National Professional Officer - Polio Outbreak Response

Job Posting Organization:
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is a public-private partnership led by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and UNICEF. Established in 1988, GPEI aims to eradicate polio worldwide, ensuring that future generations are free from the threat of polio virus infections. The initiative operates in multiple countries, focusing on interrupting polio virus transmission and responding effectively to outbreaks in polio-free countries. The GPEI Strategy 2022–2026 emphasizes rapid response to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) outbreaks, with a goal of interrupting transmission within three months of detection. The organization employs a collaborative approach, working with various health authorities and partners to strengthen surveillance and immunization efforts.

Job Overview:
The National Professional Officer for Polio Outbreak Response will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of emergency polio outbreak response activities in South Sudan. This position requires a highly motivated individual who will work under the guidance of the WHO Representative and the GPEI Coordinator. The officer will collaborate with health workers and officials from the State and Federal Ministries of Health to enhance surveillance and immunization activities. The role involves developing operational plans, ensuring data flow for immunization and disease surveillance, and coordinating with reporting focal points to investigate and validate acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases. The officer will also support state EPI program managers in reviewing vaccination campaigns, developing coverage improvement interventions, and mentoring staff involved in vaccination efforts. This position is vital for ensuring that South Sudan can effectively respond to polio outbreaks and improve vaccination coverage in high-risk areas.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with health workers and officials from the State and Federal Ministries of Health to support surveillance and immunization activities.
• Re-prioritize health facilities based on OPD turnover and develop operational plans for active records review and clinician sensitization.
• Ensure timely and accurate flow of immunization and disease surveillance data, recommending actions to improve data quality.
• Coordinate with IDSR reporting focal points to investigate and validate all reported AFP cases.
• Support state EPI program managers in reviewing recent SIAs, documenting lessons learned, and developing coverage improvement interventions.
• Disseminate technical support for SIAs coverage improvement interventions across counties, focusing on poorly performing areas.
• Oversee and validate SIAs preparedness dashboards to ensure readiness indicators are accurate.
• Initiate monitoring of SIAs readiness at the county level to inform state preparedness.
• Provide on-the-job mentoring and facilitate skills acquisition for SIAs workers. 1
• Supervise SIAs and report on quality issues using ODK checklists for real-time response. 1
• Document best practices and lessons learned in improving SIAs quality and coverage. 1
• Undertake any other tasks assigned by supervisors.

Required Qualifications:
Essential: A Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Community Health, or a relevant health field from a recognized institution. Desirable: A Master’s degree in public health or a related program is preferred. Candidates should possess excellent communication skills, both written and spoken, and be proficient in using word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. They should have good analytical skills, the ability to work in diverse environments, and strong interpersonal skills. Knowledge of the functionality of EPI and surveillance systems at various levels of the health system is essential, along with experience in writing and developing field reports.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Community Health, or a relevant health field from an accredited institution. A Master’s degree in public health or a related field is desirable, indicating a higher level of expertise and understanding of public health issues, particularly in relation to polio and vaccine-preventable diseases.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least three years of relevant experience in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating polio or other vaccine-preventable disease surveillance and supplementary immunization activities (SIAs). Experience working with the State Ministry of Health and collaborating with national authorities and health implementing partners is essential. Desirable experience includes prior field-level work with WHO or recognized humanitarian organizations, particularly in disaster and outbreak response contexts. Demonstrated experience working with subnational health authorities in South Sudan is also preferred.

Languages:
Required: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English is mandatory, and a good working knowledge of Arabic is considered an asset. Desirable: Knowledge of one of the major languages or dialects spoken in South Sudan is advantageous, as it can facilitate communication with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be used as a screening method. Candidates selected for an interview will need to provide scanned copies of their educational qualifications in advance. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications from institutions recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). The appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations and Rules. Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply. WHO is committed to workforce diversity and offers a range of benefits, including parental leave and flexible work arrangements to promote a healthy work-life balance. The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65, and only applications from nationals of South Sudan will be accepted for this National Professional Officer position.