Immunization Advisor

Jhpiego, an international non-profit health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, is implementing the Reaching Impact Saturation and Epidemic Control (RISE) program in Ethiopia. RISE is dedicated to saving lives and improving health outcomes by accelerating HIV epidemic control and strengthening global health security to prevent and respond to emerging disease threats. Leveraging over two decades of evidence-based practices from PEPFAR implementation, RISE addresses critical health priorities including HIV, global health security (GHS), maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCH-N), tuberculosis (TB), malaria, data systems, and supply chain management.

Immunization remains one of the most effective child survival strategies, saving millions of lives each year. Ethiopia’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) has made notable progress, yet challenges persist especially in reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children across diverse regions, the project is seeking a seasoned Immunization Advisor to lead the design and implementation of context-specific strategies aimed at strengthening health sector’s immunization efforts in the implementation woredas. The Advisor will work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Regional Health Bureaus and the key partners to address barriers such as inconsistent coverage, vaccine supply disruptions, poor data quality, cultural beliefs, caregiver awareness gaps, and high dropout rates. This role requires strategic leadership and collaboration to advance equitable, sustainable immunization solutions nationwide.

Strategic Planning

• Lead the development of annual immunization plans in collaboration with the Child Health Advisor and Service Delivery Advisor, and prepare quarterly and annual immunization reports for the project.
• Provide technical assistance to regional teams, government entities, and partners on immunization strategies and implementation.
• Ensure interventions are tailored to specific geographic and health system contexts, working closely with the public sector to pilot differentiated service delivery models.
• Design and oversee an integrated strategy to strengthen facility-based immunization services, implement targeted catch-up campaigns for missed children, and support the application of the RED-QI approach to enhance local access especially for mobile pastoralist and rural populations.
• Champion catch-up plans for missed doses within routine immunization, promoting a life-course approach that includes vaccination beyond childhood to combat vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).

Collaboration and representation

• Collaborate with other immunization-focused projects to document best practices and identify scalable, sustainable interventions.
• Represent the project in technical meetings, working groups, and conferences related to immunization.
• Actively participate in internal project meetings, sharing strategic updates and insights.
• Work closely with thematic leads to co-design, implement, and scale joint strategies that enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and long-term impact.

Capacity Building Program Oversight, Quality Assurance and Implementation

• Train and mentor project field staff, equipping them with effective tools and approaches to support the public sector in identifying and addressing key bottlenecks, building capacity, and implementing initiatives such as micro-planning, adverse event surveillance, cold chain management, supplementary immunization activities, and integrated MNCH service delivery.
• Collaborate with cluster offices and field teams to design context-specific strategies that promote equitable and sustainable vaccine access for all age-eligible individuals, reduce vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), and support integrated service delivery using a life-course approach.
• Develop internal immunization guides, standard operating procedures, protocols, and technical documents to ensure consistent understanding and implementation across field teams.

Evidence Based Policy and Advocacy

• Collaborate with the MEL team to establish robust monitoring systems including indicators and data collection methodologies to track the quality and reach of immunization activities, ensuring that lessons learned inform field practices and strategic decisions at all levels.
• Promote the use of immunization data to monitor program performance, conduct assessments, and guide decision-making across project and health system levels.
• Lead and participate in monitoring and evaluation efforts, including supportive supervision, to assess service effectiveness and identify opportunities for operational research in partnership with MEL and research teams.
• Develop and disseminate technical briefs, best practices, and lessons learned in collaboration with the knowledge management team, sharing insights across stakeholder platforms.
• Carry out additional duties as assigned by the project.

• Advanced Degree in a health field with specialized training/experience in immunization.
• 7+ years of technical and programmatic experience in immunization.
• Proven experience developing protocols, manuals, and training materials.
• Familiarity with immunization service delivery across agrarian, urban, and pastoral geographies.
• Effective communication (verbal, written, and presentation) skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and data processing skills.
• Ability to travel up to 40% and work with minimum supervision.

• Solid understanding of the Ethiopian health policy and strategies, the health extension platform, and immunization best practices.
• Proven experience of working along the health system - community, primary health care units and referral hospitals
• Familiarity with MNCH-N service delivery and the health context in pastoral, agrarian and semi-urban geographies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the immunization supply chain management including in fragile set up.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Able to promote team work and effort.
• Demonstrated competency in strategy development, in collaboration, in working with people, networking and influencing
• High cultural competence, diplomacy, and ability to navigate complex environments.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on technical problem-solving skills.

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Professional proficiency in Amharic or other local Ethiopian languages is highly desirable.

Salary: Between 22,966 – 33,563 USD per annum. 

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Please apply at www.jobs-jhpiego.icims.com

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include: cover letter, resume, and references.

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

Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

“Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

EEO is the Law

Application Deadline: October 17, 2025

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