Senior Programme Manager, Malaria Vaccine Programme

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 1 billion children and the prevention of more than 17.3 million future deaths.

The Vaccine Programmes team provides oversight and technical expertise to design and manage each of Gavi’s supported vaccine programmes that currently covers 19 infectious diseases.  As vaccine and disease subject matter experts, the team supports the introduction of new vaccines through routine immunization, preventive and outbreak response campaigns as well as the strengthening of country diagnostic capacity to improve immunisation programme effectiveness, efficiency, and equity. Vaccine Programmes is the Secretariat team responsible for coordinating with global vaccine preventable disease-specific initiatives and works with Secretariat teams and Alliance stakeholders to ensure better prioritization and optimization of available vaccine products, presentations or schedules most appropriate for specific country contexts.

The Senior Programme Manager, Malaria Vaccine Programme will manage the day-to-day activities associated with the malaria vaccine programme design and implementation including application requirements and guidelines development, vaccine allocation, prioritization and optimization, operational demand and budget forecasting, coordination of technical assistance and support for country applications and vaccine implementation.  This will entail the integration with overall essential immunization programmes including optimal coordination with other malaria prevention and control initiatives, e.g., work of the Global Fund, WHO and UNICEF. The Senior Programme Manager, Malaria Vaccine Programme will bring extensive knowledge and expertise of the functioning of immunization systems and vaccine delivery and the network of partners who support national immunization programmes to proactively identify and address implementation issues through effective communication, facilitation and coordination with Secretariat teams and Alliance partners and countries. The position will also work closely on cross-sectoral priorities including integration and sustainability, quality and coverage improvement and the zero-dose agenda.

•Under the direction of the Head, Malaria Vaccine Programmes, provide strategic and technical leadership to the malaria vaccine programme team and efforts to accelerate and scale-up the introduction and integration of malaria vaccines under Strategic Goal 1 of Gavi’s 2021-2025 strategy and beyond;

•Design, manage and implement Gavi’s malaria vaccines programme, including updating of programme requirements and application materials, engagement of stakeholders internally and externally, and effective delivery of the programme in the context of broader malaria prevention and control interventions;

•Provide programmatic and technical guidance to Secretariat, Alliance Stakeholders and priority countries on Gavi’s malaria vaccine application requirements, implementation and coordination with other global malaria prevention initiatives;

•Coordinate across Secretariat and partners to ensure alignment on Gavi processes and policies related to new malaria vaccine applications, monitoring, reporting and learning agenda priorities including market shaping and integration;

•Contribute to the strategic discussions for the malaria vaccine programme with internal and external stakeholders, including participation in the Malaria Vaccine Coordination Team (MVCT), to ensure achievement of Gavi 5.1 strategic goals and objectives pertaining to routine immunisation strengthening, integration and life-course vaccination;

•Communicate programme progress and challenges as well as potential mitigation measures to Secretariat and Alliance partner leadership.

•University degree in Medicine, Biological Sciences, Public Health, Epidemiology, Development or related fields; Masters degree highly degree;

•Specialization in immunisation, malaria and/or other infectious diseases is desirable.

•Minimum of 8 years of professional experience working in public health at national and international levels with vaccine preventable diseases or other disease control and prevention initiatives is required;

•Experience with planning and implementing new vaccine introductions is desirable;

•Experience working in Gavi-supported countries is required;

•Experience in bilateral and multilateral partnership environments is required;

•Demonstrated successful management experience of situations of considerable complexity and/or political sensitivity is ideal;

•Experience in infectious disease epidemiology is an asset;

•Experience of representational duties at international forums and conferences is a plus.

•Excellent project management and coordination skills;

•Excellent quantitative and analytical skills with economic and social data;

•Strong communication, writing and presentation skills, good inter-personal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and with developing countries;

•Solid knowledge of global health and development in general and vaccines and infectious disease in specific;

•Proven ability to work effectively in a team setting and under pressure with competing priorities;

•Excellent organisation skills and high sense of responsibility, efficiency, reliable and result;

•Good knowledge of institutional or organisation policies, systems and procedures;

•Ability to work successfully in an international and multi-cultural environment;

•Proven ability to effectively manage, motivate and lead teams;

•Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious working relationships, both within and outside the organisation;

•Proven ability to quickly and flexibly adapt to complex environments and provide solutions to complex immunisation financing challenges at country level;

•Demonstrated poise, tact, and diplomacy in pressure situations and ability to maintain confidentiality;

•Advanced command and proficient knowledge of MS Office and related applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.);

•Knowledge of a statistical software package and their application to data analysis, management, tracking, forecasting and monitoring is desirable.

•Fluency in written and spoken English is required;

•Fluency in French is highly desirable;

•Knowledge of languages of Gavi eligible countries is desirable (e.g., Russian, Portuguese).

•Gavi Secretariat;

•Gavi Alliance partners;

•UN, Multilateral & bilateral donor agencies and civil society;

•Developing country governments;

•Global malaria prevention and control community;

•Vaccine Manufacturers.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through Apply button. Deadline for applications is 12th February 2024.

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.