Immunization Advisor - Camris International - Washington, DC

CAMRIS International is an international development and research firm that realizes innovative solutions to health and development challenges through high-quality, cost-effective program and research management services. With experience working in more than 80 countries, we combine our proven systems with today’s most effective, evidence-based best practices to improve the lives of people around the world.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted through CAMRIS International partnered with IAP World Services Inc. (IAPWS), to recruit and hire qualified individuals for the following position:

Title:
Immunization Advisor

United States Agency for International Development

Bureau for Global Health/Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition/Maternal and

Child Health Division (GH/HIDN/MCH)

Application Deadline: Open until Filled

INTRODUCTION:
USAID’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Division, Bureau for Global Health, is seeking a dynamic individual to provide policy, programmatic, and technical direction in routine immunization strengthening. The work will broadly support achievement of the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) targets and will include support to USAID’S immunization activities worldwide at the country, regional, and international levels, contributing directly to USAID’s high-level health goal of Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths (EPCMD).

BACKGROUND:
The world has witnessed an extraordinary 70 percent decline in child mortality over the last 50 years, and a reduction in child deaths from over 12 million in 1990 to 5.9 million in 2015. Over the same timeframe, maternal deaths declined by 43%, from an estimated 532,000 in 1990 to 302,000 in 2015. Despite this progress, significant work remains to increase coverage of high-impact interventions, strengthen the health systems that support these interventions, improve quality, and address equity gaps that are bottlenecks to ending preventable child and maternal deaths.

Building on the momentum of the June 2012 Child Survival Call to Action and the subsequent launch of A Promised Renewed ( www.apromiserenewed.org ), USAID’s Bureau for Global Health has mobilized to support countries to end preventable child and maternal deaths, focusing on 24 countries where over two-thirds of these deaths occur (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, and Zambia).

Immunization is a central component of USAID’s EPCMD strategy. Seventy-five percent of the world’s unvaccinated children reside in the 24 priority countries. USAID is working with national governments; UNICEF; WHO; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, key donors, civil society and others to build sustainable health systems able to provide timely and safe universal coverage of life-saving immunizations to all children.

USAID supports immunization programs through a variety of mechanisms – globally, regionally, and at country level. Between 2001 and 2018, USAID will have contributed over $2 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, with support increasing year on year, including an anticipated FY16 obligation of $235 million. Gavi’s focus on introduction of new vaccines – such as the pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines that address two of the leading killers of children after the neonatal period – has made a critical contribution to EPCMD. The Agency has also had an ongoing commitment to global polio eradication, beginning in 1996 and currently $59 million annually, building on the success of earlier regional polio work in the Americas. USAID’s polio investments are focused on surveillance, laboratory strengthening, communications, and outbreak response, as well as working through local organizations to reach the most difficult-to-reach children. While a disease eradication effort is intrinsically different in its approach, USAID is committed to the possibilities for stronger immunization and health systems as a result of the polio eradication effort. Key partners in this effort include WHO, UNICEF, and the Core Group Polio Project.

USAID’s investments in Gavi and polio currently comprise approximately 38% of the Agency’s total annual budget for maternal and child health. Complementing these investments, USAID also supports broader immunization systems strengthening activities focused on routine immunization, which are critical to achieving sustainability as well as the coverage and equity goals of the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) in all of our EPCMD priority countries, in particular achieving a minimum of 80% coverage of DPT3 in every district in every country. In the Global Health Bureau, the flagship Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) supports USAID global leadership in immunization and provides technical support to USAID Mission bilateral programs. Finally, USAID Missions support immunization activities through their own bilateral programs.

Responsibilities:
The Immunization Technical Advisor in the Maternal and Child Health Division will demonstrate global and country-level leadership in routine immunization and polio programming. The Advisor will split time between support to USAID’s polio and routine immunization program activities.

Technical Leadership in Polio and Routine Immunization Programs (50%) Participate in inter-agency and global meetings, consultations, working groups, and negotiations related to strengthening routine immunization systems and the eradication of polio; Liaise with other US government agencies and international partners to leverage efforts to strengthen routine immunization systems and eradicate polio; Monitors and analyzes trends and issues related to the eradication of polio and applies these analyses to global, regional and country level programs supported by USAID; Prepares briefers, factsheets and/or other documents to summarize USAID activities and progress on efforts to eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunization systems; Serves as a technical advisor to global projects that focus on routine immunization or the eradication of polio such as the Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) and the CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP); and Reviews work plans, reports, budgets, and monitors implementation of centrally-funded projects which implement routine immunization and polio-related activities. Technical Assistance to Strengthen Polio and Routine Immunization Programs (50%) Provides state-of-the-art technical and program expertise, assistance and support to the GH Bureau, regional Bureaus and USAID field missions in the development and evaluation of immunization-related strategies, programs, and policies; Provides technical assistance to USAID Missions and other operating units (such as USAID Regional Bureaus) for the design, implementation and monitoring of routine immunization and polio programs; Participates in country-level surveillance reviews, outbreak response assessments and prepares and presents reports on polio eradication activities and results; Conducts monitoring visits of national polio campaigns and/or polio activities implemented by centrally-managed projects as needed; Participate in country-level reviews, assessments, and evaluations of routine immunization programs; Monitors country-level activities that are implemented by centrally-managed projects; and Provides ongoing technical support to ensure best practices in routine immunization to GH country teams and Missions.

Qualifications:
Master’s degree in public health or related field required Minimum ten years’ progressively responsible experience working in health care in an international setting of which at least three to five years is practical field experience working with childhood immunization programs in developing countries or resource challenged setting Strong knowledge of routine immunization and polio programming with practical field experience in at least two developing country settings at the community through the national level is essential. Strong preference is given to experience in Africa. Practical programming experience in immunization and polio is the single most important factor in considering a qualified candidate for this position. Strong knowledge of immunization and polio programs global landscape, goals and targets and familiarization with key global immunization and polio related strategic documents and frameworks such as Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) and the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a large bureaucracy, in a collegial environment and in a team approach, and on a number of tasks simultaneously A high degree of initiative and a willingness to participate in a broad range of activities Excellent networking skills Strong written and oral communication skills Willingness to travel internationally (approximately 30% of time) Fluency in a relevant foreign language desirable U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance are required. CAMRIS International and IAP World Services Inc. offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. Please submit your resume online at https://careers-camris.icims.com . CAMRIS and IAP are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This is an opportunity for employment or a contract, but we reserve the right to make no selection or award.