Senior Program Officer – Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access – West Africa

Job Description

Senior Program Officer – Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access – West Africa.

This is a remote position and can be located anywhere in the West Africa Region.

PATH’s Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access (CVIA) brings together our expertise across every stage of the long and complex process of vaccine research, development, and delivery to make lifesaving vaccines widely available to children and communities across the world. CVIA’s current portfolio encompasses more than two dozen vaccines either in development or already in use to protect against 15 different diseases. Our focus is on vaccines to address the leading diseases that claim children’s lives worldwide: pneumonia, diarrheal disease, and malaria; as well as other global health priorities, such as polio and meningitis. We work in partnership with national health ministries, pharmaceutical manufacturers, donors, international financing and regulatory organizations, and many others.

This senior staff position in West Africa (Any location) will work within Policy, Access, and Introduction (PAI) functional area of CVIA and be managed by the Director of TyVAC project or their designee. In addition, this person will have a “dotted line” of reporting to the Senegal Country Director or designee to ensure effective integration into PATH’s regional presence in West Africa. In general, this person will focus on new vaccine introduction, system strengthening for routine immunization, development of vaccine introduction strategies, and post-introduction activities especially those that ensure equity and coverage in new vaccine introduction.

Responsibilities

New vaccine introduction or switching

• Facilitate country decision making processes on new vaccine introduction and switch decisions through the gathering and dissemination of relevant data, evidence, learnings, and policies, and other information in collaboration with national coordinating mechanisms such as NITAGs and TWGs, and global stakeholders such as WHO.
• Coordinate, plan, and provide key stakeholders with technical support, training, and guidance for new vaccine introduction, specifically Typhoid conjugate vaccine but could support others such as, HPV and malaria. Support MOH in evaluating introduction activities and progress.
• Assist as requested by MOH or other stakeholders for completing funding applications to Gavi and/or other donors.
• Develop curricula and provide training and education of health care workers, community-based organizations, and other partners to support vaccine service delivery.

Routine immunization system strengthening

• At regional, national and subnational levels, contribute to strengthening regional, national and county-level capacity for planning, developing, and implementing programs to increase vaccine coverage, and to assure equitable distribution of vaccines.
• Work with PATH colleagues, MOH, and other partners to integrate where possible routine immunization into primary health care services.
• Support the demonstration, evaluation, and scale-up of innovations such as digital health tools and platforms, cold chain technologies, etc.

Communications and stakeholder relations

• Represent and serve as a primary technical liaison with MOH National Vaccines and Immunization Program (NVIP) staff, relevant global stakeholders (e.g., WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, African and US CDCs), other international organizations and professional, research and academic institutions in West African countries.
• Collect and disseminate scientific and public health information on vaccines, through presentations to congresses, scientific sessions, groups of medical professionals, and various advisory groups.

Required skills and experience

• Advanced training and education in medicine, epidemiology, or public health with 5-10 years’ experience in medical affairs or public health aspects of vaccine delivery.
• Proficiency in both French and English required.
• Significant experience working with MOH EPI, Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other international organizations promoting vaccination
• Ability to engage MOH with key stakeholders in other West African countries.
• A team player with the capacity to multi-task
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Key Competencies

• Strong technical skills and knowledge on vaccines and immunization, immunization delivery systems (e.g. planning, service delivery, data systems, cold chain, supply/logistics etc.).
• Knowledge of new vaccine introduction process and the various measurement of success of an immunization program.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Collaborative and able to build effective partnerships (internally and externally)
• Experience in key aspects of immunization such as surveys, post introduction evaluations (PIE), Lot Quality Assessments (LQAS), EVMA etc. to support routine immunization systems is highly desirable.
• Strong networks with the MOH with the ability to gather intelligence and effectively inform and support decision making at Ministry level.
• Experience working with global partners.
• Management and supervision
• Vaccine program planning and evaluation
• Business development capabilities in the immunization space.
• Strong written communication and presentation skills.
• PATH is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued.

PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment.

PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, caste, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.