Technical Advisor – Immunization

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC’s vision is to lead the humanitarian field by implementing high-impact, cost-effective programs for people affected by crisis and by using our learning and experience to shape policy and practice. To achieve that vision, the IRC’s Technical Excellence Unt provides technical assistance to IRC’s country program staff and shares what we learn to influence policy and practice.

The IRC is pursuing a new funding to implement a multi-country last mile immunization initiative in fragile, emergency and refugee settings. S/he will provide technical guidance and oversight to in-country teams responsible for project delivery; develop tools to help achieve immunization outcomes; and participate in the design and delivery of the project’s research agenda.

Specific Responsibilities:

The Senior Immunization Advisor will be responsible for leading the technical design of the program in each country in partnership with country program staff and partners. The Senior Immunization Advisors’ specific responsibilities are as follows:

Influence

• Collaborate with advocacy and communications teams to identify ways to leverage programmatic and research work to influence donors, peers and policy makers.

• Represent the health unit and the IRC in inter-agency working groups, various global/regional fora and conferences related to immunization

• Attend targeted conferences and develop specific publications (issues papers, technical documents, presentations and peer-reviewed articles) relevant to advancing immunization program strategies and research results.

• Synthesize key findings of current literature related to increasing routine immunization coverage—particularly through ‘last mile’ and community engagement strategies—for program use

Technical

• Identify and/or develop global tools/resources/curricula relevant for quality immunization programming and research.

• Conduct technical trainings and ongoing technical coaching for country program staff related to immunization programming quality improvement.

• Support design of program in project countries and ongoing monitoring of progress

• Participate in analysis of program data with M&E and project staff to advise on program adaptations to achieve targets

• Engage with stakeholders during visits to country programs

• Share cross-context learning with country program staff across the project

• Support senior country program staff recruitment and onboarding

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Project Director

Position directly supervises: N/A

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Regular communication with health technical advisors supporting project countries. Close relationships with regional and country program teams. Interacts with IRC internal departments, including business development, external relations and advocacy departments, to keep them informed of program activities.

External: Serve as IRC program representative in outside regional meetings and global meetings and academic forums with donors, other non-governmental organizations, inter-agency groups and foundations.

Job Qualifications:

Education: Masters in public health or related area.

Work Experience: A minimum of two years as technical advisor supporting immunization programs, plus three years of international field experience in managerial/coordination positions with Non-Governmental Organizations in humanitarian or post-conflict settings. Experience in technical tools and materials development. Experience in strategy development and working across sectors or disciplines is highly desired.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Demonstrated expertise in working with donors, project design, proposal development, and monitoring and evaluation, with the ability to turn concepts and strategy into measurable action. Able to work with remote, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams. Strong interpersonal verbal and written communication skills and ability to facilitate collaboration. Ability to transfer technical knowledge and skills. Demonstrated commitment to renewing and maintaining with current best practices. Additional competencies include:

• Experience providing strategic leadership to new thematic public health areas.

• Experience working with ministries of health, international agencies and/or NGO public health programs in Africa and other developing countries.

• Knowledge of vaccine preventable disease control initiatives (e.g., polio, measles, tetanus), Global Vaccine Action Plan and Gavi strategies for health systems strengthening.

• Proven ability to independently assess routine immunization needs and lead stakeholders in the development and implementation of successful program interventions, including prior experience with: 1) national or sub-national immunization planning; 2) capacity building for system strengthening; 3) design of community-oriented strategies to increase coverage; 4) use of immunization data for monitoring and decision making; 5) assessment of cold chain and logistics performance and needs; and, 6) other actions to sustain quality immunization services

• Ability to work independently, and meet deadlines, with attention to detail and quality.

Language Skills: Fluency in English required; proficiency in French.

Working Environment: Up to 40% travel may be required. This position will be based in Nairobi.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.