Organization: UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Port Sudan
Grade: Mid level – NO-C, National Professional Officer – Locally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
Public Health and Health Service
Transport and Distribution
Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
Closing Date: 2024-09-29
You will report to the Health Manager (Level 4) for guidance and general supervision. You will ensure that all aspects of the vaccine supply chain operate appropriately, from forecasting demand to managing procurement requests maintaining optimal inventory levels and guaranteeing the quality and safety of vaccines throughout their lifecycle. The purpose of this job is to implement best practices in vaccine logistics, cold chain management, and inventory management to prevent vaccine stockouts, reduce wastage, and ensure that vaccines are available and accessible to populations in need. By working closely with the Ministry of Health, WHO, healthcare providers, and other stakeholder, the Vaccine Management Specialist contributes significantly to the success of immunization programs, ultimately supporting the reduction of vaccine-preventable diseases and improving health outcomes on a national and global scale.
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, Health
Sudan is the third largest country by land area in Africa and is geo-strategically important being located at the cross-roads of Sub-Saharan Africa, East Africa, and the Middle East. It has long been a center of trade and commerce and link between neighboring countries. The country has significant natural resource endowments, including vast arable lands, water, forests, minerals, and precious metals. Sudan’s history has been marked by coups, political instability, and conflict, which is hindering socio-economic development gains. The last five years were marked by several rapid political changes. Despite the efforts to shield Sudan’s poor from the effects of the economic adjustments, Sudan’s economic crisis worsened over time, exacerbated by the effects of COVID-19. In April 2023 the situation escalated further into open violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), reactivating over time also prior fault lines in different parts of the country. With the state of the economy already precarious, exacerbated by social unrest, shortages of basic services and livelihood inputs, and freezing of foreign assistance, the military conflict risks pushing the country into a state of collapse. Fighting between the RSF and the SAF in various states as well as heavy clashes in Khartoum and other urban areas has led to significant displacement of millions of people, both internally and across the border into neighboring countries. Approaching a year of conflict, almost all schools across the country remain closed. UN entities are working with international and national NGOs to address the immediate needs. Basic services across Sudan have been characterized by weak capacity for delivery, low levels of public expenditure, shortage of qualified personnel, and inadequate infrastructure; further strained by the conflict, including pressure by displaced populations. UNICEF is responding to the crisis by providing integrated Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, and Cash assistance. While much of the response is focused on humanitarian interventions UNICEF and other partners are also aiming to build on Sudan’s strong community-based organizations, and lessons learned from other projects, to provide sustainable community led basic services.
How can you make a difference?
You will report to the Health Manager (Level 4) for guidance and general supervision. You will ensure that all aspects of the vaccine supply chain operate appropriately, from forecasting demand to managing procurement requests maintaining optimal inventory levels and guaranteeing the quality and safety of vaccines throughout their lifecycle. The purpose of this job is to implement best practices in vaccine logistics, cold chain management, and inventory management to prevent vaccine stockouts, reduce wastage, and ensure that vaccines are available and accessible to populations in need. By working closely with the Ministry of Health, WHO, healthcare providers, and other stakeholder, the Vaccine Management Specialist contributes significantly to the success of immunization programs, ultimately supporting the reduction of vaccine-preventable diseases and improving health outcomes on a national and global scale.
Key Responsibilities and Tasks:
Support to programme development and planning.
Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.
Technical and operational support to programme implementation.
Networking and partnership building.
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.
to view full job description, please click here: Download File Health Specialist-Vaccine management- NOC – SUD24140.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health/nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, or another relevant technical field. Two years of additional relevant work experience that was gained after obtaining a bachelor’s degrees will be accepted in lieu of advanced degree.
Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health planning and management, vaccination, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.
Experience working in emergency environments is a requirement.
Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
Language: Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
Builds and maintains partnerships
Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
Drive to achieve results for impact
Innovates and embraces change
Manages ambiguity and complexity
Thinks and acts strategically
Works collaboratively with others
Nurtures, Leads and Manages People
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.
Remarks:
UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.
All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates).
UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.