Senior Immunization Specialist (Routine Immunization), Nairobi

Closing date: Friday, 22 May 2015

Senior Immunization Specialist (Routine Immunization), P-5, New York, USA
Vacancy No: E-VN-2015-000806
Duty Station: Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Region: NY HQ
Job Level: P-5
Position: 00016789
Application Close: 22-May-15
Contract Type: Long-term Staff (FT)
Purpose of the Position
Under the general guidance of the Senior Immunization Specialist in the Immunization Unit, Health Section, the incumbent will provide technical assistance to regional and country offices primarily in Africa in the design, formulation, management, execution, monitoring and evaluation of routine immunization, ensuring that corresponding plans of action and programme activities are in place to support country programmes in strengthening routine immunization. They will provide support to UNICEF Regional and Country offices and national governments, with a special focus to reach out to and actively engage populations who are socially, politically and economically marginalized from accessing routine immunization services, and other basic health and nutrition packages. In coordination with the HQ and regional colleagues, the post will monitor progress of countries based on regular review of key indicators.
Key Expected Results
1. Equity and immunization analysis and strategy development

• Assists Regional and Country Office teams in the design, planning, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of routine immunization activities including support for formative research and data monitoring to improve country programme delivery. In coordination with HQ immunization colleagues (Communication for Development Immunization Specialist, Cold Chain and Logistic Specialist and Immunization focal points), regional offices, and country offices, provides technical assistance to the governments to identify the unreached populations, map the barriers to access to immunization, and develop focused strategies to immunize every child.

End Result: Countries receive comprehensive technical support for programme implementation in all aspects of evidence-based routine immunization activities including formative research and management and use of routine monitoring data. Priority countries have analyzed and defined communities which are not being reached, the major bottlenecks, and have updated plans.
2. Monitoring and evaluation of equity strategies in immunization

• Undertakes field visits to monitor and evaluate implementation of projects/programme activities, with a special focus on ensuring equity, with effective strategies to reach children of underserved populations with multiple lifesaving interventions. Identifies constraints and suggests solutions to relevant counterparts to improve programme delivery.

End Result: Increase community ownership and engagement in routine immunization including the use of participatory community empowerment approaches, are effectively monitored and evaluated. Corrective measures recommended to regions and countries to improve results.
3. Advocacy for Immunization and equity

• Assist regional and country office teams with mainstreaming strategies to improve immunization equity as part of wider country processes around annual immunization and health sector planning and coordination of this with health partner support, specifically GAVI processes.

End result: Strategies to address immunization equity are included in country immunization plans and are a priority of support from health partners.
4. Documentation of equity strategies in immunization

• Prepares documents and publications that document the lessons learned and experiences gained in immunization-related issues. Findings, experiences, lessons learned, best practices and new methods are systematically captured, analyzed and effectively shared with programme staff at Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices as well as other partners. Other tasks assigned by supervisor.

End Result: Contribution to document lessons learned.
5. Representation

• Represents UNICEF in meetings with government and partners to advocate and promote UNICEF's leadership role in Immunization, coordinating and collaborating with partner agencies through teleconferences and periodic face-to-face meetings in support of joint activities, including resource mobilization.

End Result: UNICEF is an active partner in immunization partnerships. UNICEF's goals and objectives are reflected in the outcome of the various regional immunization meetings and plans, both technical and financial.
Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• Advanced university degree in public health, or a related technical field required.
• Ten years relevant experience in public health programs, of which at least 6-8 years in developing countries.
• Extensive experience in immunization programs especially in strengthening routine immunization or disease specific programs, including in a developing country context.
• Previous work experience in a UN context an asset.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of immunization-related issues with a special focus on strategies to reach out to and actively engage populations who are socially, politically and economically marginalized from accessing routine immunization services and demonstrated capacity of successfully supporting country immunization programs.
• Training skills and experience presenting in conferences/ large meetings.
• Experience in policy development, advocacy and financial/program management.
• Technical expertise in epidemiology, disease control, immunization.
• Peer-reviewed publications on immunization an asset.
• Fluency in English is required (another UN language, i.e.. French is desired)

Competencies of Successful Candidate

• Speaks fluently; expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument clearly;
• makes presentations and undertakes public speaking with skill and confidence; responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback;
• projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience;
• presents information in a well-structured and logical way
• Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others;
• consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well
• Sets high standards for quality and quantity; monitors and maintains quality and productivity; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal/external clients; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm
• Applies specialist and detailed technical expertise; develops job knowledge and expertise (theoretical and practical) through continual professional development; demonstrates an understanding of different organizational departments and functions
• Sets clearly defined objectives; plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances; identifies and organizes resources needed to accomplish tasks; manages time effectively; monitors performance against deadlines and milestones.
• Works strategically to realize organizational goals; sets and develops strategies; identifies, develops positive and compelling visions of the organization's future potential; takes account of a wide range of issues across, and related to, the organization.
• Easily establishes good relationships with customers and staff; builds wide and effective networks of contacts inside and outside the organization; relates well to people at all levels; manages conflict; uses humor appropriately to enhance relationships with others.
• Rapidly learns new tasks and commits information to memory quickly; demonstrates an immediate understanding of newly presented information; gathers comprehensive information to support decision making; encourages an organizational learning approach (i.e. learns from successes and failures and seeks staff and customer feedback).
• Produces new ideas, approaches, or insights; creates innovative ways of designing projects or outputs in own work area; produces a range of solutions to problems

Remarks
Position is out-posted to Eastern and Southern African Region (Nairobi)
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

More information and application details