Senior Adviser Health – New Vaccines, Platforms and Integrated Delivery (P-5), PG Health – Immunization, Geneva Switzerland (co-located in Gavi) # 00115302

Senior Health Advisor (New Vaccines, Platforms and Integrated Delivery) will manage and lead a team that is responsible for new vaccine introductions (including HPV, Malaria, Hepatitis B, Hexa, and other vaccines in the pipeline), scaling up strategies that improve uptake of underutilized vaccines, optimization of national vaccine product and programme portfolio in the context of life-course approach, integration and the strengthening of immunization touch-points within and through the Primary Health Care.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, … good health….

The immunization team at UNICEF-HQ sits within the health section in the Programme group. It works with its regional and country offices to deliver on the mission of reaching every child. It is responsible for planning, prioritizing and determining UNICEF’s programmatic support in immunization. The overarching goal of this team is to achieve equitable access to vaccination services with an emphasis on under-served settings and countries. The team works with other partners to advance UNICEF’s mission and collaborate with like-minded entities to enable countries build strong immunization programmes that thrive on functional primary health care. Our focus areas include supporting countries to develop their immunization strategies and policies, strengthen immunization supply chains, promote vaccine confidence and advocate for sustainable financing of immunization. UNICEF also supports countries to prepare for and timely respond to outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics.

In the effort to advance equitable access to immunization, UNICEF works with partners to support Introduction of new and under-utilized vaccines, build new vaccine delivery platforms, strengthen life-course vaccination and integrate immunization within primary health care. The unit responsible for this function is the new vaccines, platforms and integrated delivery unit in the immunization team. We are looking for a senior health adviser to lead this unit.

This position will be co-located with Gavi, the vaccine alliance in the Global health campus in Geneva, along with other UNICEF colleagues. This enables close working relationship with the Gavi secretariat to harmonize and synergize the support to regions and countries.

How can you make a difference?

Senior Health Advisor (New Vaccines, Platforms and Integrated Delivery) will manage and lead a team that is responsible for new vaccine introductions (including HPV, Malaria, Hepatitis B, Hexa, and other vaccines in the pipeline), scaling up strategies that improve uptake of underutilized vaccines, optimization of national vaccine product and programme portfolio in the context of life-course approach, integration and the strengthening of immunization touch-points within and through the Primary Health Care.

This position will work to strengthen collaboration with partners of similar interest, particularly Gavi’s Vaccines unit and other departments to influence the related policies and enhance their operationalization by leveraging UNICEF’s internal capacities and linkages to other sectors. The position will also be responsible to develop the guidance necessary to enable in-country prioritization of vaccination programmes and provide technical support to establish the decision-making framework in collaboration with other partners.

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

Lead UNICEF’s global support on new vaccine introduction, life course immunization and PHC integration strengthening in collaboration with other UNICEF global, regional and country programme and leadership teams.

• Develop and/or update UNICEF’s strategy and thought leadership related to new vaccine introductions, life course immunization and PHC integration/touchpoint strengthening at global, regional and country level.
• Guide UNICEF’s evidence generation agenda and promote the use of strategic information for advocacy, programming, and performance management.
• Drive the development and implementation of UNICEF advocacy and technical assistance to regional and country offices to improve national and global practices and policies in the area of new vaccine introduction.
• Foster horizontal collaboration across programme teams (Health, Education, Nutrition, WASH, Gender etc), Supply Division, Global Advocacy and Communication, etc.) to ensure new vaccine introduction interventions are leveraged to support other UNICEF vaccine delivery objectives through establishing appropriate mechanisms to ensure cross-fertilization across these objectives.
• Foster collaboration with other UNICEF teams to align strategic activities between new vaccine introductions and other relevant health programmes (e.g. adolescent health and HPV, maternal and newborn health and Hep B, digital health).
• Drive resource mobilisation in line with UNICEF’s strategy, comparative advantage, priorities and capabilities at all levels of the organization (global, regional, country) to increase the effectiveness and impact of UNICEF’s support.

Improve national and global practices and policies related to new vaccine introductions, in collaboration with direct reports and program leadership.

