Immunization Officer (Ebola and mpox vaccination), NOB, Kampala #131989 (Temp Appointment-3 months)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Vaccines

How can you make a difference? 

• Assess the epidemiological context in Uganda to identify target populations and high-risk areas
• Support UNEPI develop targeted vaccination strategies for Mpox/Ebola including prioritization frameworks and delivery mechanisms suitable for Uganda.
• Advise UNEPI on vaccine selection and logistics plans for vaccine procurement, storage, transportation, and distribution.
• Collaborate closely with the National Medical Stores (NMS), UNEPI, and targeted districts to maintain accurate and up-to-date stock management records and provide regular progress reports.
• Support the development, revision and dissemination of monitoring tools for tracking vaccine coverage, wastage, adverse events following immunization (AEFI), community feedback and program effectiveness.

Enhance capacity and capability:

• Assist MoH, UNICEF and other partners in the design an execution of communication strategies to improve vaccine acceptance among Uganda’s communities.
• Support the development and dissemination of technical guidelines, SOPs, and job aids for field teams.
• Support MoH, UNEPI, NMS, and other key partners to support the DHTs in developing detailed vaccine micro-plans for affected districts.
• Support the planning of training sessions for healthcare workers, field staff, and community leaders on vaccination protocols, cold chain management, and community engagement

Mitigate Risks:

• Support the maintenance of a vaccination program risk register, escalating perceived risks and their mitigations in a timely manner to senior management.

Foster Stakeholder Engagement:

• Organize and participate in regular coordination meetings, TWGs, and advisory committees with stakeholders and partners to ensure coordinated efforts on Mpox/Ebola control and prevention.
• Support stakeholder consultations to identify communication gaps and community perceptions of Mpox/Eboa vaccination.

Inform data-driven decision making:

• Support donor reporting.
• Support data systems, reporting, visibility and data for decision making through supporting and maintaining the establishment of national dashboards and other tools

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

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: Required bachelor’s degree in public health, epidemiology, medicine or another relevant field.

Work Experience:

• Two years of relevant professional work experience at the national and/or international levels in vaccination strategy development and implementation including SIAs and ring vaccination strategies.
• Proven experience working with creation of standard operating procedures covering all aspects of vaccine introduction.
• Proven experience working with national ministries of health and EPI departments.
• Experience working with and coordinating diverse stakeholders including UN organizations, government line departments (national and subnational), international and local NGOs in Uganda or similar settings.

Skills:

• Excellent facilitation skills, negotiation skills and oral and written communication skills.
• Computer skills include MS Office and qualitative and quantitative analytical skills.
• Knowledge of the Uganda context is an added advantage.

Language Requirements: Working proficiency in English

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 
• Training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable.
• Experience in new vaccine introduction preferred.
• Familiarity with Mpox or other zoonotic diseases is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable male candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.