Senior Manager, Safe Injection Equipment Devices–COVAX (Temporary ASAP to Dec 22)

Position title: Senior Manager, Safe Injection Equipment Devices–COVAX (Temporary ASAP to Dec 22)

Location: Geneva

Purpose of the position: Demand Forecasting and Supply Planning Management of Safe Injection Equipment.

Department: Finance & Operations

Team: Vaccine Forecasting and Grant Operations

Reports to: Head, Vaccine Forecasting and Grant Operations

N° of positions supervised (if applicable): N/A

Career step level: 4

Duration: ASAP until December 2022

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 888 million children and the prevention of more than 15 million future deaths.

The COVAX Facility (“COVAX”) provides a global solution to the equitable distribution of vaccines to the 190 participating countries and economies. The COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) is an innovative financing instrument that supports the participation of the 92 low and lower-middle income economies in COVAX. Self-financing participants (SFPs) have entered COVAX either as Optional (having the possibility to opt-out of a particular vaccine) or Committed Purchasers. Guided by the WHO fair allocation framework, COVAX will equitably distribute doses to help protect the most at-risk groups. Gavi is working with Alliance partners UNICEF and WHO to ensure that the infrastructure is in place, and the technical support available, for COVID-19 vaccines to be safely delivered to all those who need them.

THE ROLE

The Senior Manager, Safe Injection Equipment is the COVAX focal point for demand forecasting and supply planning necessary to ensure safe injection equipment (SIE) flow smoothly and rapidly through various processes to countries. SIE devices, including auto-disable syringes, re-use prevention syringes, and safety boxes, are a critical component of immunisation programmes. The key objective of this role is to ensure that a sufficient quantity of SIE is available in countries to enable the administration of COVID-19 and other Gavi supported vaccines. In scenarios of insufficient supply, the Senior Manager will support decision-making on shorter-term mitigation options and facilitate consideration of longer-term solutions. The Senior Manager will work closely with his or her counterparts at UNICEF and is an integral member of the COVAX Operationalisation SWAT team, which is the primary body for operational decision-making at the COVAX pillar level. The SWAT team is responsible for all operational decisions following agreed COVAX processes and requiring cross-workstream collaboration and addresses resolution of all operational topics that affect single products and a majority of cross-product issues.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Manager, Safe Injection Equipment will oversee the end-to-end process, raise strategic issues to the SWAT team and coordinate solution options for safety immunisation equipment (SIE) within the COVAX portfolio. Additionally, as an SIE focal point for Pillar level stakeholders, respond to queries and status requests, draft recommendations / materials for COVAX governance approval, and provide input on country response and external communications related to SIE. The Senior Manager will engage regularly with procurement partners (UNICEF, PAHO), as well as policy and technical experts such as WHO, PATH and BMGF, as well as procurement partners (UNICEF, PAHO). As the supply and demand of SIE is closely interlinked across vaccines, the Senior Manager’s scope will include SIE related to COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines Gavi supports (“Gavi Core”).

• Responsible for Gavi Core and COVAX demand forecast and supply planning for SIE, with cross agency team from Gavi, UNICEF, CEPI and SCO teams;

• Lead the continuous improvement of vaccine demand and supply planning processes and models to address needs related to SIE, in engagement with key Gavi stakeholders;

• Coordinate with COVAX Deal making team (portfolio management side) and Country Engagement team (product management side on aspects of allocation and delivery timelines and vaccine specific requirements) to inform forecasts;

• Build forecasting scenarios related to supply, demand, cost, delivery, and funding parameters to identify risks and opportunities;

• Engage with UNICEF (and PAHO for COVAX) to influence procurement and agreements with manufacturers, as well as delivery strategies linked to warehousing/shipments/freight in case of constraints;

• Engage with UNICEF, PATH and BMGF to define longer-term strategic engagement with manufacturers including guidance on product preferences;

• Track the grant processing for SIE related funding decisions, liaising with other Gavi finance teams to support UNICEF (and PAHO for COVAX) timely access to disbursements;

• Coordinate with COVAX Design & Operationalisation/Country Engagement teams, Gavi Core Vaccine Programme and WHO to inform policy decisions (e.g. adjusted COVID-19 vaccine allocations, guidance on acceptable product specifications, timeline of SIAs, etc.) to accommodate supply availability in case of constraints;

• Monitor the end-to-end process, including consideration of in-country stocks, needs, and absorption in coordination with UNICEF;

• Regularly report and review forecast accuracy for SIE;

• Represent demand and supply planning for SIE at the COVAX SWAT team and review action plans and implication on the forecast;

• Align work with Gavi colleagues and partners in the Office of COVAX Facility, and VFGO to ensure complementarity of forecasts, efforts and teamwork;

• Draft documents and presentations for internal and external discussions and governance.

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

ACADEMIC

• Degree in quantitative disciplines related to public health, finance, economics, or a related science or engineering field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least 8 years professional experience in supply and demand planning/forecasting roles within medical devices, pharmaceuticals, global/public/social health, or FMCG sectors;

• Good understanding of vaccines or medical device/SIE (preferred) or similar sector, and related supply and demand considerations;

• Previous extensive experience engaging/coordinating manufacturers or suppliers, leading coordination programmes/projects in a commercial setting (e.g. product launch, programme management or as an engagement manager);

• Proven skills in designing and managing complex forecast and planning projects; driving replenishment at local/global level;

• Proven track record in supply chain optimisation projects with external partners: project managing lead-time reduction and mitigating risk;

• Experience leading quantitative analyses, modelling or other applied data intensive projects in a public health, supply chain management, or financial context;

• Demonstrated excellent stakeholder management internally and externally, business partnering and leading communication across various functions in a complex matrix organisation;

• Familiarity with international or public sector organisations is preferred.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Advanced Excel skills, with demonstrated ability to manage and analyse complicated data and scenarios;

• Excellent written (PowerPoint, Word) and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to draft impactful materials for stakeholders with quick turnaround;

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills; a logical thinker with intellectual curiosity and the ability to think strategically, as well as delve into operational details;

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with senior stakeholders across multiple organisations;

• Impeccable stakeholder engagement experience and ability to engage with stakeholders comfortably and professionally at all levels;

• Desirable: experience with SAP or similar ERP system.

LANGUAGES

• Fluent in English;

• Other languages desirable, particularly French.

CONTACTS

• Gavi Secretariat;

• Governments of COVAX Facility Participants;

• Gavi’s alliance partners;

• Pharmaceutical and SIE related companies.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Senior Manager, Safe Injection Equipment Devices–COVAX (Temporary ASAP to Dec 22)”. Deadline for applications is 29 November 2021.

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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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.

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.