State Immunization Team Lead at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary:

CRS is seeking a State Immunization/Team Lead for the CDC-funded global childhood immunization project. The project will reach zero- and under-immunized children with immunization services in Northern Nigeria including fragile and conflict settings. Project interventions will focus on: (a) Supporting immunization uptake for polio eradication, measles and rubella reduction and elimination, hepatitis B and maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination; (b) strengthening surveillance systems to improve preparedness and response to outbreaks of VPDs; strengthening of immunization delivery systems and capacities. The State Immunization/Team Lead (STL) under the guidance of Immunization System Strengthening Lead, will provide leadership and coordination for routine immunization (RI), Polio and non-Polio Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs), disease surveillance, and demand creation activities. The STL will focus on reducing zero-dose children and implementing the Identify, Enumerate, and Vaccinate (IEV) strategy across the state, designated LGAs, and health facilities. This role includes planning, capacity building, supportive supervision, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement to strengthen immunization coverage and health performance on routine immunization. She/he will ensure project target objectives are met, build healthy relationships for effective coordination and partnerships, and provide direct leadership to the team. She/he will participate in all POISED related events and activities, review and share weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual program-related reports on POISED project in Kebbi state. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategic Coordination:

• Act as the primary liaison between CRS, the State Ministry of Health (SMOH), State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), LGAs, health facilities and development partners. 
• Coordinate the planning and implementation of RI, SIAs, zero-dose reduction and IEV strategies in alignment with state and national health policies and guidelines.
• Facilitate partnerships with government agencies, development partners, and community organizations to ensure program effectiveness.
• Oversee the integration of RI with other health interventions, such as maternal health and nutrition programs.

Program Implementation:

• Lead the implementation of RI, Polio, and non-Polio SIAs, ensuring targeted and timely delivery of vaccines and services.
• Guide the implementation of the IEV strategy to identify and vaccinate zero-dose children, including those in underserved or remote communities.
• Strengthen vaccine logistics, cold chain management, and service delivery systems.

Supportive Supervision:

• Conduct regular supportive supervision visits to LGAs and health facilities to monitor program activities.
• Provide on-the-job mentoring and technical guidance to health workers, ensuring adherence to immunization protocols.
• Identify gaps in service delivery and collaboratively develop solutions to improve program quality and effectiveness.
• Prepare and share supervision reports with actionable recommendations for program improvement.

Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Response:

• Strengthen surveillance systems to detect and respond to vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
• Monitor Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and other key indicators to guide disease control efforts.
• Coordinate cross-border surveillance and vaccination campaigns to address disease risks.

Community Engagement and Demand Creation:

• Work with community leaders, influencers, and health volunteers to increase awareness and demand for immunization services.
• Address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation through targeted communication campaigns.
• Mobilize community groups, such as mothers’ groups and religious leaders, to support routine and supplemental immunization efforts.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:

• Support the state, LGA and health facilities to strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress and outcomes of RI, SIAs, and disease surveillance activities.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities for program enhancement.
• Submit timely and high-quality reports to CRS leadership and relevant stakeholders.

Capacity Building:

• Organize and support training sessions for health workers, LGA immunization officers, and disease surveillance teams on RI, SIAs, and data management.
• Support health teams in using digital tools for tracking, reporting, and GIS mapping.
• Facilitate learning exchanges and best practice sharing among program teams.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent leadership, mentoring, and team-building skills.
• Proficient in Excel and experience with Word and PowerPoint. Knowledge of financial reporting software is a plus.
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools (e.g., DHIS2, Excel, GIS mapping).
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Problem-solving abilities and the capacity to manage multiple priorities.
• Knowledge of local languages and cultural contexts is an advantage.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement. 
• Commitment to public health and equity in immunization services.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively with diverse communities.
• Familiarity with relevant donors' regulations is a plus.
• Proficient in virtual platforms and hosting/participation in seamless virtual meetings.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Medicine, Public Health, Health Sciences, or a related field (master’s degree preferred).
• At least 5–7 years of experience in immunization, disease surveillance, or public health program management.
• Demonstrated expertise in RI, SIAs, supportive supervision, and disease surveillance systems.
• Experience implementing zero-dose reduction strategies and IEV approaches.
• Strong familiarity with government health systems and working with development partners.