Immunization Specialist, P-4/FT, Antananarivo, Madagascar #52150

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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, an advocate

Under the supervision of the Chief Health, the Immunization (EPI) Specialist, level P-4, 

is accountable for professional leadership and innovation in the development, planning, implementation, delivery, monitoring, evaluation and oversight management of the Immunization programme in conjunction with Chief Health, Maternal and Child Health Manager, Health Systems Strengthening Specialist, Gender Programme Manager, Social Behaviour Change and Nutrition components within the country programme, to achieve the UNICEF’s immunization plus goals and objectives for the country. Accountable for ensuring the UNICEF Immunization programme promotes gender equality, with an emphasis on gender disaggregation, gender disparity identification and gender mainstreaming.

How can you make a difference? 

As functional manager of a sectoral section, the child champion will provide highly technical leadership, guidance and direction for sectoral/inter-sectoral programme development, design, planning, implementation, and management in a small to medium size country office structure. The incumbent will hold primary responsibility for formulation of sectoral programme goals and objectives and the development of strategies and new approaches, share responsibility for strategic recommendations and decisions on situation analysis, programme/project planning, implementation and evaluation as well as administrative decision making on use of funds and human resources that have significant impact on sectoral projects. And assume primary responsibility for effective management of the sectoral section, including oversight/supervision of teams of project staff, financial accountability of funds and human resources management and development.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS 

1. Timely sectoral analysis, input, support and coordination contribute to the Situation Analysis with consistent integration of sex disaggregated data and its periodic update for effective project planning, development and management.

2. Quality contributions are made to the development and implementation of the immunization strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partnership.

3. Work plan and objectives are strategically established, technical support is effectively

provided, and planned results are timely delivered through exercise of strong leadership.

4. Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability.

5. Technical support is provided to government and NGOs at all stages of the programme cooperation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries.  

6. The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building programme in the development, implementation and management of the immunization programme.

7. UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for the sector.

8. Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

9. The most relevant and strategic information is provided to support the Immunization Programme by the effective implementation of integrated child survival monitoring system.

10. All required programme reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

11. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with                       

effective coordination are provided.

12. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively performed.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [ Immunization Specialist Level 4 TMS.pdf]

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education:

  Advanced degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Medicine, Public Health, Paediatric Health, Global/International Health, Health Policy and Management, Family Health, Socio-medical Sciences, Health Education, Epidemiology, or other fields relevant to immunization.

• Work Experience:

  Eight years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in development, planning, programming, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and managing of health/Immunization programmes is required.  

  Professional work experience in a managerial position, or a technical expert position in child survival & health care is required.

• Language Requirements:

  Fluency in French and English is required.

Required:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

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

The 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 is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and candidates with diabilities are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.