Over the past years, John Snow Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) has provided technical assistance to Ethiopia's Ministry of Health (MoH) to strengthen the national and sub-national immunization systems, with a focus on identifying and reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children, reaching more eligible populations with life course vaccines especially in hard-to-reach populations and introduction of new vaccines. MoH identified a need for ongoing technical assistance at the national level to support new vaccine introduction, provision of vaccines administered in the second year of life and beyond including integration, and reduce the number of zero doses and under-immunized children through the delivery of integrated services to improve efficiency, regularity and/or reliability of planned immunization activities and reduce gender-based barriers to utilization of immunization services. 

With funding from Gavi TCA, JSI will continue to provide Technical Assistance to the Ministry of Health (MoH) on delivering vaccines through an integrated routine immunization to reduce zero dose and under-immunized children, strengthen second-year of life vaccinations, and support new vaccine introduction as well as overall strengthening of routine immunization service delivery. 

JSI is, therefore, looking to hire an Immunization Advisor to support the ministry in new vaccine introductions based at the Ministry of Health. The person will be seconded to Immunization service desk at MoH to provide the technical assistance. 

The immunization advisor will be responsible to provide technical assistance (TA) to the MoH/ISD on issues related with new vaccine introductions and switches that the ministry has introduced recently and those to be introduced soon such as: yellow fever, malaria, HepB birth dose, IPV2, HPV, rotasiil, etc. The support includes preparation of introduction plan, coordinating guidelines developments, monitoring progress of recently introduced vaccines, and documentation of lessons 

sustain and improve the coverage of newly introduced/planned to be introduced vaccines. Additionally, the person will provide technical support to the ministry in overall routine immunization strengthening activities.

Responsibilities

The Immunization Advisor for NVI will be responsible to:

• Provide technical expertise and guidance to the National Immunization TWGs and ISD in the design, implementation, and monitoring of newly introduced/ planned to be introduced vaccines 

• Support the development and execution of vaccine introduction plans at the national level including Gavi and other donors’ application 

• Supports the development and implementation of strategies and activities within the NIS (National Immunization Strategy) including an annual ISD plan for strengthening service delivery and new vaccine introduction

• Provide support MOH/ISD and the TWGs on the revision of M & E tools (recording and reporting) to include newly introduced vaccines

• Contribute to the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, best practices, and success stories directly related to new vaccine introduction 

• Provide TA to sustain and improve the coverage of HPV vaccination

• Support coordination at MOH, planning, preparation and implementation of HPV MAC campaign

• Support regions to identify and capture out-of-school girls and missed girls due to conflicts including identifying key platforms that can be leveraged and the required partnerships to ensure consistent reach approaches. 

• Support the development of micro plans at all levels and aggregation at the national level to ensure adequate resources. 

• Support MoH led initiatives such as big-catch-up, data triangulation, supportive supervisions, trainings, review meetings, etc 

• Conduct coaching and mentorship, training, and joint supportive supervision to build the capacity for the regional and national EPI teams

• Develop and/or adapt evidence-based training materials, job aids, curricula, supervisory systems, coaching, and mentorship guidelines needed for the implementation of immunization services

• Provide support and contribute towards the JSI, donor and MOH guidance on technical issues, and participate in relevant advisory or technical working groups.

• Provide monthly progress updates on the project

• Work with project director and home office backstop team to produce quality donor and local reports 

• Implement any other duties as assigned by the superiors.

Job Requirements

• A Master’s degree in Public Health or a related field. MD or other advanced degree is a plus. 

• At least 10 years of experience in public health, with at least 5 years working on routine immunization. Experience in supporting new vaccine introduction, at all levels of Ethiopia’s health system, is highly desired 

• Experience of working as technical assistance provider to the health system, particularly at national level is added advantage

• Demonstrated ability to liaise productively with senior RMNCH/EPI officials and development partners, with experience building consensus among stakeholders to develop and implement activities of strategic importance. 

• Experience and full understanding of government health policies and guidelines for immunization and how to make them operational at field level. 

• Demonstrated ability of effective interaction with health personnel at subnational levels - RHB, ZHD, WoHO, PHCU, and health post levels.

• Outstanding written and verbal communications skills in both Amharic and English. Able to assemble, analyze, and present evidence to make a compelling case. 

• Energetic, forward-thinking, and creative with intellectual flexibility and depth and strong ethical reasoning.

• Strong organizational and management skills, ability to multitask and to communicate and negotiate with managers on overlapping demands, and work effectively to share and distribute responsibilities among teams. Experience working in a fast-paced and changing environment with tight deadlines.

• Ability to travel up to 30% time

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