Responsable des activités de vaccination supplémentaires de la poliomyélite

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Position Title: Responsable des activités de vaccination supplémentaires de la poliomyélite
Location: Kinshasa
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO has a mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has more than 7,000 employees worldwide. WHO's primary goal is to ensure that all people can attain the highest possible level of health, and it plays a crucial role in coordinating responses to health emergencies, conducting research, and setting health standards.

Job Overview:
The position of Responsable des activités de vaccination supplémentaires de la poliomyélite focuses on ensuring adequate preparation for responses to poliovirus outbreaks and supplementary vaccination activities (AVS). The incumbent is expected to provide technical support to national authorities, utilizing standard operating procedures and guidelines from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to enhance capacities and implement rapid, high-quality responses to poliovirus outbreaks. This role is critical in strengthening the immunity of the population against poliovirus and ensuring that the transmission of the virus is interrupted. The responsibilities include updating guidelines for AVS, planning and coordinating vaccination campaigns, and ensuring timely availability of resources for vaccination activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical support to national authorities using standard operating procedures and GPEI guidelines to enhance capacities and implement rapid, high-quality responses to poliovirus outbreaks.
• Assist the country in updating guidelines to improve the quality of planned AVS against polio, thereby strengthening population immunity.
• Provide technical support for strengthening preparations for polio campaigns, including micro-planning, training, and quality improvement activities.
• Contribute to planning and updating the number, scope, and scale of AVS in coordination with risk assessment based on the African region.
• Ensure timely follow-up with AFRO regarding the availability of resources (material, human, and financial) for AVS and responses to poliovirus outbreaks.
• Provide guidance on forecasting vaccine needs for planned AVS and outbreak responses.
• Participate in priority responses to poliovirus outbreaks and supervise formative supervision in selected geographical areas based on needs.
• Utilize monitoring data such as independent monitoring and Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) surveys to formulate recommendations for WHO and GPEI partners on improving the quality of subsequent responses.
• Gather technical support needs from the government to enhance the quality of responses. 1
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Education: Essential - Advanced university degree in medicine with a specialization in public health. Desirable - University training in the field of vaccines or vaccination. Experience: Essential - At least seven (7) years of experience in public health service delivery with demonstrable experience in combating vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly polio eradication. Desirable - Experience working with bilateral or multilateral organizations would be an asset, as well as managing and leading a team to achieve results. Skills: Ability to manage and lead a team; field experience in polio eradication, coordinating outbreak responses in countries, immunization, vaccinology, and disease control; ability to work effectively with colleagues at different levels of the organization; formal training in epidemiology principles, communication, vaccinology, and/or logistics; proven organizational skills and capacity building for public health agents; aptitude for analysis and written and oral presentation; international experience in polio eradication in Africa or developing countries; and ability to travel extensively, including to difficult locations, on short notice.

Educational Background:
Essential: Advanced university degree in medicine with a specialization in public health. Desirable: University training in the field of vaccines or vaccination.

Experience:
Essential: At least seven (7) years of experience in public health service delivery with demonstrable experience in combating vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly polio eradication. Desirable: Experience working with bilateral or multilateral organizations would be an asset, as well as managing and leading a team to achieve results.

Languages:
Essential: Expert knowledge of French. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of English.

Additional Notes:
The remuneration for this position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 77,326, subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance. A variable post adjustment reflects the cost of living in the duty station, currently amounting to USD 4,298 per month. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children. This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening. Candidates are required to provide scanned copies of their degrees/diplomas/certificates in advance if retained for an interview. WHO considers only higher educational qualifications obtained from accredited institutions. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO, and candidates may be assigned to any activity or duty station worldwide. WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.