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

1. Education

Master’s degree in logistics management, supply chain, health logistics or other health-related fields (pharmacy, engineer). At least two years of additional relevant work experience in the same field may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.  Additional training in Logistics, Cold Chain or related areas is an asset.

2. Work Experiences

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience at national and international level in EPI logistics management (Cold Chain, Vaccine Management, Waste Management), vaccination campaign logistics management.
• 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.
• Field experience of mOPV2 management will be an asset

3. Language

Fluency in both English and French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are:

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication (II)
• Working with people (II)
• Drive for results (II)

Functional Competencies

• Planning and Organizing (II)
• Formulating strategies/concepts (II)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Persuading and influencing (II)
• Applying technical expertise (III)
• Analyzing (III)

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

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