Senior Specialist, Executive Office

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together implementing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than 888 million children and the prevention of more than 15 million future deaths. 

THE ROLE
The Senior Specialist, Operations, Executive Office is an important member of the Executive Office team, serving as a key advisor and support to the COO and the CEO as needed. 2023 is a pivotal year for Gavi as it works to safeguard routine immunisation and scale its reach to zero-dose children and missed communities, while continuing to fight the COVI-19 pandemic and integrate COVID-19 vaccination into its core programming. Delivering on this aspiration will require innovation and continuous operational improvement. The Senior Specialist will leverage their deep understanding of the organization and work with the COO to evolve Gavi processes toward achieving and maintaining operational excellence. 
 

The Senior Specialist, Operations, as a central member of the EO team, and working with business teams, will:

•    Support to COO in driving Operational Effectiveness (OE) initiatives across the Secretariat. Innovate-Integrate-Improve. The portfolio will evolve over time, but initial projects will include a) revision of budgeting process and transparency on resource deployment, b) back integration of COVAX into Gavi core, c) EVOLVE project, d) Change Management & Communication, and e) Culture evolution;
•    Lead, on behalf of the Executive Office, all OE engagements across the enterprise’s finance and budget operations processes; 
•    Serve as internal ambassador for OE projects, developing productive relationships with key leadership to support organisational growth;
•    Oversee change management operations on behalf of the COO, working across the EO and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment; 
•    Provide strategic advice to the CEO and COO on cross-cutting business functions drawing connections to the critical and related programmatic topics, serving as a sounding board 
•    Prepare high-quality presentations and briefing materials for use by CEO and COO including for priority engagements with Gavi’s Board and Committees;
•    Lead strategic planning on behalf of the Executive Office for all Audit and Finance Committee meetings; 
•    Member of the COO Leadership Team and integral engagement with Enterprise PMO, ensuring rigorous follow up and tracking of high priority or sensitive issues; 
•    Oversee research and strategic analysis to support OE decision-making;
•    Help ensure robust cross-EO information-sharing and alignment, including through improving knowledge management and operational processes; and
•    Conduct special projects and additional duties, including backing up other members of EO team as required.

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs.
 

•    Minimum of 10 years of progressive professional experience, with a minimum of 3 years’ experience of managing multiple projects within a fast-moving and complex environment; 
•    Proven track record working closely as a trusted support to C-suite level executives;
•    Excellent quantitative and analytical skills with ability to use data; 
•    Proven track record of strategic analysis and project management, including for executive leadership;
•    Excellent experience in global public health and immunisation;
•    Experience of working within a multi-cultural environment.
 

•    Deep understanding of Gavi’s business processes;
•    Demonstrated success in driving process improvement and operational effectiveness; 
•    Finely honed interpersonal skills to ensure effective change management approach fitting to the organisation’s needs; 
•    Detail-oriented, while also able to develop strategic perspective;
•    Strategic thinker with proven ability to prioritise and frame key issues for executive-level decision makers; 
•    Distinctive written and oral communication skills in English, including ability to structure and synthesise complex issues;
•    Fast learner with ability to multitask effectively while maintaining their sense of humour; 
•    Organised, pro-active and pragmatic with excellent process management skills;
•    Ability to prioritise and work under pressure and to deadlines; 
•    High degree of flexibility and team-oriented, willing to adapt to new priorities and jump in as needed;
•    Demonstrated ability to work in a team and in a multicultural environment, while also being able to operate autonomously;
•    Ability to develop compelling presentations;
•    Tactful and discrete.
 

•    Fluency in written and spoken English;
•    Fluency in French highly desirable;
•    Knowledge of additional languages an asset. 
 

•    University degree in a STEM-related field, public health, public administration, development or similar;
•    Advanced degree preferable.
 

•    All Secretariat teams;
•    Alliance Governance bodies;
•    Alliance partner organisations (e.g., WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation);
•    Developing and donor country governments;
•    Media.
 

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Senior Specialist, Executive Office” Deadline for applications is 1st November 2022. 

Please note that as a vaccine organisation and in order to provide duty of care towards its employees, Gavi is requiring its new employees to confirm that they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition for pursuing employment with us. You can find out more by visiting this link.              

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In support of Gavi’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, we hire globally and welcome applications regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, family status, sex, gender identity or expression, physical characteristics, race, religion, spirituality or sexual orientation. Gavi has zero tolerance towards sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse as well as any form of discrimination or harassment. Everyone at Gavi is expected to conduct themselves with integrity and respect towards each other. Gavi is committed to creating a work environment that is safe and professional, therefore all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference checks. Read more here.

Gavi brings together the public and private sectors to save lives and protect people’s health by increasing equitable and sustainable use of vaccines against 18 infectious diseases. You will be joining an organisation at the centre of the international COVID-19 response, at the most critical time in global health in a lifetime. You will work in a culturally diverse environment with over 70 nationalities. You will collaborate with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank – and from business, civil society and government. And you will work in the first global health organisation to receive equal gender salary certification. Your unique experience, skills and talents can help us achieve our vision of leaving no one behind without the life-saving power of vaccines.