Immunization (EPI) Specialist

Immunization (EPI) Specialist, NO-3, Fixed Term Position, #00012514, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Apply now Job no: 596560

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Level: NO-3

Location: Ethiopia

Categories: Health

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Health

How can you make a difference?

The Immunization (EPI) Specialist is based in the UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office in Addis Ababa and reports to the Health Manager (Immunization, Health Systems and Health Emergencies). Ethiopia’s immunization programme operates in a large, decentralized and diverse setting affected by geographic inequities, population mobility, recurrent disease outbreaks, climate-related shocks, conflict and humanitarian emergencies. The post works closely with the Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, regional health bureaus, UNICEF field offices, WHO, Gavi and other partners to strengthen routine immunization, reach zero-dose and under-immunized children, support outbreak preparedness and response, and integrate immunization within primary health care and resilient health systems.

Purpose for the job:

The Immunization (EPI) Specialist provides technical leadership and support for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF-supported immunization interventions in Ethiopia. The post contributes to equitable coverage of routine immunization, reduction of zero-dose and under-immunized children, introduction and scale-up of vaccines, prevention and response to vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, strengthening of cold-chain and vaccine management systems, and integration of immunization with primary health care, maternal and child health, nutrition and emergency response.

Socioeconomics ensures that programme design and implementation address geographic, gender, socioeconomic and humanitarian inequities, use disaggregated data for decision-making, and prioritize underserved populations in pastoralist, remote, conflict-affected, internally displaced and refugee-hosting areas.

Key Functions, Accountabilities and Related Duties/Tasks

• Conduct sectoral analysis and provide technical support to inform evidence-based planning, programme development, implementation and management, ensuring the use of sex-disaggregated and other relevant data.
• Support the design, implementation and continuous improvement of immunization strategies and approaches in partnership with government counterparts, UNICEF sectors and development partners.
• Provide technical leadership in the development and implementation of workplans, ensuring effective technical support, coordination and timely achievement of planned results.
• Monitor and evaluate programme implementation to identify gaps, inform corrective actions, and improve programme effectiveness, quality and sustainability.
• Provide technical support to government counterparts and implementing partners throughout the programme cycle, including strengthening institutional and individual capacities for effective programme delivery.
• Strengthen the capacity of Country Office staff through training, coaching and knowledge-sharing initiatives to support the effective development, implementation and management of immunization programmes.
• Ensure effective management and accountability of programme funds, supplies and resources in compliance with UNICEF policies, procedures and approved workplans.
• Establish and maintain effective partnerships and collaboration with key stakeholders to promote advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge management.
• Ensure the availability of strategic programme information through effective monitoring systems, data analysis and reporting to support evidence-based decision-making and programme performance.
• Ensure the timely preparation and submission of quality programme reports and documentation in accordance with established guidelines, procedures and reporting requirements.
• Maintain immunization emergency preparedness and support coordinated emergency response efforts to ensure continuity of immunization services during humanitarian crises and disease outbreaks.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Generic JP-Immunization (EPI) Specialist Level 3.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Nursing, Health Policy and Management, Health Systems, Pediatrics, Community Health and any other related fields is required.
• Work

Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Programme Management, Immunization or Public Health Programme Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation, a strong understanding of primary health care systems and integrated service delivery and any other related fields is required.
• Skills: Strong expertise in immunization and public health, complemented by experience in primary health care integration and the application of digital health solutions to improve programme outcomes is required. Demonstrated skills in programme management, monitoring and evaluation, immunization data and evidence use, and vaccine management and outbreak response to support effective and sustainable health interventions is required.
• Language

Requirements

• Fluency in English is required.

• Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language

• Experience with routine immunization strengthening, reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children, vaccine-preventable disease outbreak response, vaccine and cold-chain management, and collaboration with government and development partners is highly desired.

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

• For every Child, you demonstrate...

• UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

• UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• (1) Builds and maintains partnerships

• (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

• (3) Drive to achieve results for impact

• (4) Innovates and embraces change

• (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

• (6) Thinks and acts strategically

• (7) Works collaboratively with others

• (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

• Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

• UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

• UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Acces