The Program Officer will support the newly formed Global Implementation team within Vaccine Delivery in linking our immunization goals globally with our efforts in priority geographies. S/he will serve as both the primary focal point within the Vaccine Delivery for the foundation country offices in Africa as well as provide support, advice, and assistance on 1-2 key immunization technical areas. S/he will be responsible for bringing global perspectives into local implementation conversations while also helping to bring local lessons into global policy and program discussions. S/he will be expected to develop effective relationships with in-country staff from the foundation as well as key immunization-related partner organizations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Vaccine Delivery’s engagement with the evolving country office structures and help develop realistic outcomes and resourcing plans
- Advocate for and support the immunization goals within the country offices and identify country team needs to reach those goals
- Provide guidance, support, and feedback to country teams on grants or engagements that will help countries to achieve their immunization outcomes
- Provide perspectives and share knowledge of international policies, processes, or structures to country teams as they relate to immunization (e.g. Gavi political or technical working groups, policy changes, WHO HQ structures, etc.)
- Support efforts to integrate Vaccine Delivery goals with broader health system strengthening, cross-sector or integrated program approaches
- Bring global lessons learned, best practices, testing opportunities to countries and share examples from countries that could be adopted globally
- Stay abreast of developments with the country operating models and use good judgement to surface issues in a timely manner to Vaccine Delivery leadership
Qualifications
- 8-12 years overall experience in a health-related field required with at least five years spent working on health in developing countries
- Strong base of knowledge gained through in-country experience of health program delivery especially through the public sector -- immunization program experience a huge benefit
- Familiarity with global health organizations such as Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO highly advantageous. Immunization and vaccine knowledge strongly desired.
- Ability to work on at least one of key immunization technical areas such as supply chain, financing, data use, community engagement, etc.
- Proven history of learning quickly and being able to master new issues and technical areas quickly. Comfort with and proven ability to work with technical counterparts at global and local level.
- Experience in complex organizations and/or complex working environments
- History of being able to influence peers and teams laterally and to move groups towards a common objective without direct line authority
- Skilled communicator with ability to prioritize multiple projects and efforts simultaneously. Highly-organized and efficient.
- Demonstrated initiative to solve unstructured problems with limited oversight, high energy, and persistence. Not afraid to explore different options for problem solving.
- Ability to develop solid working relationships at high levels quickly and strong evidence of success in effective working relationships even in complex environments
- Very strong representational skills. Able to operate with senior colleagues internally and externally with ease.
- Superior oral and skilled written communication skills will be necessary for success in this role
- Experience in developing countries required