The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries, while strengthening the capabilities of governments and the private sector in those countries to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance. For more information, please visit: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

There is an unprecedented wave of new vaccines expected to become available within the next decade that could transform the global burden of disease, and CHAI is applying the techniques it has used successfully to improve access to HIV/AIDS and malaria treatment in LMICs to achieve the same for vaccines and cold chain equipment.

To retain their potency, most vaccines must be stored and transported at temperature between 2-8 degrees C. This necessitates the deployment and maintenance of a well-functioning refrigerated supply chain or “cold chain”. Efforts to rehabilitate and expand the cold chain and supporting services are currently underway, particularly through the Cold Chain Equipment Optimization Platform (CCEOP) a $250 million financing mechanism funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

By working with key stakeholders, the CHAI Global Vaccine Markets program aims to improve vaccine cold chains to increase the availability, accessibility and potency of vaccines, thereby increasing value for money and enabling accelerated introduction and delivery of new vaccines in LMICs. CHAI’s current work focuses on approaches to increase long-term functionality of vaccine refrigerators and improved sustainability and affordability of total cost of ownership for cold chain equipment (CCE) through a combination of more robust product design, improved in-country operations & maintenance and CCE market shaping.

Selected news and publications about CHAI’s work on improving access to vaccines:

Transforming cold chain performance and management in lower-income countries. Mike Brison and Yann LeTallec (CHAI Vaccines). Vaccine, April 2017: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X16311380

Gavi Cold Chain Equipment Optimization (CCEOP) Technology Guide, February 2016: https://www.gavi.org/library/publications/gavi/cold-chain-equipment-technology-guide/

New vaccine carrier dramatically reduces freezing during vaccine transport. April 2021: https://www.clintonhealthaccess.org/revolutionary-vaccine-carrier-technology-dramatically-reduces-unwanted-freezing-during-vaccine-transport/

To support this work, CHAI is looking to hire an Associate for the Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) team to contribute to achieving objectives related to the adoption of affordable, optimal cold chain equipment and supporting services.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with outstanding analytical ability, communication skills, academic credentials, and professional experience. The successful candidate will adhere to the core CHAI values of resourcefulness, entrepreneurialism, flexibility, independence, humility, and work ethic. The Associate’s role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities focused on the team’s key objectives:

Team objective 1: increase affordability and sustainability of total cost of ownership (TCO) for CCE.

• Market-facing responsibilities:
  • Equipment suppliers – support the Senior Associate to manage relationships with a set of high-potential (“Tier 1”) CCE suppliers; closely collaborate with and support suppliers with achieving high-quality, affordable yet sustainably priced service capabilities in partnership with local in-country service providers.
  • Service providers – support the team to evaluate the potential for in-country service providers to offer high-quality, affordable services to refrigerator manufacturers and governments.
• Country-facing responsibilities:
  • Support CHAI Country Teams with information and updates on high-potential products, services, and prices for different use case contexts.
• Global partner-facing responsibilities:
  • Global partners – support the team to collaborate with global partners to scale up innovative interventions to achieve healthy markets for CCE and services.

Team objective 2: Implement an improved system for field monitoring of CCE performance.

• Responsibilities:
  • Support the team in implementing a Post Market Monitoring (PMM) pilot of CCE in Nigeria, Kenya, and Cameroon, with the focus on developing an effective global surveillance system to track how well CCE deployed in the field, are operating over time.
  • Lead relationships with country EPI stakeholders, local service providers, and equipment manufacturers to utilize analyze, manage, and disseminate cold chain performance trends to global partners.

Team objective 3: Support the team to scope new workstream areas.

• Responsibilities:
  • Strategize with the team to assess the viability of emerging workstream for engagements., which could include, but is not limited to Green Cold Chain Markets, Health Facility Solar Electrification, Integrated Maintenance, etc.
  • Conduct qualitative/quantitative research and synthesize evidence into presentations and actionable proposals for a broad range of audience engagement. Country (e.g., Ministries of Health) and global (e.g., donors, policy makers)
  • Act as a key point of contact in-country for any discussions related to emerging cold chain markets work (e.g., engagements with country teams, EPI partner(s) and/or other global partners)

Other:

• Support the team with the operational planning and project management of an ongoing voltage stabilizer field evaluation in Cameroon.
• Support the team in the preparation of presentations, reports, and other analyses to inform global policy and increase the evidence base for high-impact interventions.

• Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree with strong academic performance required and a minimum 3 years of work experience in a role that demonstrates an ability to manage complex projects.
• An ability to quickly understand new technology, business models and strategic plans in a fast paced, results-oriented work environment. (e.g., innovation or process planning, design, and implementation) is a must for this position.
• Familiarity and comfort with commercial aspects of product development, project management and service provision
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills, including qualitative and quantitative data (e.g., business case, and health impact analyses)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; the ability to explain complex technical jargon in ways that are more easily understandable across multiple audiences, countries, and cultures.
• Cross-cultural empathy and sensitivity; the genuine desire to build close and productive working relationships with people from different cultures and geographies
• Entrepreneurial mindset, including the ability to work self-motivated in a dynamic environment with a steep learning curve and handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to travel extensively (at least 30% of the time) to focus countries and other locations as needed for work (for in-country support, global working groups, conferences, etc.)

Advantages:

• Experience in vaccines, refrigeration, solar power, and/or global health.
• Experience in project management, engineering, logistics, and/or supply chain
• Experience working in management, public health, international development, and other relevant fields.
• Experience living/working in low- or middle-income countries and having an established network in these locations, notably in Sub-Saharan Africa, including knowledge of/experience working with government(s) and partner agencies.
• Experience working remotely and across multiple time zones.

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