Role :   Jobs Opportunities : Senior Associate, Vaccine Distribution - CHAI Cameroon Vaccines Program
Location :   0. National
Company URL :   https://www.clintonfoundation.org/

Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries, while strengthening the capabilities of governments and the private sector in those countries to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance. For more information, please visit: www.clintonhealthaccess.org.

CHAI started supporting Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health in 2007 to scale up pediatric and adult second-line anti-retroviral therapy, through donation of lifesaving ARVs and diagnostics; as well as technical assistance for improving the quality of ART and laboratory systems to support HIV care and treatment.  In recent years, CHAI has expanded its support to the Ministry of Public Health to other areas including malaria diagnosis and helping to introduce more effective new treatment for severe malaria, improving access to family planning, point of care diagnostics, maternal and child health, and technical support for the Ministry of Health’s drive to sustainably fund healthcare. In early 2015, CHAI launched its vaccines program to apply the techniques it has used to successfully improve access to HIV/AIDS and malaria treatment in Cameroon to vaccines, one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. The focus of the program is to support the EPI in new vaccine introductions, improving vaccine delivery systems, strategic planning and execution, and capability development for immunization.

Overview of the CHAI Cameroon Vaccines Work

Vaccination is widely acknowledged as one of the most cost-effective and focused disease interventions. In addition, the unprecedented wave of new vaccines expected over the next decade has the potential to dramatically reduce the global burden of disease. Although Cameroon has made significant progress in the last decade in improving vaccine coverage and introducing new vaccines, many challenges remain, particularly in the area of new vaccine introductions and vaccine delivery systems.

The CHAI Vaccines Program, therefore, aims to increase access to immunization services through five focus areas: Accelerate the introduction and sustain high coverage of new vaccines; transform in-country delivery systems to efficiently deliver both current and future vaccines; achieve affordable yet sustainable vaccine and cold chain equipment prices by shaping vaccine markets and negotiating price reductions for major antigens and cold chain equipment; capability strengthening by assisting the Government of Cameroon to reach its goal of routine immunization coverage for all children; immunization strategic planning and execution by supporting the MOH to develop quality strategic planning for vaccines and its execution.

Position Overview

CHAI is looking for a dynamic, energetic individual with exceptional people skills, highly qualified with experience in vaccines or related field, and experienced in working in challenging environments to support its Cameroon vaccine program. This is a very demanding post, which will prove to be very rewarding for the right candidate.

Responsibilities

• Support the MoH to accurately forecast vaccine needs to maximum efficiency and eliminate and prevent stock-outs
• Support the MoH to put in place systems that can provide full central and peripheral stock visibility
• Support the MoH to prepare and feasible realistic distribution plans, which will ensure that vaccines, diluents, injection materials, safety boxes, and reporting and stock management tools are distributed adequately and used appropriately
• Support the EPI to measured and managed the vaccine supply chain for continuous quality improvement, including an accurate assessment of system costs and performance, and benchmarking against other, high performing supply systems
• Develop influential presentation materials that work for varying audiences
• Build and manage relationships with key individuals in the Ministry of Health, in CHAI and relevant partner organization
• Lead CHAI stock management work in two focal regions and identify potential areas of additional support in these regions and other regions
• Support the Program Manager to identify and define CHAI's overall strategy within the program area, develop clear operational plans for execution, and continually identify opportunities for CHAI to add value and maximize impact
• Collaborate with government to ensure skills transfer and government ownership, identify the most critical hurdles to scale-up, and develop innovative strategies to address them.
• Liaise closely with technical partners in government to monitor and evaluate interventions against objectives and targets, bringing in technical expertise when needed to ensure rapid implementation
• Develop strong working relationships with key stakeholders in government, international partners, donors and NGOs, and ensure maximum coordination of resources and effort for successful implementation and scale-up
• Support the Program Manager to develop and manage work plans, budgets, schedules and logistics plans for key activities
• Perform other tasks as necessary

Qualifications

• Degree in relevant field plus 4 years work relevant experience. Advanced degree desirable
• Demonstrated strong analytical, leadership, and problem solving skills
• Ability to work independently and effectively in high-pressure, fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Proven ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders and drive immediate results
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• High levels of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet applications
• Ability to work independently and effectively in high-pressure, fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Strong interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills, and an ability to build professional relationships with key stakeholders
• Ability to learn on the job quickly and absorb/synthesize a broad range of information
• Ability to react quickly to ad-hoc requests while managing an existing workload
• Experience in a healthcare preferably a background in vaccines or related field
• Experience with and knowledge of supply chain concepts
• Strong quantitative and problem-solving skills; including advanced proficiency using Microsoft Excel
• Experience in the planning and execution of large scale projects; including budgeting and activity planning
• The ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders
• Experience structuring and leading evidence-based decision making processes