• Serve us a trusted thought leader in new vaccine introduction, adoption of new vaccination platforms and enabling integrated delivery of vaccination and PHC within UNICEF and within the global immunization ecosystem.
• Strengthen and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholders (WHO, Gavi secretariat, Gates Foundation, US-CDC etc.) and foster effective knowledge and partnership exchanges with global partners.
• Effectively coordinate and manage new vaccine introduction activities in line with UNICEF’s roles and responsibilities within Gavi Alliance, and IA2030 ownership and accountability arrangements.
• Disseminate UNICEF’s programmatic insights across global immunization community leveraging existing (eg. IA2030, Gavi, TechNet, EPI manager meetings, WHO hosted meetings, antigen specific global working groups, etc.) and new platforms, and inform global policies, regional and country practices.

Manage the global new vaccines, platforms and delivery team and resources, in collaboration with regional and country programme and leadership teams

• Develop, support and manage a global team of ~3-5 global technical advisors and support staff on the team, to drive team cohesion, effectiveness and engagement across the portfolio.
• Support development of UNICEF program-wide objectives, strategies and milestones regarding new vaccine introductions, scale-up and optimization.
• In collaboration with WHO and Gavi, lead the development and implementation of internal capacity building approaches for regional and country teams to ensure they are equipped with knowledge, competencies and skills to implement new vaccine introduction and scale up.
• Manage UNICEF and donor resources in these areas in collaboration with global, regional and country teams, ensuring effective and efficient use of resources, and timely and quality donor and corporate reporting.
• Assess progress against UNICEF’s program objectives in areas of focus in collaboration with regional, country teams. Ensure robust monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF-supported programmes, capture and dissemination of learning from implementation of UNICEF support.
• Prepare high-quality internal and external briefings, including achievements to date, key risks & opportunities, solutions and action plan going forward.

Provide strategic and programmatic leadership for the design and implementation of work in selected countries to effectively and sustainably optimize new vaccine introductions, strengthen life-course approach and PHC integration in collaboration with UNICEF regional and country teams.

• Oversee global level support in the development and ramp up of new vaccine introduction, life-course immunization, and PHC integration in selected/focus countries identified in consultation with regional offices and other key stakeholders.
• Contribute to the design, planning and implementation of high-impact work with regional and country teams to achieve high and sustainable coverage of new and routine vaccines in focus countries.
• Drive continuous development and effective dissemination and use of programmatic tools, lessons learned, and other know-how related to new vaccine introductions across UNICEF.
• Lead the development and deployment of capacity strengthening approaches and tools for countries, including partners.
• Demonstrate impact and support countries to plan for scale and sustainability of high-impact work, including transition of successful practices to national government leadership.

Provide strategic and programmatic leadership on in-country prioritization and decision making for the introduction of new vaccines and programmatic priorities.

• In partnership with WHO, Gavi secretariat, Gates Foundation and other Alliance partners,
  • Contribute to the development and dissemination within UNICEF of global prioritization frameworks and guidance to support in-country decision making for the introduction of new vaccines.
  • Develop associated communication and capacity building approaches and tools for UNICEF regional and country offices.
• Identify opportunities and collaborate with other teams within PG-Health/Immunization (e.g. immunization financing, supply chain, etc.) to generate epidemiological, economic and programme implementation evidence to support the decision-making process.
• Ensure systematic capture of programmatic experience and other learning from UNICEF support to in-country prioritization and decision-making for new vaccine introduction and advancing immunization coverage and equity.

The following minimum requirements:

• Advanced degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Medicine, Public Health, Pediatrics Health, Health Research, Global/International Health, Health Policy and Management, Environmental Health Sciences, Family Health, Biostatistics, Socio-medical Sciences, Health Education, or Epidemiology or another relevant technical field is required.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively professional experience at national, regional and international levels in designing and managing public health programmes with focus on immunization, new vaccine introduction, integrated delivery and/or Primary Health Care strengthening is required.
• Knowledge of health and immunization landscape and programs is required.
• Experience in stakeholder and partner management in high-stakes global environment is required
• Demonstrated track record of managing people and resources is required
• Extensive experience working with public, private, and/or civil society and experience providing technical assistance to various countries in a variety of contexts and in collaboration with a range of partners and stakeholders is desirable
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is considered 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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

All selected candidates will 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 appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.