Immunization Technical Lead

Jhpiego is an international non-profit health organization affiliated with The Johns Hopkins University, USA. For more than 40 years and in over 150 countries, Jhpiego has worked to prevent the needless deaths of women and their families. Jhpiego is dedicated to improving the health of women and families in developing countries.

Jhpiego seeks an Immunization Technical Lead to lead the provision of technical assistance for the hexavalent and Hepatitis-B Birth dose vaccines introduction in Liberia and other routine immunization interventions. The Technical Lead will ensure the technical and methodological soundness of activities. With the support of Jhpiego’s global immunization technical advisory team, and, in collaboration with the project team, government national immunization program, and partners, the Immunization Technical Lead will lead the drafting of applications using Gavi templates. The Immunization Technical Lead also provides leadership and guidance in the design, implementation, and monitoring of service delivery strategies, based on the latest evidence. Under the supervision of the Country Program Manager, the Technical Lead performs the following activities.

• In coordination with the project team, provide overall technical and clinical leadership to the hexavalent vaccine and Hepatitis-B birth dose introduction and other immunization interventions in Liberia.
• In collaboration with the country project and global technical teams, support the development of the application documents, workplans, budget and timelines for the course of the grant
• Provide technical and clinical guidance related to hexavalent vaccine, Hepatitis-B birth dose and broader immunization programs
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with the leadership at the MOH, the Expanded Programs on Immunization and other development partners
• Support the team in effectively engaging with all relevant stakeholders at national level for introduction including professional health associations, broader health and education departments, religious and community leaders, youth leaders, CSOs, NGOs and other development partners.
• Work closely with EPI technical teams to advise on current policy and strategies as needed to yield maximum impact, including help to integrate new vaccines such as hexavalent and hepatitis B birth-dose.
• Review and provide feedback to the project team on technical content for advocacy and social mobilization materials targeting multiple stakeholders, including healthcare workers and communities to ensure accuracy in the information.
• Be an integral and trusted member of national level technical working groups, tasks teams, and leadership teams in preparation and submission of the hexavalent vaccine scale-up application and other important decisions around the vaccine introduction.
• Review, modify training materials and RCCE plans on an annual basis.
• Identify and address barriers to vaccine uptake and service quality as part of the ongoing supportive supervision, including those related to gender inequity or other forms of social exclusion.
• Document, adapt and disseminate lessons learned to national and subnational stakeholders to inform the scale up of vaccine roll-out across the country.
• Provide ongoing monitoring and standards-based supervision using hexavalent and integration specific standards and checklists.
• Conduct a rapid assessment of immunization-related performance gaps for healthcare and community health workers and review and update learning materials and platforms for CHPs, CHAs, and CHSS
• Perform other tasks as agreed and reasonably delegated by the Country Program Manager.

• Advanced degree in medicine and/or public health
• 7-10 years of professional experience in immunization programs, at the operational level (at minimum at the provincial level but district level experience will be considered as an advantage)
• Extensive knowledge of best practices in immunization, experience in new vaccine introductions, especially in vaccine hesitant communities and geographic pockets,
• Proven record of effective communication and engagement with stakeholders at the national and subnational levels, especially the immunization program and broader health departments.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, Fluent in written and spoken English and local language as desired
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally about 30- 50% of the time.

• Advanced degree in medicine and/or public health
• 7-10 years of professional experience in immunization programs, at the operational level (at minimum at the provincial level but district level experience will be considered as an advantage)
• Extensive knowledge of best practices in immunization, experience in new vaccine introductions, especially in vaccine hesitant communities and geographic pockets,

Jhpiego is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Failure to follow the instructions of applying, your application would be denied.

 For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org