CHAI Program Officer, Vaccines Job Vacancy in Malawi

Overview:

The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI –
formerly the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative) under the leadership of former
President William Jefferson Clinton III, has worked since 2002 to reduce the
pricing of HIV/AIDS medicines and tests, and to work with governments around
the world to further turn the tide on the disease by building the systems
needed to deliver care and treatment.

In 2005, CHAI signed an MOU with the Malawi
government to strengthen health systems in the most challenged districts,
provide national support to HIV/AIDS drug pricing and programmatic work,
support the pilot and scale-up of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of
HIV (PMTCT) initiatives, expand access to ART for children, strengthen the
Malawi’s Lab system, and scale-up an integrated nutrition program for children.
CHAI’s support to Malawi has expanded to include Human Resources for Health,
Vaccines, and Health Financing.

CHAI is supporting the Government of Malawi to
accelerate the introduction and uptake of new, life-saving vaccines and to
improve the country’s vaccine delivery system. CHAI Malawi was actively
involved in the successful introduction of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
(PCV 13) in 2011 and the rotavirus vaccine in late 2012, working closely with
partner organizations, including the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Similar programs are underway in four other focus countries – Kenya, Ethiopia,
Tanzania, and Nigeria.

CHAI is seeking a talented, highly motivated, and
flexible individual to support CHAI’s vaccine program in Malawi across a range
of work. Having successfully supported introduction of PCV13 and rotavirus
vaccines, the CHAI vaccines programme will now focus on supporting the MOH
demonstration programme for the HPV vaccine, as well as overall systems
strengthening of the immunization program. A program officer is required who
will focus on supporting the HPV vaccine demonstration programme, effective
implementation of vaccines-related teaching aids, assessment and revision of
the child health passport, supporting operational research on stock
availability at facility level, and proposal-writing processes in support of
MOH applications for funds. The Program Officer will also provide overall
support to CHAI’s vaccine program, including administrative tasks where
required.

Responsibilities:

Take a lead role in supporting the MOH to plan
and implement the HPV vaccine demonstration programme activities.
Activities will vary according to MOH and partner priorities, but are
likely to include:

Providing support to ensure robust planning
and analysis, including the creation of project management tools and
templates, such as budgets and project plans;
Improving the supply chain for vaccines, by
supporting the MOH to plan for assessments of the immunisation program
and to implement the resulting recommendations;
Supporting the MOH to create training
materials and plans;
Supporting the MOH to develop social
mobilization materials and plans;
Supporting the MOH to mobilize financial
resources from local partners and international organisations;
Capturing lessons learnt throughout the
introduction process.

Support the development of training materials
and assess the uptake of the vaccines teaching aids previously developed
and printed by CHAI.
Support development of assessment materials
and consolidation of results of the child health passport assessment.
Support logistics, data entry, and data
analysis for the operational research project assessing stock availability
and assist in formulation of recommendations and results.
Lead the proposal writing process for MOH
applications for funds in support of the immunization programme, including
stakeholder coordination, drafting of proposal components, and ensuring
appropriate approvals obtained.
Contribute to the analysis and design of
CHAI’s vaccine strategy in Malawi and globally, and supporting the
mobilization and management of financial resources to implement that
strategy.
Build and manage relationships with key
individuals in the MOH and relevant partner organizations to facilitate
the rapid achievement of national vaccine introduction goals.
Provide administrative support to the CHAI
vaccines program as required, including organizing meetings, taking
minutes, and leading on official correspondence.
Perform any other duties as assigned by the
Program Manager.

Qualifications:

University degree, ideally in health,
international development or business administration;
2+ years of professional experience in the
private or public sector, ideally within the health sector. Professional
experience in Malawi is preferred;
Exceptional communication skills, including
excellent spoken and written English. Knowledge of additional languages of
Malawi is an advantage;
Proven ability to operate independently,
setting and achieving ambitious targets with limited guidance.
Experience of project management, including
the creation of plans and budgets, is preferred;
Strong research skills and ability to
understand and use quantitative and qualitative information to generate
recommendations and improve processes;
Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability
to build relationships in a multicultural environment – international
experience preferable;
Good analytical (qualitative and quantitative)
skills;
High level of proficiency in relevant computer
applications, particularly MS Excel, PowerPoint and Word. Knowledge of MS
Access would be helpful;
Knowledge and/or experience of the health
sector in Malawi and immunisation programs in general would be a distinct
advantage.