Senior Program Associate, COVID-19 Vaccination at Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP)

Employment Type: Contract
Supervisor: State Program Managers / Associate Director State Program Operations
Duration of Contract: 3 months (renewable contingent upon continued need and availability of funding)

Job Summary

• The Program Associate (COVID-19 vaccination) is a short-term position based in any of the listed states to support C-19 vaccination interventions by CIHP to the state government through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency / Board (SPHCDA).
• The incumbent is responsible for providing support to CIHP’s focused efforts at ramping C-19 vaccination to ensure smooth implementation, including working with the SPHCDA, health facilities and community vaccination centers to enhance mobilization, identify gaps and develop strategies to increase vaccination uptake across the state.
• He / She will support the State Program Manager/ Associate Director to identify bottlenecks to smooth implementation and follow-up on resolution of the challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage SPHCDA, PHEOC and other critical stakeholders on the C-19 response to identify areas of support for scaling C-19 vaccination
• Work with SPHCDA to develop targeted interventions to close identified gaps, increase vaccination coverage and eliminate vaccine wastages
• Conduct supportive supervision and validation visits to health facilities, community and mobile vaccination teams’ liaison with SPHCDA and other GoN stakeholders
• Coordinate community sensitization and mobilization drives working with vaccination teams, opinion, traditional and religious leaders and institutions
• Lead needs assessments and facilitate engagement and training of vaccination teams as appropriate
• Facilitate timely reporting of vaccination activities including updating of data into the EMID platform
• Work with the SPHCDA to ensure system to adequately forecast, efficiently distribute and track vaccines and ancillary supplies
• Coordinate report writing and analyses of CIHP C-19 vaccination support activities and submit to the State Program Manager/ Director and the State Coordination unit in the central office
• Facilitate report collation, analyses and transmission of daily statewide vaccination achievements
• Coordinate development, implementation, tracking and review of the C-19 vaccination work plan to optimize outputs/ outcomes
• Work with Communications teams to identify communications opportunities, document success stories, develop and distribute IEC materials
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the State Program Manager/ Director and his/ her designate.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health / Epidemiology / Social Sciences / or related field, from a reputed institute.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in vaccines and immunization with demonstrated skills in vaccine implementation and scale up
• Experience working on immunization/ vaccination programs in the state and familiarity with key stakeholders is essential
• Experience in projects that involve liaising with government institutions like the SPHCDA, SMOH, other stakeholders and NGOs
• Experience in any of the following areas is preferred: immunization programs, health systems strengthening, and infectious diseases.
• Proven ability to multi-task and collaborate work effectively with senior staff, colleagues, donors, partner organizations, stakeholders, local institutions, and others at all levels.
• Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines, and an emphasis on quality.
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation and report writing skills
• Excellent skills in facilitation, team building and coordination
• Fluency in English (fluency in the major local language is an asset)
• Demonstrable problem-solving and analytical skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with an emphasis on proficiency in Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Proven success drafting, proofreading, and editing documents.
• Extremely detail-oriented, with the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.