Consultant - Project Technical Officer & Proposal Development Writer (Open to Filipino Nationals Only)

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program Partners Initiative (HAPPI) Consortium is a visionary project designed to accelerate HPV vaccination in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). The consortium is managed by John Snow, Incorporated (JSI), together with Jhpiego, International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and PATH. It harnesses collective expertise in policy, access, introduction, implementation, evaluation, and learning. It aims to promote equity, program quality, and the rapid expansion of the HPV vaccination among girls.

Jhpiego has implemented this project since 2023 and will implement the Phase 3 targeted technical assistance (TA) for the Philippine government this December until 2026 for accelerated HPV vaccine introduction, stakeholder engagement, evidence-based decision-making, and HPV vaccination coverage improvement. Through the HAPPI Phase I and Phase II projects, Jhpiego has provided support in the evidence-based decision-making for HPV vaccination dose recommendation, support to social and behavioral communication change strategic framework and development of SBCC materials, the relaunch of the school-based immunization, including HPV vaccination for girls in grade 4 aged 9-10 years old, and the development of operations plan for national cervical cancer elimination.

In June 2024, the GAVI Board approved the Vaccine Alliance’s strategy for 2026-2030, known as “GAVI 6.0.” This strategy will be the most ambitious in GAVI’s history, aiming to protect more people against more diseases, faster than even before. The strategy reiterates the continued focus on GAVI’s core mission: a) to support new vaccine introductions, b) expand existing programmes, c) achieve equity through targeted efforts to reach and fully immunize missed “zero dose” children and communities, d) scale up critical innovations, and e) shape markets to ensure the availability of affordable and suitable vaccines for lower-income countries.

The Philippines submitted its application for the GAVI 5.0 - “Middle-Income Country Strategy (or the GAVI MICS) in December 2024 to the GAVI Board. This is currently undergoing review with the relevant clearing house offices of the Philippine government. As the GAVI MICS approach has evolved into the new "Catalytic phase" will mainstream the current MICs approach into the “eligibility, transition, and co-financing" (ELTRACO) model. GAVI 6.0’s objectives are: 1) to drive the sustainable introduction of key missing vaccines, and 2) to prevent and mitigate backsliding of routine immunization. Finally, fragility support is retained.

To take advantage of the opportunity for the “Catalytic Phase,” the Department of Health is preparing to submit another application for this in 2026 for the HPV new vaccine introduction. Jhpiego has committed to supporting the preparation and submission of the proposal early next year, thus the need for a short-term project technical assistant and proposal development writer to assist the National Immunization Program team of the DOH.

The Project is looking for a “Project Technical Officer and Proposal Development Writer” (PTAPDW) who will be contracted as a short-term technical consultant. He/She will assist the Department of Health National Immunization Program (DOH-NIP) team tasked to finalize the GAVI 6.0 application proposal, with guidance and supervision from the HAPPI Immunization Technical Advisor, and coordination with other members of the Jhpiego Immunization Team.

The consultant will support the proposal development and technical writing processes using official application templates from the GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and other guidance from the GAVI Middle Country Team for the Philippines based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Responsibilities:

1. Work closely with the DOH National Immunization Program (NIP) Team
2. Work under guidance and close supervision with the Jhpiego Immunization Technical Advisor, other HAPPI Project team members, to ensure the quality of proposal development and timeliness of GAVI 6.0 application;
3. Assist the DOH NIP Team in the completion and accomplishment of GAVI templates related to the proposal development process and timelines;
4. Organize collected knowledge or information from the GAVI 6.0 application process;
5. Collect other data and other relevant information related to the GAVI 6.0o application process;
6. Support and assist the HAPPI Immunization Technical Advisor and other HAPPI Project Team members relevant to HAPPI Phase III and GAVI 6.0 proposal development and application process
7. Support the HAPPI Immunization Technical Advisor, other members of the HAPPI Project Team in the preparation of periodic reports or progress reports, if applicable.
8. Document virtual or on-site meetings and prepare meeting minutes, highlights, or summaries
9. Prepare monthly reports on the status of the proposal development

Required qualifications of the Project Technical Officer and Proposal Development Writer:

Educational Background

1. A graduate with a bachelor’s degree in any of the following disciplines: biology or life sciences, public health, health research, medicine, nursing, medical technology, nutrition-dietetics, midwifery, psychology, or other relevant health- or social sciences-related courses;
2. A master's degree in public health will be an advantage

      Professional Experience

1. Minimum of at least three (3) years of experience working with government or teams of international or local development organizations, other international or local non-government, or non-profit organizations involved in projects on public health, health service delivery, adolescent, HPV, or school-based immunization, or health services research;
2. Equivalent professional experience in any of the following sectors: public health, immunization, health research, health project proposal development, or other development work, either at the national, subnational, or local government level, is preferred;
3. Work experience in public health proposal development or immunization project proposal development will be an advantage.
4. Experience(s) with HPV vaccination-related project(s) is a plus.

      Technical and Functional Capacities

1. Good understanding of project proposal development processes and technical writing;
2. Good understanding of new vaccine introduction, GAVI-related funding application for new vaccine introduction;
3. Strong interpersonal and communication skills,
4. Ability to work under pressure, prioritize tasks, schedule, and balance workloads in the face of conflicting and uneven demands;
5. Expertise in stakeholder coordination and the successful facilitation of engagement activities (e.g., meetings, FGDs, workshops).
6. Proficient in the full data lifecycle (collection through interpretation) will be an advantage.
7. Proficiency in Microsoft Office software applications, e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, other data management software or tools, etc.;
8. Should be able to identify and solve problems that may arise during administrative and logistical processes;
9. Should have excellent attention to detail to ensure that all administrative and logistical tasks are complied accurately and efficiently;
10. Should be able to manage multiple tasks at once and prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance;
11. Experience in technical report and proposal report writing, with good communication skills; and,
12. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Filipino. 

      Other requirements

1. Able to travel to DOH Central Office in Manila, Jhpiego Philippines Country Office in Quezon City;
2. Ability to attend virtual meetings/calls beyond office hours (only as needed)