Immunization Officer (Urban), Temporary Appointment, # 00128249, Karachi, Pakistan

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, HOPE

The Immunization Officer (Urban) reports to the Health Specialist (immunization) for supervision and is accountable for the development and implementation of an integrated and coordinated urban health strategy that will benefit not only the urban poor in these cities rather, given the pockets of low health coverage in densely populated urban poor areas, but urban health strategy implementation will also support polio eradication both nationally and globally, as well as contribute to the overall economic, health and social development of Pakistan. Responding to the needs, UNICEF Pakistan will provide technical support to the Government in all provinces and areas to develop a costed urban health strategy, and action plans, support implementation, and monitoring of the implementation in targeted low-performing UCs and high-risk Megacities.

How can you make a difference? 

To make a difference, the incumbent shall be responsible for following key strategic functions, accountabilities and related duties/ tasks;

• The immunization officer will be accountable for urban immunization activities, Implement the urban immunization package (Detection of missed children and defaulters, real-time data collection in integrated EPI services, health committees’ contribution to zero dose and defaulters’ detection, microplanning, monitoring and evaluation to guide areas of improvement.
• Using RBM approach, collect baseline information, triangulate the data to guide prioritization within the province’s districts and UCs/communities, Health facilities, plan and implement the urban immunization package in defined with the Government of Pakistan and GAVI to be supported by UNICEF, which includes: 24/7 birth dose initiative, weekend, and evening outreaches, and monitor progress toward reaching 100% zero dose children <2 years of age in selected areas.
• Will establish strong coordination with provincial EPI / PEI partners,
• Ensure timely planning of urban immunization services, close monitoring, and follow up (deliverables of district consultants, implementation of action points from independent program monitoring).
• Support immunization officer FO for operationalization of Integrated services in 24/7 birth dose sites and outreaches in designated megacities (evening, weekend, mobile and fixed sites).
• Extend opening hours of immunization services to meet parents’ needs through evening and weekend shifts in urban centers: Support FO immunization officer in planning integrated EPI outreaches in urban and peri-urban areas of Karachi and Hyderabad and emergency affected districts, ensuring key services and required commodities and medicines, are always available equally in all sessions (IEC for 12 key family care practices, birth registration, ANC, MUAC Tapes, food fortification, treatment for diarrhea and pneumonia, prevention of Malaria and Dengue).
• Mobilize all required sectors at the provincial authorities’ level, strengthening intersectoral coordination with Nutrition, Child Protection, MNCH, IMCI, Wash, and child protection.
• Development and review of updated micro plans for urban slums and peri-urban areas through community engagement based on identification and referral of zero-dose children: 1 microplanning session in each megacity
• Work with ACSM teams to strengthen community capacity to detect and refer missed children using integrated referral slips or digital referral slips and strengthen their interactions with health facilities in urban slums and peri-urban areas.
• Identify zero dose and defaulter children through digital referral by community health workers: digital detection and referral of missed children (ZD and defaulters) through frontline workers: during daily activities and detection campaigns twice a year.
• Support in establishing real-time data collection system using existing digital solutions.
• Review data collected for urban immunization and analysis to present the progress of different UNICEF-supported interventions in the province.
• Organize review meetings at the provincial and district level, involving all sectors concerned in integrated outreaches,
• Support SIAs as required.

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

• Education: A university degree (Bachelor’s) in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: medical sciences, Health, Public Health, Family Health, Child Development, Nursing or other relevant field.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in service delivery in urban settings, including integrated service delivery, coordination, data analysis capacity, and coordination of different sector experience, is an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

The competencies required for this post are Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2), Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3), Works Collaboratively with others (3), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3), Innovates and Embraces Change (3), Thinks and Acts Strategically (3), Drives to achieve impactful results (3), Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

View our competency framework at  Competency Framework Brochure.pdf

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Life at UNICEF

Working at UNICEF is highly rewarding. With attractive remuneration package encompassing competitive pay and benefits, a culture that helps staff thrive and diverse opportunities for personal and professional development, we aim to help you maintain a fulfilling life both at and outside the office.

We make sure you and your loved ones receive the resources and care that you need to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Our contracts, wellbeing policies and initiatives ensure that you are well equipped to effectively deliver for children such as;

• Tax exemption, family allowances, hardship benefits, 10 UN holidays and annual leave allowance, maternity, paternity, adoption leave, medical and dental insurance, pension etc.
• Career support, staff wellbeing programme, breastfeeding policy, flexible work arrangements, childcare room, family support, policies & initiatives, security etc.
• UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

• The vacancy announcement is open both to internal and external candidates.
• Verified/ attested educational certificates/ degrees by HEC/ foreign institutions are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF, as the case may be.
• UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates will be prioritized.
• 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.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.