UNICEF Polio Outbreak Team – Open Call for Roster: Polio Outbreak Response Technical Lead/Coordinator

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children’s rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

UNICEF is seeking talented Polio Outbreak Response Technical professionals for join the Global UNICEF Polio Outbreak Response Team Roster.

A roster is defined as a list of pre-assessed and endorsed candidates that can be hired for similar positions without a new competitive process. While placement in the Roster does not guarantee a position, it is an important resource for filling vacancies for roles within The Polio Outbreak Response team.

For Every Child, a Future

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) seeks to ensure that future generations of children will be free from the threat of polio paralysis. Achieving this goal depends on interrupting poliovirus transmission in the remaining endemic countries and on ensuring rapid and effective responses to poliovirus outbreaks occurring in polio-free countries

Under the supervision of the head of the country office, the UNICEF Polio Outbreak Response Technical Lead is responsible for the overall coordination of the UNICEF polio outbreak response across the core accountabilities of vaccine management and communication for development (C4D). The Polio Outbreak Response Technical Lead will work collaboratively with the UNICEF health, immunization and C4D/communication team to deliver an effective outbreak response in collaboration with health authorities and other health partners, including the GPEI Coordinator.

The Polio Outbreak Response Technical Lead will be deployed to countries as part of the Rapid Response and/or the Surge Team.

How Can You Make a Difference?

Specific terms of reference will be determined for each deployment, but may include:

• Support head of UNICEF country office with strategic and operational oversight of polio outbreak response operations, particularly around the areas of vaccine management and C4D, ensuring that they address the needs of the population and are aligned with the government/Ministry of Health (MOH) plans and strategies and the polio outbreak response SOPs.
• Internal coordination between various sections and field offices within UNICEF on preparation and implementation of polio outbreak response.
• Represent UNICEF at in country GPEI meetings and EOC provide direct feedback to the GPEI about outbreak response progress, challenges and potential solutions
• Foster close coordination with MOH, in-country health and other partners, and regional offices and HQs and assist in the organization of regular coordination meetings, teleconferences, and updates.
• Work with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to develop a national outbreak response plan, including a budget, chronogram of activities, and human resources (HR) surge plan, periodically adjusting and adapting the plan, as needed.
• Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to establish outbreak response structures that include the four components of outbreak response: outbreak investigation, outbreak response immunization, strengthening AFP surveillance, and strengthening routine immunization.
• Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to produce updates of outbreak response activities (e.g., SITREPS, bulletins, and newsletters) for distribution to relevant partners.
• Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to organize periodic external outbreak response assessments.
• Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to document the closure of the outbreak.
• Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to assess the security situation in the geographic areas included in the response; as necessary, engage appropriate partners to discuss special strategies and resources for insecure areas.
• Collaborate with the communications team to ensure the preparation of an overall outbreak response communication plan and the appropriate content of advocacy and messaging strategies.
• Collaborate with the logistics and vaccine management team to ensure the preparation and implementation of overall outbreak response vaccine management plan.
• Collaborate with the Outbreak Operations Manager to ensure that the logistical aspects of the outbreak response, especially financing and HR, are managed with optimal efficiency.
• Review and clear donor products and provide strategic guidance on resource mobilization and proposal development.
• Undertake other assignments and responsibilities as requested by heads of country offices, regional directors, and other partners to support the successful response to the outbreak

All candidates screened for the Global UNICEF Polio Outbreak Response Team Roster must meet the basic UNICEF eligibility requirements, competencies and skills as follows:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to the area of the expertise in Medicine or Public Health, Communication, Sociology. At least two years of additional relevant work experience in the same field may be considered in lieu of a master’s degree

Experience:

• At least 3 to 5 years of professional work experience at national and international levels in outbreak response, routine immunization, public health and other relevant programs.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical assistance to governments on the implementation of outbreak responses (polio)
• Demonstrated experience in leading multidisciplinary teams (communication and vaccine management) for mOPV2 outbreak responses
• Emergency work experience is an asset.
• Familiarity with the UN system and Polio Eradication efforts is desired
• Willingness to immediately take up the assignment.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English and French or Arabic is required. Fluency in any other UN language is an asset.

How to apply

Applicants are invited to apply through UNICEF e-recruitment website, with a:

• Completed UNICEF Profile
• Completed P-11 History Form, with CV and Motivation letter
• Indicate a daily fee (mandatory)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

“UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”