Roster for Vaccine Management Specialist Consultants

UNICEF is working in close coordination with national counterparts and global partners to address these challenges. As part of these efforts, UNICEF is deploying Vaccine Management Specialists (VMS) in high impact countries. The VMS are expected to support country capacity development initiatives, improve in-country distribution planning, expand subnational stock visibility, promote the use of data in planning and decision making and transfer skills especially at subnational levels.

This call for applications is to expand the existing pool of experts and enable rapid deployment when and where required:

• Under the direct supervision of the chief of health/Supply or their designate, and in close coordination with the HQ and regional immunization supply chain (iSC) teams, the Vaccine Management Specialist (VMS) will work with the NLWGs/EPIs/MOPH and their sub-national counterparts to
• Expand subnational stock visibility to at least the lowest distribution (LD) points.
• Ensure issues in vaccine management are identified and actively addressed at local levels. Review the Min-Max-Reorder/Push-Pull protocols, document compliance and identify bottlenecks in its implementation.
• Support NLWG/EPI to effectively manage the arrival, cold chain storage, temperature monitoring, distribution and redistribution, expiry and waste management across all supply chain levels.
• Review and update stock management SOPs, guidelines, job aids, manuals and vaccine accountability frameworks.
• Identify, address and share causes of stock risky situations and their mitigation.
• Ensure NLWG/EPI has access to the latest supply chain data (forecasted demand, pipeline, allocations, stock movement, wastage, adjustments) at all times.
• Support countries with targeted assessment and monitoring of iSC performance, especially with stock management, per EVM2.0 guidelines and iterative development and implementation of improvement plans within a cycle of continuous improvement.
• Institutionalize Thrive360 at the NLWGs, provide regular orientations on its use and demonstrate how it could improve distribution, reduce stock risky situations and enhance vaccine availability. Ensure monthly vaccine stock reports (antigens in EPI routine schedule, SIA, BCU and new vaccine introduction) are collected, quality assured, signed by NLWGs/EPI and submitted to regional offices and HQ.
• Develop, review transition and sustainability plans and get it agreed by UNICEF and government counterparts.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in  Medicine, Public health, Epidemiology, supply chain management procurement, logistics, international development studies.
• Applicable work experience can substitute in case where university degree is not aligned to a relevant field.
• At least (8) years of experience in international public health programme management including at least three (3) years in immunization, with experience in low- and middle-income countries, preferably in the areas of:
• Immunization programmes
• Logistics management systems
• Supply chain bottleneck and root cause analysis
• Familiarity with inventory policies, allocation, ordering and distribution strategies and other supply chain operations
• Health systems strengthening
• Assessing and measuring supply chain performance
• Experience interfacing with national ministries of health an advantage.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• Proven experience in strategic negotiations and planning in multi-stakeholder settings
• Experience in writing complex strategic proposals,
• Experience in developing multi-year operational plans
• Experience in training, planning and delivery of technical assistance
• Effective presenter including ability to adapt the message and visual aids for multiple audiences to deliver concise, impactful presentations
• Knowledge of supply chain management and operations
• Excellent analysis skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Proven track record in interfacing with national ministries of health a distinct advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/580134