Senior Immunization Advisor - Camris International - Washington, DC
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:
Senior 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. This senior-level position will directly contribute 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 Senior Advisor for Immunization in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health will: 1) provide strategic leadership to USAID’s work in routine immunization, maximizing synergy between programs and resources; 2) demonstrate global technical leadership to strengthen routine immunization programs; 3) provide technical assistance to USAID Mission immunization programs; and 4) manage and provide technical guidance to the routine immunization components of GH Bureau projects and activities.
Provide strategic leadership to USAID’s work in routine immunization (25%) Guide a team, which includes a range of technical experts, administrative staff, and consultants, to strengthen USAID support for routine immunization programs; Collaborate with the USAID Gavi and Polio leads, to develop and implement strategies to improve USAID support for routine immunization programs; Work closely with the team to develop and implement strategies to strengthen how USAID Missions can leverage the USG’s investment in GAVI; Participate and provide guidance to Immunization Team members on the production of communications materials, talking points, briefers, analyses, and reports; and Serve as a technical mentor to Immunization Team members, interns, and visiting fellows to enhance their immunization expertise where needed.
Global Technical Leadership (25%) Coordinate USAID’s interface with various interagency (USG and non-USG), other donors and Agencies, such as UNICEF and WHO to coordinate efforts on how to strengthen routine immunization programs; Participate in inter-agency and global meetings, consultations, working groups, and negotiations related to routine immunization; Liaise with other US government agencies and international partners to leverage efforts to strengthen routine immunization; Represent and make presentations on USAID’s approaches, strategies, and accomplishments in routine immunization; Provide technical assistance for the Global Health Bureau in global discussions related to routine immunization with international partners; Keep abreast of new developments & emerging issues that affect USAID’s health priorities; Participate in planning and implementation of Agency-level initiatives and public relations activities related to routine immunization; Prepare briefers or other documents to summarize USAID activities and progress in routine immunization; Prepare and present technical presentations at regional USAID health officers meetings and workshops as appropriate; and Monitor and analyze trends and issues related to routine immunization and apply these analyses to global, regional and country level programs supported by USAID;
Support to Country Programs (40%) Provide 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; Monitor, evaluate and analyze USAID immunization program progress; participate in country-level activities, as required; and Facilitate the gathering of immunization data for reporting in the dashboard.
Management and Oversight of GH Bureau Project and Activities (10%) In collaboration with the project managers, as appropriate, monitor cooperating agencies’ implementation of strategies for routine immunization; including development and monitoring of work plans and budgets, site visits to monitor performance, and review reports and accomplishment of milestones; Design and assist with the completion of periodic and/or final evaluation of cooperating agency programs pertaining to routine immunization; and In coordination with the MCH Division Chief, works with HIDN and BGH activity managers to identify annual resource requirements for routine immunization activities.
Qualifications:
The expertise and experience required for this Senior Technical Advisor for Immunization position include: Master’s degree in a health sciences field or in a field related to international public health. Minimum fifteen years of relevant experience in international public health practice. Knowledge of current issues in the areas of international health policy, research, and program implementation with special reference to routine immunization programs and vaccines. Knowledge of and experience working with GAVI financing mechanisms, governance structures, and vaccine manufacturers. Experience working in developing countries. Ability to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate donor-funded assistance. Ability to effectively collaborate with multiple partners including UN agencies/multilateral organizations, other bilateral donors, NGOs, universities, foundations, etc Proven knowledge and experience with USAID programs, procedures, and systems for program design, monitoring, evaluation is preferred. Demonstrated technical leadership, policy experience, and problem-solving skills working on complex projects are required.
Excellent leadership, communications and interpersonal skills to work effectively with a broad range of partners and USG personnel. Excellent oral, written communication and computer skills. Ability to spend up to 30% of the time in international travel. The successful applicant must be a U.S. citizen. S/hewill be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for a secret security clearance.
This is an opportunity for employment or a contract, but we reserve the right to make no selection or award.
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.
0 comments:
Post a Comment