Batch recruitment (4 positions) - Vaccine Management and Cold Chain Logistic Specialist (Kinshasa, Kalemie, Lubumbashi, Kindu/based in Kinshasa), TA, P3, DRC (11 months)

UNICEF is looking for committed professionals willing to engage in the challenging and rewarding work of advocating for children's rights, helping to meet their basic needs and expanding their opportunities to reach their full potential.

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

UNICEF works in the Democratic Republic of Congo to help the most vulnerable children, including access to quality health services, nutrition, water and education, and to grow up protected from violence and exploitation, wherever they are and wherever they live.

How can you make a difference?

The main objective of the health specialists in logistics and cold chain is to support the identified provinces in the capitalization of the acquired knowledge, the transfer of competence in systematic immunization, the preparation and implementation of the logistical activities of polio and other epidemic responses. All these activities will be carried out with the aim of strengthening EPI vaccine management in an integrated manner.

• Collaborate with partner teams from the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, BMGF and other partners at provincial and health zone level
• Coordination of activities and implementation of strategies for routine immunization, immunization campaign, epidemiological surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases and other diseases with epidemic potential.
• Strengthening the capacities of the health zone management team in the planning and implementation of routine health/immunization activities and epidemiological surveillance.
• Support the training and supervision of actors involved in routine immunization vaccine management (nVPO2, bOPV, RR, yellow fever, COVID 19, Ebola, etc)
• Ensure the preventive maintenance of the cold chain systems and provide technical advice/assistance.
• Support the updating of cold chain equipment inventories before campaigns (Polio and others)
• Contribute to the improvement of vaccine management before, during and after polio and other campaigns.
• Support the collection of usable and unusable vials after the campaign and the elaboration of vaccine management report (Form A)
• Support the destruction of unused vials and elaboration of report,
• Monitor the storage and distribution of routine and campaign vaccines at the required temperatures in accordance with standards.
• Monitor the storage and of other UNICEF supplies (wash, nutrition, education, health etc…)
• Carry out field visits for formative supervision.
• Ensure the coordination of Independent Vaccine Management Monitoring (IVMM) activities (training of supervisors, coordinators and monitors, supervision, compilation of monitoring data and transmission of reports...)
• Supervise the national consultants deployed in the health zones, monitor and report the performance indicators of the antennas in systematic immunization and during the immunization campaigns.Take corrective actions to optimize the results.

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

• Minimum Advanced University Degree in Medicine or Pharmacy, Master’s with a specialization (immunization, health supply chain, epidemiology), in public health, health supply chain or equivalent field.

• At least 5 years vaccine/cold chain management, experience in public health/immunization, and other health emergencies in developing countries.

• Proven experience in coordinating and managing field teams in the GPEI and other accelerated vaccine-preventable disease initiatives.

• Proven experience in integrated approach (Health, nutrition, wash, SBC, protection)

• Experience in routine immunization and campaigns, experience with mOPV2 and nOPV2 campaigns in developing countries.

• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or international organizations is considered as an asset.

• Fluency in French and good Knowledge in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

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

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.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

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