Organization Background

JSI is a US-based public health nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality technical and managerial assistance programs throughout the world. In Ethiopia, JSI has been working to improve health outcomes for more than 25 years, implementing more than 60 projects and working in every region. JSI has historically managed a large portfolio of projects focusing on the quality, and equity in access of, RMNCAH services, primary health care (PHC) including community health program, digital health, health information systems (HIS), supply chain management, public health emergency responses, and social and behavior change.

Activity Overview

JSI seeks an experienced Health System Strengthening Advisor for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Lowland Health Activity. The purpose of the Activity is to improve health and nutrition outcomes in the pastoral geographies of Ethiopia, through increased access and utilization of quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent & youth health and nutrition (RMNCAH-N) services.

Position Summary

The Immunization Advisor is responsible for all activities related to Adolescent, Maternal and Child Nutrition within Lowland Health Activity intervention areas. S/he is also responsible in developing and adapting training guides, job aids and tools, developing implementation approaches of immunization interventions and liaising the LHA project with the FMOH of Ethiopia and other implementing partners in the country. He/she is also responsible to bring innovation in to the project implementation areas. Collaborate with other actors including the public sector to avert the immunization situation in the country. Work closely with the public and Lowland Health Activity field staff to improve the immunization situation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with Service Delivery Team Lead and other Activity members to meet key milestones and deliverables, monitor, analyze, and troubleshoot any challenges to the Activity’s Immunization related implementations.

• Collaborate with other USAID and non-USAID investments on Immunization to capture best practices, identify potential Immunization related interventions for scale up and continuity. 

• Develop the Immunization annual plans of the Activity in consultation with the Service Delivery Team Lead and other teams of the Activity.

• Write quarter and annual immunization related reports of the Activity. 

• Provide technical assistance to regional team, partners, government entities and others on areas of immunization.   

• Closely support and advocate  catch up plan for missed dose in the routine immunization in maintaining a life-course approach to immunization including vaccination beyond childhood for combating Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD). 

• Collaborate with health facilities to contextualize and pilot differentiated service delivery models for immunization.

• Closely support and advocate for equitable and sustainable access to vaccines for every age-eligible individual and reduces incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), work on a modality for integration of services, delivering vaccines beyond infancy using a life course approach.

• Represent the Activity in various immunization related technical meetings, working groups, and conferences.

• Develop manuals, guidelines, standard operating procedures, protocols and other documents related to immunization.

• Identify opportunities for and conduct operational research on immunization in collaboration with MEL and research teams. 

• Publish documents like technical briefs, lessons learned, best practices in collaboration with knowledge management team and share with stakeholders on different forums.

• Participate in the Activity meetings as required and provide updates on innovative/strategic approaches.

• Collaborate with MEL and Communication team to establish a monitoring system (e.g., indicators and data collection methodologies) to track quality and reach of activities; ensure that lessons learned from project implementation inform field discourse and programmatic decisions at all levels.

• Specific responsibilities include working on capacity enhancement, new vaccines introduction, surveillance of adverse events following immunization, cold Chain Maintenance, supplementary immunization activities, etc.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Activity.

Job Requirements

• Advanced degree in health fields with specialized training and/or experience related to immunization.

• More than7 years of technical and programmatic experience on immunization.

• Experience on protocols, manuals and training materials development.

• Familiarity with Immunization service delivery and the health context in pastoral geographies.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Able to promote team work and effort.

• Effective verbal and written communication and presentation skills.

• Proven experience of working along the health system - community, primary health care units and referral hospitals

• Experience of interacting with local governments, international organizations, other bilateral donor and civil society representatives, and senior level government officials is desired.

• Computer skills in word, power point and Excel. 

• Skills in data processing.

• Able to work with minimum supervision.

• Being able to communicate with more than one local language is a plus.

How to Apply

Interested applicants who met the minimum requirements should send and apply at THIS LINK.  please submit your application letter with your CV in English detailing your experience and skills that are relevant to the post.

Please do not attach copies of your transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters with the application. You will provide them upon request.

JSI/WEI is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children is a priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suited to work with the children served by our programs.

JSI/WEI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions. M/F/V/D