Head, Measles-Rubella

THE ROLE

The Head, Measles and Rubella Vaccine Programmes will oversee Gavi efforts to prevent measles and rubella, estimated to potentially prevent approximately 1.3 million deaths and cost approximately $560 million during 2021-2025. The Head will be responsible for developing, advocating, testing, and implementing innovative new approaches to preventing measles and rubella as effectively, efficiently, and equitably as possible; for the integration of Gavi measles and rubella vaccine support with other Gavi immunisation support efforts; overall coordination of measles and rubella prevention efforts across the Gavi secretariat and with the Gavi Alliance; and leading efforts to improve the quality and coverage of Gavi funded vaccination campaigns. The Head will bring extensive knowledge and expertise of the functioning of immunisation systems and vaccine delivery and the network of partners who support national immunisation programmes to proactively identify and address implementation issues through effective communication, facilitation and coordination with Secretariat teams and Alliance partners and countries. 

The Head will also supervise a team who implement the measles and rubella vaccine support programme through cross-Secretariat collaboration and coordination with Alliance partners; guide provision of technical assistance on a country-by-country basis; track and forecast Gavi measles and rubella vaccine support funding; identify monitoring, evaluation and learning agenda priorities as well as working with other Gavi secretariat teams on development of communication and messages. The position will also work closely on cross-sectoral priorities including vaccination integration and sustainability, vaccination campaign quality and coverage improvement, and the zero-dose agenda.

KEY FUNCTIONS AND DELIVERABLES    
•    Drive progress towards Gavi Strategic Goal 1 targets regarding:  •    Leadership of the Gavi secretariat Measles and Rubella Vaccine Programmes team, ensuring provision of strategic leadership around measles and rubella vaccine programme, coordination of measles and rubella prevention efforts within the Gavi secretariat and across the Gavi Alliance, provision of timely programmatic and technical advice, reporting on country performance, preparation of relevant documents, and communication with external audiences;
•    Coordination with Gavi secretariat teams and Gavi Alliance partners to ensure that that measles and rubella immunisation efforts contribute to the zero dose child agenda, i.e., efforts to reach otherwise unvaccinated children;

•    As Head in the Vaccine Programmes Team under the direction of the Director, Vaccine Programmes, work across teams and partners to contribute to meeting Gavi’s Strategic Goals to accelerate the introduction, roll-out and scale-up of new vaccines to achieve Alliance coverage and equity targets; and to ensure timely detection of and response to vaccine preventable disease outbreaks;
•    Lead Gavi secretariat efforts to develop, advocate for, and implement innovative new approaches to preventing measles and rubella as effectively, efficiently, and equitably as possible by:  •    Ensure alignment with Gavi 5.1 and Vaccine Programmes priorities; provision of strategic leadership around measles and rubella vaccine programme scale-up, integration, sustainability, and quality; and coordination of measles and rubella prevention efforts across the Gavi secretariat and with Gavi Alliance Partner organisations, including market shaping, health systems strengthening, integration, budget forecasting, technical assistance, Gavi processes and policies related to new vaccine applications, monitoring, reporting and learning agenda priorities;
•    Ensure the Gavi secretariat Measles and Rubella team provides timely programmatic and technical advice to the Gavi Secretariat, Alliance Stakeholders and priority countries on issues related to measles and rubella vaccine application requirements, vaccine allocation, implementation, global disease control initiatives, and other issues;
•    Act as the Gavi Secretariat lead representative on the MRP MT, MRP Outbreak Response Working Group, act as measles and rubella focal point for Measurement Evaluation, Learning (MEL) and modelling activities within the Gavi Alliance;
•    Ensure the Gavi secretariat Measles and Rubella team provides timely and accurate reporting and analytics on implementation of Gavi’s measles and rubella vaccine programme and prepares meeting agendas, technical documents, presentations and meeting notes and briefing of relevant Gavi Secretariat and Gavi partners, advisory and governance bodies;
•    Communicate programme progress, challenges and risks to Gavi Secretariat and Alliance partner leadership and, in collaboration with the Gavi Secretariat communications team, external audiences.

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs.

•    Minimum of 12 years of professional experience working in public health at national and international levels with vaccine preventable diseases or other disease control and prevention initiatives;  
•    Working experience with Measles & Rubella Partnership is highly preferred;
•    Experience implementing health programmes in developing countries is required;
•    Experience in infectious disease epidemiology and specifically in measles & rubella is required;
•    Experience working in the context of multiparty coalitions addressing health, development or humanitarian problems is ideal; 
•    Demonstrable work experience of successful management of situations of considerable complexity and/or political sensitivity is ideal; 
•    Experience in applied health economics or decision analysis is a plus;
•    Experience of representational duties at international for a and conferences is a plus.

•    Excellent organisational, management and coordination skills with proven track record of managing and leading teams responsible for multiple concurrent tasks and priorities;
•    Excellent communication, writing and presentation skills; 
•    Expertise in infectious disease epidemiology and experience with immunisation programme implementation in Gavi supported countries;
•    Excellent competencies in data analysis, management, tracking, forecasting and monitoring is desirable; 
•    Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and with developing countries; 
•    Ability to work effectively in a team setting and under pressure; 
•    Excellent orientation towards achieving results; 
•    Good knowledge of institutional or organisation policies, systems and procedures; 
•    Demonstrated poise, tact, and diplomacy in pressure situations and ability to maintain confidentiality. 

•    Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
•    Fluency in French is desirable;
•    Knowledge of additional languages of countries eligible for Gavi new vaccine support is a plus (e.g., Russian, Portuguese).
 

•    Advanced university degree in medicine, biological sciences, public health, epidemiology, development or related fields.
 

•    Governments of countries eligible for Gavi new vaccine support;
•    Gavi Secretariat;
•    Gavi Alliance partner organisations, including the Measles and Rubella Partnership;
•    UN, Multilateral & bilateral donor agencies; 
•    National public health institutions;
•    Civil society organisations;
•    Research institutions;
•    Vaccine Manufacturers.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Head, Measles-Rubella”. Deadline for applications is 12 December 2023. 

Please note that as a vaccine organisation and in order to provide duty of care towards its employees, Gavi is requiring its new employees to confirm that they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition for pursuing employment with us. You can find out more by visiting this link.              

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In support of Gavi’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, we hire globally and welcome applications regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, family status, sex, gender identity or expression, physical characteristics, race, religion, spirituality or sexual orientation. Gavi has zero tolerance towards sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse as well as any form of discrimination or harassment. Everyone at Gavi is expected to conduct themselves with integrity and respect towards each other. Gavi is committed to creating a work environment that is safe and professional, therefore all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference checks. Read more here.

Gavi brings together the public and private sectors to save lives and protect people’s health by increasing equitable and sustainable use of vaccines against 18 infectious diseases. You will be joining an organisation at the centre of the international COVID-19 response, at the most critical time in global health in a lifetime. You will work in a culturally diverse environment with over 70 nationalities. You will collaborate with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank – and from business, civil society and government. And you will work in the first global health organisation to receive equal gender salary certification. Your unique experience, skills and talents can help us achieve our vision of leaving no one behind without the life-saving power of vaccines.