Vaccine Management Specialist

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Description

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UNICEF Gaziantep, in collaboration with the Syrian Immunization Group (SIG), has taken the lead to implement COVID-19 response, routine EPI & Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI), Measles and any other campaigns.

To proactively address stock management (COVID-19, polio and RI) challenges and ensure relevant national and subnational authorities have adequate capacity to received, store, distribute and monitor the upcoming major surge in COVID-19 vaccines, UNICEF would like to deploy vaccine management (VM) specialist at national office.

Under the overall supervision of health specialist, the VM specialist will be accountable for the following key deliverables:

• Ensure issues in vaccine management are identified and actively addressed at local level.
• Support revalidation of Supply Chain and Waste Management section of Northwest Syria National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP) for COVID-19.
• Support EOC / SIG / UNICEF to effectively manage the arrivals, storage, temperature monitoring and control during storage and distribution and redistribution, vaccine accountability, disposal and waste management for COVID-19, Polio and routine vaccines.
• Plan, receive, store, deploy and monitor COVID-19 related logistics (CCE, UCC equipment, shippers) including    waste management as per manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Facilitate Syrian Immunization Group (SIG) / EOC to access to up-to-date stock management data including on forecast/actual quantities, stock-on-hand, consumption rates, expiry dates, open and closed vial wastage, critical operational challenges and data use for action.
• Lead the development of monthly vaccine accountability reports at national and subnational levels, including stock receipts, distribution, utilization, and wastage rates.
• Support the deployment or where exist the strengthening of vaccine inventory system to collect data on vaccine arrivals, dispatch, and closed vial wastage. Develop/adopt relevant SOPs and guidelines.
• Support vaccine forecasting, data triangulation of stock, consumption, and coverage at all levels of the supply chain, considering data use barriers and mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate with GAVI, UNICEF office and other implementing partners (NGOs / INGOs) on day-to-day basis for the requirements and allocation of vaccines for NWS.
• Update CCE inventories on quarterly basis. Document and follow-up including UCC maintenance and waste     management plans.
• Support the integration and deployment of vaccine verification systems and organize capacity development events and devise on-the-job training plans for key partners at Gaziantep and inside NWS.
• Support immunization partners to conduct focused evaluations and monitor cold chain performance, particularly in stock management, in accordance with EVM2.0 guidelines. This should be coupled with the iterative development and implementation of improvement plans.
• VM Specialist will work in collaboration with SIG and key stakeholders (WHO, SIG and EPI implementing partners).
• VM specialist will make sure that districts and populations with poor access are identified and utilization of immunization services are mapped.
• VM specialist will also contribute to the COVID-19 & polio vaccination campaign including EPI programme planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Will support the planning and implementation of health system strengthening strategies an activity which increase and sustain EPI performance especially in high focus areas of NW Syria.
• Will provide all donor reports on time, special focus on COVID-19 funding and their utilization reports.
• Will support the development of programme and financial proposals for RI and SIAs (vaccines, operations, cold chain management, staff support).
• Provide technical support in development of micro/macro plan for COVAX, routine EPI and polio campaigns.
• Preparedness for meetings with SIG, WHO and other immunization implementing partners.
• Any other relevant activities in consultation and discussion with the supervisor(s).

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

• University degree is required (Advanced degree an advantage), preferably in relevant field (e.g., business planning, supply chain management, economics, international development studies,
• 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:
•  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
• Experience working with GAVI
• Assessing and measuring supply chain performance
• Experience interfacing with national health NGOs an advantage.
• Working experience in NWS XB context is an asset.

Languages:

• Proficiency in both written and spoken English is required. Familiarity with Arabic language will be considered a significant asset.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/566855

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