Director, Vaccines Program at Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)

Program & Position Overview

• Vaccines are one of the most effective public health tools, preventing millions of deaths each year. However, more than 1.5 million children worldwide still die from vaccine-preventable diseases, mainly in low-income countries. 
• In response, CHAI launched its vaccine program in 2010 to reduce mortality and morbidity from these diseases, with a goal of enhancing immunization coverage and improving vaccination programs within broader health systems.
• Since its inception, CHAI has become a key partner in the global immunization landscape, collaborating with governments to strengthen national immunization programs. In Nigeria, CHAI supports efforts to improve immunization coverage, equity, and delivery in a country with significant regional disparities. 
• Despite progress in increasing vaccination rates, Nigeria faces challenges such as logistical barriers, vaccine hesitancy, and insufficient infrastructure—particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas.
• CHAI's work in Nigeria is aligned with six key strategic objectives:
  • Improving the affordability and supply security of vaccines
  • Providing technical support and capacity for the introduction of new vaccines into the Routine Immunization schedule
  • Enhancing cold chain and logistics systems
  • Designing service delivery to reach underserved populations
  • Supporting financial and programmatic sustainability
  • Strengthening the management capacity of immunization programs

Responsibilities

• The Director, Vaccines will lead the strategy, development, and execution of vaccine programs aimed at improving population health by reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases in Nigeria. 
• You will oversee the full lifecycle of vaccine initiatives, from strategic programmatic development and policy to delivery, ensuring accessibility and affordability across diverse populations. 
• This role requires strategic leadership, technical expertise, and strong cross-functional collaboration.
• You will work closely with the Nigerian government at Federal and State levels, senior leadership of the organization, external stakeholders, donors, and public health organizations to drive the success of immunization programs. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Strategic Leadership & Fundraising:

• Lead the development and execution of vaccine program strategies, aligning them with global health objectives and strategies of multilateral organizations like GAVI, the vaccine alliance and the World Health Organization.
• Monitor emerging trends and integrate relevant innovations into program strategies.
• Inform CHAI’s global vaccine strategy with country-specific insights.
• Provide thought leadership to senior management and external stakeholders.
• Apply strong problem-solving and critical analytical thinking skills to identify gaps and opportunities in the Nigeria Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) space and generate strong concepts and program initiatives to strengthen Government’s efforts and guide investments in vaccines delivery and evaluation in the country.
• Support country teams in developing high-impact vaccine strategies tailored to local contexts.
• Lead fundraising efforts and donor engagement to support vaccine programs, including securing regional and in-country donors.

Vaccine Program Management:

• Oversee the design and implementation of vaccine programs aligned with government priorities.
• Manage cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of program objectives.
• Collaborate with the Government agencies (e.g. National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and state counterparts) and other external EPI partners in-country (UNICEF, WHO, other NGOs) to develop new vaccine programs.
• Monitor program progress, identify risks, and troubleshoot challenges.
• Provide technical and strategic oversight for program implementation and operational challenges.
• Manage the vaccines program budget(s) including providing technical leadership and oversight for annual budgeting, budget forecasting, and ensuring compliance with budget execution against program goals and grant deliverables

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships:

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including government bodies, international organizations (WHO, GAVI, UNICEF), donor organizations (US CDC, BMGF, FCDO e.t.c), Non-Governmental Organizations and the private sector.
• Represent CHAI at global health forums, advocating for vaccines and immunization efforts.
• Work closely with donors and partners to ensure continued support for vaccine programs.
• Collaborate with governments, NGOs, and the private sector on advocacy to drive attention and resources to vaccine delivery in Nigeria.

Operational Excellence:

• Monitor program performance against country and program Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), ensuring milestones are met within budget.
• Ensure effective resource management and smooth operations across vaccine grants.
• Identify and mitigate risks in the vaccine program development and delivery process.
• Lead the development of a learning and research agenda to enhance CHAI's vaccine strategy.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Contribute to staff recruitment and relevant HR processes for building the team for the CHAI Nigeria vaccines program.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Provide regular feedback and coaching to team members, ensuring their professional growth.

Requirements
Educational Qualification

• Master’s degree or higher in Public Health, Immunology, Biotechnology, or related field. MD, PhD, or equivalent experience preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in global health, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership position in vaccine program strategy, development, manufacturing, or distribution.
• Proven track record managing large, complex vaccine programs and partnerships.
• Expertise in global health policy, immunization systems, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience working with governments, NGOs, and international organizations (e.g., WHO, GAVI, UNICEF).
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and securing large-scale funding.

Skills:

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal abilities.
• Proficient in project management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to create compelling presentations and reports.
• Ability to manage complex projects, prioritize tasks, and work independently.
• High emotional intelligence and the ability to manage teams in high-pressure situations.
• Ability to travel up to 35% of the time.

Languages:

• Proficiency in English is required; additional language skills are a plus.

Preferred Competencies:

• Knowledge of emerging infectious diseases and vaccines in development.
• Experience negotiating and managing large-scale funding agreements.
• Consulting experience in one of the big four global consulting firms.
• Experience working in Nigeria’s public health space and experience working with the Federal Ministry of Health and/or NPHCDA.
• Background in working with global health initiatives such as GAVI, the Global Fund, or WHO.

Advantages:

• Prior experience with CHAI or similar organizations.
• Experience in public health governance, systems strengthening, and operations management.
• Strong experience engaging with government officials and multilateral organizations.
• Expertise in vaccines, health systems strengthening, and/or health financing.