The Health Specialist (Immunizations and Public Health Emergencies) reports to the Chief of Health and Nutrition (Level 5) for guidance and general supervision. The Health Specialist supports the development and preparation of the health programme and is responsible for immunization activities and public health emergencies, as well as the linkages between the two areas. S/He oversees planning, managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the programme progress on immunization and public health and humanitarian emergencies, within the country programme. The Health Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), organizational Strategic Plans and goals, standards of performance, and accountability framework. The specialist works in conjunction with other health staff and colleagues in other sections (WASH, Nutrition, SBC, etc..) to achieve UNICEF’s overall goals for maternal, newborn and child survival goals and objectives for the country. This must be done in full alignment with an ‘epidemic ready’ Primary Health Care approach to efficiently delivery concrete results at scale.
Duties and Responsibilities
-Support to programme development and planning
-Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
-Technical and operational support to programme implementation
-Networking and partnership building
-Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
Qualifications and Experience
Minimum requirements:
[Include the vacancy requirements aligned to the category and level of the position. You can see examples in the branded VA example.]
-Education: A medical degree with added advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health/nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.
-A minimum of seven years of progressive professional experience in immunization -related work.
-A minimum of seven years of progressive professional experience in health emergency or humanitarian preparedness.
-Strong experience in disease prevention and control, with specific expertise in outbreak preparedness and response and in providing immunization technical support at national and subnational levels.
-Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations, and prepare well-written reports.
-Experience working in complex coordination environments with multiple stakeholders. Specific experience working with other health organizations and the health cluster
-Sound knowledge of the IHR (2005) framework, and experience in contributing to/implementing IDSR, AARs, IARs, JEEs, EPI Comprehensive reviews, new vaccine’s introductions or related activities at the country level
-Specific experience in managing emergency/epidemic preparedness and response in Zimbabwe or other settings.
Work Experience:
-Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization and in a host government health system.
-Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.
